She took in a slow, shaky breath and let it out.
“But if this is what you want—he is what you want, then I support you. Not that I—that sounds like permission, but it’s not.” She quickly wiped under her eyes. “Just please don’t getkilled in his mess before I have time to work through our past and we have a chance to…”
“I will protect her,” Creed promised. “I’ll live through this and protect her. I won’t swear it because life is just—we could all get creamed by a falling plane tomorrow. I know how they work, and going after a previously abused woman—that’s not their MO. She’s not the one I’m worried about.”
Theresa flinched. “I am.”
“No, you’re not a citizen here, and that’s a different government,” Creed clarified.
“Me,” Ellie chuckled darkly. “They’ll try and pressure you to use your position and get intel—threats and your debt—all of it.”
“Yes, and that’s the trap,” Creed told her.
“I love a good trap, cub,” she purred, giving me a shocked look when I cleared my throat.
“He is to be my mate. Would you like if I called Ha-joon ‘pup’?”
Ha-joon chuckled, answering the questions without making Ellie say anything.
So I didn’t push it, standing and moving towards Theresa. “Thank you for your worry and concern. I’m sorry I didn’t understand or—someday I would like to work on our communication. We don’t have the normal bond or others tell me this is how mothers and daughters miss each other. I would like to stop that.”
“One day,” Theresa whispered. “In the interim, please let me handle the prenup. I wasn’t able to get you the divorce as I wanted, so let me protect you. Please.”
“I would love that, but it should be pretty straightforward when Creed is agreeing to it all.”
“We shall see,” she said hesitantly, but not over the top and how an attorney should be.
I took it as a win and Creed eased down as well. We talked more logistics, deflecting some of the questions Ellie and Theresa asked that they shouldn’t have.
“You might not consider me your mother or be comfortable with me having that role in your lives, but you will forever have the role of daughters inmyworld given I breastfed you both,” I told them firmly. “So I will discuss our sexual activities and my comfort level with mypsychiatristand my therapy group if I should need. Thank you for your concern.”
Creed and Ha-joon both choked on what they were eating or drinking, but I was glad the topic was put to bed.
“Alright, well, on that note, you have another follow-up, mate,” Ha-joon said to Creed. “And I suggest you interview some female guards so you’re not stuck at home. Also, a rental house now that you have money and will need more space because you can’t just close on a large place tomorrow.”
“How big of an ulcer was growing with you trying to get that all out knowing it might get you into trouble?” Ellie asked him dryly.
“I get out of trouble well,” he grumbled.
It was best not to think about that. I did take his advice on both topics now that we all agreed that Xavier not be my guard anymore. I tried to have Ellie and Theresa give me a bill now that I had my own money, but they said they knew I was going to spend most of it helping other Graves women and they wanted to be a part of that too.
Plus, Ellie was ridiculously rich, and she wasn’t going to be petty with me like we’d had some sort of falling out. She’d rather take food from me later when I was settled because everything of mine she’d eaten was to her taste.
That shocked me since I hadn’t known she’d even eaten it.
She cleared her throat and looked away. “Creed is pushy. Plus, Ha-joon is really pushing for me to take my physical andmental health more seriously, so someone to help meal plan and—I want to get back into swimming. There are only so many hours in the day.”
“I would love that. Truly.” I was going to leave it at that, but my doctor cleared her throat. “But maybe Ha-joon could pick it up and drop off containers.” I hurried on when she looked hurt. “For a bit. I agree with Creed that we take a breather and the fresh start.”
“More than understandable after what we’ve all been through. Best of luck tomorrow.” She hesitated in leaving. “I’m sorry about Xavier. Him being attracted to you seemed unfair to hold against him as his employer. I shouldn’t have been fair when it was personal.”
“Thank you,” I accepted.
“You’ll still let me know if you need anything?”
I smiled as I saw the young girl she used to be worried that I was disappointed in her. “Of course, Ellie. I appreciate all you’ve done. I look forward to helping Amanda’s Hope with their next event.”
She blew out a harsh breath. “Good, because all of the committee members demanded it. They said you made everything ten times easier with your organization than the last chair. And the reviews were much better even with me getting shot.”
