He jerked back his head. “That’s not what’s happening.”
Confusion spiraled through her. She was too groggy for heavy conversation. She needed coffee. Food. Anything but the anxiety scaling her esophagus like an expert rock-climber.
He framed her face, his touch gentle yet firm. “Lainie, listen to me,” he crooned.
Just like that, her heart rate slowed. The emotion choking her lessened, and she leaned into him. He could tell her to jump off a bridge in that tone and she’d obey.
“Cameron’s going to keep coming for you. We both know that. I’ve got to put a stop to him, but I need you safe.”
She swallowed.
“I also need your okay.”
Laine’s breath hissed out through her nose. His meaning was loud and clear.
He’s going to kill Cameron.
Her stomach muscles clenched. She wasn’t stupid. Cameron wasn’t a man who could be stopped or even arrested. He was too powerful. She’d learned that in the short time they were in Iraq.
He had money. Resources. And more hate than ten men were capable of. If he succeeded in taking Emmy from her, he’d make sure Laine never saw her again. If he didn’t kill her.
If someone had told her last week that she’d be discussing plans to murder her fiancé while their daughter was in the next room, she’d have laughed.
But this was real.
She tangled her fingers through her hair and turned away. “I need coffee,” she said weakly.
Her response should have been instant:Murder the bastard.Yet, he was still Emmy’s father. Even if she was confused and upset by her father’s actions, Emmy loved him.
Tears clouded her vision as she reached for a mug and went to the coffeemaker.
“I want you to make the call, Laine. I mean, we can try other means. Go to the authorities ... But you know as well as I do he’s protected. Still, it’s not my choice to make.”
She exhaled heavily. What option did she have? The risk was too great. Maybe she could call Cameron—reason with him. Beg him to stop pursuing her.
She’d tell him she’d forfeit the house, money, and child support. He’d want to see Emmy, though. And goddammit, if circumstances were different, she’d want her daughter to have a relationship with him. She should be able to trust that he’d keep her safe. That he wouldn’t kidnap Emmy. But that’s exactly what he’d do. What he was trying to do.
Roarke’s arms wrapped around her middle, pulling her back to his front. She rested her shaking hands on the counter, inhaling the warm, heady scent of him and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
She was falling for Roarke.
No, she’d fallen for him on Christmas Eve six years ago.
Now, she was picking up the pieces of her life with the man she should’ve let stay by her side.
“I’ve got you, Lainie.” His breath was hot on her neck, and the feel of his stubble on her cheek sent goosebumps over her skin. “You just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ve fucking got you.”
His words wrapped around her, hugging her heart, soul, and everything in between. The tears she’d been holding back escaped and fell silently down her cheeks. She hated crying, especially when Emmy might see. She didn’t want to scare her even more.
She inhaled deeply and turned to face him. His dark eyebrows met over his nose. His mouth was set in a firm lineand concern lit his eyes. God, he cared so much. The creases rippling his forehead told her he was worried she was upset, but the determination in his body language confirmed he was here to protect.
Resting her hand on his chest and reveling in the solid strength there, she tipped back her chin. “I wish I could give you a definitive answer. My mind tells me there’s only one way out of this—and you’ve already got that figured out.”
She lowered her gaze as shame spread over her. How could she protect a man who’d tried to harm her and would take her daughter if given the chance? “I just ...” She wet her lips and shook her head. “I need some time to process. He’s still Emmy’s father. Besides that, I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”
His mouth lifted at the corner. “You’re gonna need more than a pissed-off ex to get rid of me, babe.”
She chuckled. “Well, that’s good to know.”
