Chapter Twenty-Four
Elizabeth sankinto the luxurious leather seat of the limo with a groan. Even the slightest movement aggravated her headache, and she’d broken down and taken one of the Vicodin before she’d let Alexander help her out of Ben’soffice.
Four hours of deposition hadn’t left her with any reserves, and she closed her bloodshot and gritty eyes as Alexander slid onto the seat next toher.
CPH’s lawyer, Oliver Forrester, had a kind face. Until the questioning started. Gold digger, two-bit hussy—who even used that term anymore?—and fraud were the milder terms he’d called her, and though she’d held her own, she’d barely managed to keep the panic atbay.
“Are you all right?” Alexander’s deep voice drew her out of her thoughts. “You look knackered. We can skip going to your apartment and head straight forMaine.”
“I don’t want to go back there.” She wasn’t proud of the tremble in her voice, or the nausea that churned in herstomach.
“We don’t have to. I’ll call Marjorie, and you can order whatever you need for the next few days. She’ll have everything sent over within the hour.” Alexander framed her face with his hands, and she met his gaze. The cognac flecks in his irises seemed richer and brightertoday.
“No, I need to do this. It won’t get any easier the longer I wait. I’m glad you’re coming withme.”
“I don’t plan on being anywhere else but by your side for some time.” His lips brushed hers. He tasted of coffee, rich and strong and dark as night. Elizabeth could believe everything was going to be okay whenever he kissedher.
Milos and Carl—two of Alexander’s security detail—flanked them as they stepped out of the elevator. Elizabeth had expected the worst, but her newly repaired front door gleamed with fresh paint, and as he pressed the key into her hand, she took a deepbreath.
Orange soap, disinfectant, and a hint of fresh wood stain were the only scents she could discern as she stepped over the threshold. Her broken coffee table was gone, along with the bloodstains. The silver bowl rested on her counter, full of River’s cattoys.
“You did this,” she said, turning toAlexander.
“Well, not me, personally, but yes. As I was the one to damage your door, I thought I should have it fixed. Were you terribly attached to that coffeetable?”
She snorted “No. It was fromGoodwill.”
Milos cleared the apartment and nodded to Alexander as he took his place next to Carl at the frontdoor.
In her bedroom, the floorboard was back in place and the window sparkling andnew.
Keep quiet. If you don’t, I’ll make your last few minutes verypainful.
Her open closet door drew the memory of her attacker’s voice. He’d been hiding there, she knew now, and her shoes were in disarray. As her heart rate spiked, she pressed her hand to her chest and forced a deep breath before dropping to her knees and trying to bring some order back into her personalspace.
“Elizabeth?”
A couple of her blouses had fallen off the hangers, and as she clutched them to her chest, a whiff of her assailant’s sweat and greasy hair floated up. Tossing the clothes into the hamper in the corner, she pushed to herfeet.
“You’re upset.” Alexander reached for her arm, but she sidestepped him, slipped out of the room, and closed herself in the bathroom. No. She couldn’t let herself give in to thepanic.
Drumming her fingers gently against her eyebrows helped bring her heart ratedown.
I’m never going to be able to sleep hereagain.
The light knock startled her, and she yelped. “IsaidI need a couple of minutes. Go buy another container ship orsomething.”
The bathroom door swung open. “There aren’t any more ships for sale today,” Alexander said. “And you’re trying not to cry. You can’t very well expect me to leave you alone in that state. Come sit with me and tell me what’s wrong.” He guided her back to the bed and sat with his arm around her shoulders. Even his warmth couldn’t quite calm herhere.
I’m warningyou.
She shook her head, trying to wipe the memory of her attacker’s threats away. “Don’t let go,” she whispered toAlexander.
“I couldn’t let you go if I tried.” He pressed her palm to his heart and waited patiently for her to speak, tracing patterns on the back of herhand.
“I don’t know if I can stay here again,” Elizabeth said. “He was in here when I came in. In the bedroom. He dragged me back out to the living room and held me down. I couldn’t breathe.” She turned her head into Alexander’s neck and inhaled his scent. “This place wasn’t much, but it was mine. I always felt safehere.”
Alexander threaded his fingers through her hair and held her securely against his body. His lips brushed her ear. “This isn’t a decision you have to make now, Elizabeth. You’re not staying anywhere alone until the man who hurt you isarrested.”
