“This is pitiful,” Xander said, picking up a pile of file folders, revealing two electronic tablets that should have been in the safe. “I’ll get her naked ass in here, organizing every piece of paper.”
“I want her on a leash, never to leave my sight again,” Logan said.
“She’s in so much trouble,” they both said in unison.
Xander started at Logan’s intense expression. “It doesn’t bother you that I...?”
“Love her?” Logan asked.
Xander paused, moving another pile of paperwork to the side, meeting Logan’s intense stare. “Yeah.”
Damn, admitting it was easier than he’d thought it would be when it came to it. He should have done it before.
“You rescued her from a horrible fate, took care of her, protected her, and fell in love with her,” Logan said softly. “I can’t begrudge you that, but I love her, Xander. And denying that you love her, isn’t a way of showingherI love her. It would be me being a jealous prick.”
“Some men would say the opposite,” Xander said quietly.
“I’m not most men.” Logan glared at him.
He’d hired Logan Marrock for his skills gained as a search and rescue tech and because he wore his heart on his sleeve.
Xander stuck his hand out. “I’m sorry, I was an asshole.”
“I’m sorry I lost my shit on you.” Logan returned the clasp. “Maybe we can work this out?”
Xander shook his head. “You taking care of Harper... I can live with that. I can’t have another submissive.”
“Why?” Logan asked.
“I once had a slave. I ruined her.” Xander spat out the words.
“Sorry to interrupt the party but I have things you need to see,” Erik and Ares came out of Ares’s office. Erik passed him an iPad.
“Show us.”
“Pictures of Nadia and Theo Denson. If you flip to the fifth photo, it gets worse.”
Looking at the pictures, seeing Nadia and Theo clink wine glasses, seeing him lock lips with her made his blood boil. Damn, that man was an awful human being.
“Who is Theo Densen?” Logan asked.
Xander turned him out as he scrolled to the next pictures. “Goddammit.”
“Theo Densen is an investment banker with too much time and money on his hands. He’s also the brother of Xander’s ex-slave, Olivia.”
“He hates my guts. I never thought he would come after me. I always thought he was too spineless. I was wrong.” His voice shook.
“Here he is with Dorian Martin at some fundraising party, and here outside of Dorian’s manufacturing plant. If I guess, he invested in aircraft technology. Here’s Nadia, Ian McIomhair’s ex, locking lips with Theo in the doorway of his house.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty hot and heavy,” Erik commented in a grim tone.
“Nadia must have mentioned the poker game to Theo,” Xander mused. Though Nadia was kind to Harper that first night, he had never liked her much and always thought Ian could do better.
“Why would Theo care?” Logan asked.
Suddenly, Xander’s body felt heavy, as if there was a booted foot on his chest. He lowered himself into the club chair by the window and faced his friends. “He blames me for his sister’s accident. For her becoming a paraplegic.”
“His sister is a manipulative bitch who only wanted you for your money,” Ares snarled.
