Page 39 of Romancing His Heart

“What if they hurt you, though?”

A sly grin lifts the right side of his mouth as he speaks. “Worried about me, are you, Red?”

“It seems like a good time to worry.”

Placing his hands on my shoulders, he gives me a squeeze, and my entire body trembles from the contact.

“The only thing you have to worry about is being able to handle me for the foreseeable future. I’ll take care of everything else.”

His words are innocent, but they cover my body like a weighted blanket.

“Okay,” I whisper as he takes a step back.

“Can you go upstairs with Preston while I get everything set up? We need to leave by nightfall.”

“Come on, sis. Let’s go calm Ems down before she has an aneurism.”

Fuck. Emory is going to go mental.

“Ugh, she won’t take this well.”

“No, she won’t,” Preston agrees.

“Jesus Christ, Sloane. What the hell is in this trunk?” Seth asks, attempting to haul it down the hallway.

“Ah, my writing stuff,” I reply evasively. “Is it still locked?”

“Looks like it. What the hell kind of writing stuff do you have to lock up?”

“The good kind,” I say with a wink. “There are wheels on one side if you want to drag it once you get it out of this dumpster fire.”

“Gee, thanks for the tip.” He sets it down with a thud.

Preston, Seth, and Loki all stare at me. I can see the questions forming in their minds, but they aren’t ready to know my secrets, so I turn and walk out.

Chapter 13

Loki

Sitting in Preston’s penthouse, I take a last look around at everyone here. Dexter and Lanie sit together in an oversized chair, his armed wrapped protectively around her. Trevor and Julia sit across from them, holding hands but not saying much. Pacing the room is Ashton, with Seth glaring at him every few minutes. Preston has been quiet in the corner with Emory and Sloane. I’m sure he’s trying to keep them both calm. Halton holds court in the corner while their younger brother, Colton, tries and fails to keep the mood light. In the center of it all is Sylvie Westbrook, and she is staring right at me.

“We have quite a full house now, don’t we?” she says with a sad smile.

“If Easton were here, you’d have all your boys together again.”

“Someday soon, Loki. It’ll happen soon. I’m counting on it. GG says he has his hands full with Lexi right now, though.” Laughing, Sylvie draws the attention of everyone in the room.

Again with GG?

“What, are you telling me she has magical powers or something?”

“Or something,” Dex, Trevor, and Preston all agree.

“She’s three for three, dude. I’m staying out of her crosshairs for sure,” Colton promises. “I’m not looking to settle down, and that crazy old lady has a way of making it happen.”

Rolling her eyes, Julia corrects him. “Ugh, she just reads cards, Colt.”

“Same thing! I’m not getting mixed up in that, but it seems like Easton and Loki are on her radar. I can’t wait to see what kind of plan Dex has for them.”