Foyle nodded curtly in greeting, took a seat next to Nicholas, and withdrew his laptop. “I’m only here to observe and take notes,” he said. “You’re a material witness to our case against CPH, and I don’t want to be blindsided incourt.”
The woman scanned the room, her limpid blue eyes lingering first on Nicholas, then Alexander. She smiled warmly and extended her hand. “Carola Roy, U.S. Attorney for the State of Massachusetts. I’ll be handling the case against Carter, Pastack, and Hayes. It’s a pleasure, Alexander,Elizabeth.”
Carola’s smile dropped as soon as Alexander extricated his hand from hers. Elizabeth eyed the magenta power suit, the white shirt that opened to reveal a slice of lace, and decided she didn’t much care for thewoman.
“My chief investigator, Tyler Gilvers,” Carola said as she gestured to hercompanion.
Tyler, tall and ruggedly handsome with only a hint of gray in his brown hair, shook Elizabeth’s hand first. “Good to meet you, Miss Bennett. Please accept my apologies. I had to go through your apartment with a fine-toothed comb this morning. I did my best not to leave it amess.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks burned. “Lovely. Since you’ve likely seen my underwear, medical records, and recent reading material, I think you can call meElizabeth.”
“It’s my job, Elizabeth. I don’t judge. Regardless of what I find. You have nothing to be ashamed of.” Tyler took a seat next to Carola. His dark hazel eyes flicked to her laptop. “Ben told me last night that you’d taken this with you. MayI?”
“I’d prefer to show you what I’ve found if that’s all right?” Elizabeth said. She turned the machine so Carola and Tyler could see the screen and summarized herfindings.
Ben took detailed notes and handed her a flash drive to copy all of the altered files when she’d finished. Carola ordered Tyler to take the laptop intoevidence.
Elizabeth’s thoughts started to wander as Alexander and Nicholas asked Carola about the timing of the Fairhavenlawsuits.
She was tired. Exhausted even, and she still had to deal with the press this evening. And her friends. Even after five years in Boston, she’d only grown close to a few people. She needed Toni and Kelsey, needed to feel normal for even an hour, but if they took an instant dislike to Alexander, Elizabeth didn’t know how she’d get throughdinner.
Alexander’s voice permeated her thoughts. What was he saying? She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying tofocus.
“What is the likelihood they’ll come after heragain?”
Carola cleared her throat. “It’s hard to say. Though, after tomorrow it won’t do them anygood.”
“Tomorrow?” Elizabeth asked as she forced her eyesopen.
The attorney spared her a brief glance before turning her smile back to Alexander. “Two things are happening tomorrow. First, we’re raiding CPH’s offices at 8:00 a.m. Second, we’ll take Elizabeth’s deposition tomorrow at our offices. Say, at eleven?” Without waiting for a response, Carola continued. “Tonight, we’ll put her into protective custody. She’ll be there until the case is settled, and after that, if we still think there’s any sort of threat, the witness protection program is certainly anoption.”
Elizabeth’s stomach flipped as Alexander, Ben, and Nicholas all started speaking at once. Her fingers tightened on Alexander’s thigh. Unable to look at him, her throat too tight for her to say anything, she prayed the death grip on his leg conveyed herfear.
“Enough!” Alexander roared. When silence descended, he pinned Carola with an icy stare. “Elizabeth isn’t going into protectivecustody.”
Carola leaned forward, the lace gaping to reveal the tops of her breasts. “It’s the safest place for her,Alex.”
A muscle in Alexander’s leg tightened under Elizabeth’s touch as the anger rolled through him. “Ms. Roy, my name is Alexander. But I’d prefer you address me as Mr. Fairhaven. That gentleman who frisked you on your way in was a major in the Special Projects division of the SAS. They’re very much like your SEAL team. His partner? A member of the First Raider Brigade from Greece. Off-shift, downstairs, I have a former Secret Service agent and three former SEALs. Elizabeth is safer here than anywhere. What would you do for her? Stick her in a small hotel room with a single police officer as a babysitter? Only let her leave for court dates? Ben tells me that the case will likely not be tried until the first of the year. I will not let her spend Christmas alone, nor will I stand for being forcefully parted fromher.”
Carola sputtered. “There w-would be two of th-them.”
Alexander glared back. “I have six, and I can get a dozen more with a single phone call. You don’t have the resources Ido.”
“Elizabeth—Miss Bennett—this is irresponsible,” Carola pleaded. “CPH defrauded their customers out of close to four hundred million over the past fiveyears.”
Elizabeth’s headache throbbed with each beat of her heart. “Oh, sonowyou’re willing to acknowledge that I’m sitting right here? I’m not blind, Ms. Roy. Nor am I stupid or irresponsible. What Iamis exhausted and tired of you looking at Alexander like he’s your prize for having to be here on a Saturday. I need a minute. Excuseme.”
Elizabeth pushed up, proud that she didn’t sway on her feet. Alexander stalked after her as she hurried from theroom.
“You should have seen her face,” Alexander said as he slid an arm around her waist. He sobered when she turned to him, tears lining her eyes. “What’swrong?”
“I just need a minute. A bathroom. You have one down here, don’t you?” Elizabeth tried desperately not to let her tears spill, but as Alexander tucked her against him and brought her into a small home gym, she lost thebattle.
At a half-bath in the corner of the room, Alexander rested his hands on her shoulders and held her gaze. “If you ever ask me to let you go, I will. But until that day, you never have to face anything alone. We’ll get through thistogether.”
Elizabeth nodded, fighting against the nausea that threatened. “If I hadn’t left, I would have said something I regretted,” she managed. “Go back in there. I won’t be long. I just need to splash some water on myface.”
For a long moment, Elizabeth didn’t know if Alexander would let her go, but eventually, he nodded. “I probably should make sure she hasn’t captured Nicholas in those talons ofhers.”
