I’m so torn. Either way, we’re in trouble.
The door creaks open, and light streams into the staircase.
“Ryder?” Lily’s sweet voice echoes off the stone walls.
I turn to face her, the light behind her making her look like an angel. I stride back inside her room, gathering her in my arms and holding her tight. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but in this moment, I know I can hold her and keep her safe.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice muffled in my chest.
I pull back and put my hands on her shoulders. “You haven’t heard anything from Tristan, right? Or your family?”
“No.” She furrows her brow and shakes her head. “Ryder, what’s going on?”
I swallow hard, unsure of what I should tell her.
“You two better not be kissing in the dark!” Agatha’s voice rings into the staircase now, too. Her expression changes when she sees us. “Oh, dear. What’s wrong?”
Looking at the two of them, I know I have to tell them what’s going on. I won’t abandon her now, at least not without some kind of explanation.
I slide my hand down Lily’s arm, intertwining our fingers together like we did this morning. Tugging her back into the room, I gesture for us all to sit on the couch. Lily sits between me and Agatha, and they both look intently at me.
“That was Tristan Jackson,” I say.
Agatha lets out a little gasp, and Lily’s eyes widen.
“What did he want?” Lily whispers.
In that moment, I see the fear in her eyes. Despite everything she’s said and the way she acts, he’s still stolen the peace she deserves. My chest tightens, resolved to be open and honest with her. She deserves that from me, and I will give her everything she needs.
“He somehow got a hold of a picture of us from last night,” I explain. “And he wants me to leave you.”
Lily blinks at me a few times. “What? Why does he care so much?”
I exhale. “He seems obsessed with getting back at you.”
She takes in a shaky breath. “And if you don’t leave?”
“He’s going to send the picture to your father and brothers. I know how Peter will react. He’ll lose his mind. And your other brothers and dad?—”
“Same,” Lily confirms. She holds my gaze, and I see her weighing the options. It’s a heavy decision. “But that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we’re together.” She takes her other hand and squeezes mine with both. “What do you think, Aunt?”
Agatha’s face sets with determination. “I think he should leave.”
“No,” I say firmly, squeezing Lily’s hand. “I’m not leaving her alone.”
“She’s not alone,” Agatha replies. “She has me. Trust me, this is the better of the two options.”
“I don’t want to hide,” I insist.
Agatha looks down at our clasped hands, presses her lips together, then looks back at us. “Lily, my dear, I don’t think anyone has ever told you about Eugene.”
Lily shakes her head slightly. “Who is Eugene?”
A small smile fills Agatha’s face. “Only the love of my life.”
CHAPTER 35
Lily
