Alexander followed her gaze. An angry little man of sixty strode towards them. Graying hair, beady brown eyes, his hands balled into fists at hissides.
Quickly, Alexander pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, and engaged the voice recorder. Nicholas pushed to his feet and joined his brother, forming a protective Fairhaven wall aroundElizabeth.
Carter glowered at the two men. “Excuse me,gentlemen. I need to talk to MissBennett.”
“Not a chance. Didn’t you get a copy of the protection order?” Alexander asked. “Elizabeth has nothing to say to you. You can address all of your vitriol to her lawyer.” He flicked his gaze to Elizabeth. Stuttering breaths rasped as she trembled and stared at something—or perhaps nothing—across the room. Alexander angled his body so he could lay his hand on hershoulder.
“I could hardly be expected to know she’d be here tonight. But since she is, I need a few moments of her time,” Cartersaid.
“I don’t think so.” Alexander gestured to one of the tuxedoed security guards around the room. They were unobtrusive, but their stance and their earpieces gave them away. “How much did you donate to the governor’s pet causes last year, Carter? Five hundredthousand?”
“Seven-fifty,” Carterspat.
“Oh, what a pity. Nicholas and I together donated more than two million. Not to mention the money we’ve pledged to his re-election campaign. And as it ishisball, I think I know who will be allowed to stay and who won’t be.” Alexander smiled, but he ached to punch Carter in his pinched jaw. Or throw it in the man’s face that Fairhaven Exports would soon be suing them. But that was for thelawyers.
Carter leaned closer to Alexander and Nicholas as two security guards converged. “Listen to me. Fairhaven Exports is one of our clients. Miss Bennett is under a strict confidentiality clause. One she’s apparently violated by associating with the two of you. We’re going after her for everything she’s got. You don’t want to get caught in themiddle.”
Alexander held up his hand to stop the two security guards from interrupting. “That sounds suspiciously like athreat.”
“You’re goddamn right it is,” Carterreplied.
“Then may I introduce you to the governor’s security detail?” Alexander nodded, and the two men took Carter by thearms.
“Sir, you’ll need to come with us. Threats towards our guests are not permitted. Do you have a plus-one?” The taller of the two guards tapped his ear. “We have an incident. Escorting a guest from the premises for threatening theFairhavens.”
Nicholas blew out a breath once they’d hauled Carter away. “I’m really going to enjoy taking that piece of shite down a fewnotches.”
“As am I. Elizabeth?” Alexander turned back to her and brushed his hands down her shoulders. “Are you allright?”
She looked up at him, her face paler than he’d ever seen. “I need some air,” shemanaged.
He had her up and the cloak wrapped around her in a single breath. She practically sprinted for a set of glass doors leading out onto a balcony that wrapped around three sides of theroom.
Heat lamps built into decorative columns kept them warm, despite below freezing temperatures outside. Elizabeth gripped Alexander’s forearms and tried to force air into her lungs. “Can’tbreathe.”
Alexander pressed her fingers to his neck. “Feel my heartbeat, Elizabeth. Focus on it. Listen to my voice and take slow, deep breaths.” He kept up a steady stream of words, holding her with his eyes, his arm around her, and his voice. Several minutes passed before her breathing evened, and she sank against hischest.
“Sorry. Second attack this week. I thought I was pastthem.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. Are you all rightnow?”
Her nod and small smile drew back the curtain of fear that had closed itself around him. “How did you know how to dothat?”
“A Dom must be able to calm his sub quickly. I’ve never had a woman panic during play, but Nicholas has. We’ve both hadtraining.”
Elizabeth straightened and stared out over the city skyline. Her voice, when it came, held a tinge of sadness. “Carter’s going to keep making trouble for you. Hayes is even worse. Pastack is the only halfway decent one, and he’s so old that he barely comes into the office any longer. For all I know he’s not eveninvolved.”
“Carter can make as much trouble as he wants.” Alexander spared a glance inside the ballroom. His brother had his phone pressed to his ear, while Candy examined her nails. “Nicholas is likely talking to Ben right now. I recorded Carter’s threat, and the two security guards heard it. There’s nothing else to be done tonight but try to enjoy ourevening.”
“I’d really likethat.”
Nicholas met them at the door. “The security detail has Carter detained in the basement. The police are on their way. Violating the order of protection—at a party—won’t get him more than a couple of hours in jail, but by the time they process him and he gets in touch with his lawyer, it’ll be 2:00a.m.”
“Good. We’ll be home by then, and I’m not letting Elizabeth out of my sight this weekend.” Alexander brushed a kiss against her cheek. “We’ll stop by your flat tomorrow and pick up some clothes for you. You’ll stay with me for a few days. Allright?”
Elizabeth grimaced as she nodded. “Okay. I can get my neighbor to watchRiver.”
Nicholas rested a hand on her shoulder, earning a glare from Alexander. “Once we bring the Feds in on Monday, you’ll be legally protected. No more lawsuit, nothing they can do to you. Alex will make sure you don’t have to deal with those arseholes thisweekend.”
