“He didn’t want you or your mother using your gifts,” Alex concluded.
Eden nodded. “He didn’t understand what we could do. Like most people, that scared him. It caused a rift between him and my mother. When we discovered I was gifted with psychic abilities as well, he began keeping his distance.” She swiped the moisture from her cheeks. “I gained a gift, but I lost my father. Then, a few years later, he stole my mother from me, too.”
Sympathy poured from Alex’s eyes. “Baby.”
“I’m not telling you this to gain your sympathy.” Eden walked to the board. “I shared that story with you in hopes you’d understand why I have to do this.” Facing him again, Eden implored with him to hear what she was saying. “Alex, these women had no one to turn to. And who knows how many others like them are out there, right now. Others like me.”
Alex slowly made his way over to her. “I just got you back.” He stared down at her with the same desperation she felt. “This thing with us…it’s just getting started, Eden. I can’t lose you. Not when I finally have you the way I’ve always dreamed of.”
“Oh, Alex.” Eden went to him. With her hand pressed over his pounding heart, she said, “You’re not going to lose me. We don’t even know if this plan of Murphy’s is going to work.”
“It’ll work,” he stated with utter certainty. “One look at you and Josiah won’t be able to resist.” He tucked some hair behind her ear. “I can’t stand the thought of you being used this way.”
“You heard what Murphy said. I’ll be protected by your team the whole time, and the second Josiah tries to get to me…if he tries…you and the others will swoop in and take him out. I won’t ever be in any real danger.”
Anguish filled his eyes. “I fucking hate the thought of you being anywhere near that sick bastard.”
“I know,” Eden whispered softly.
That same muscle in his strong jaw bulged. “There has to be another way.”
I wish there was.“There isn’t. Not without risking more lives.”
Alex stared down at her, still racked with indecision. Deep down, he knew she was right. She just had to give him the time to accept it. A minute later, his resolve crumbled.
“Goddamnit.” The explicative escaped his lips on a whisper just before he leaned his forehead against hers. “Swear to God, if anything happens to you…”
“Nothing is going to happen to me, honey.” Eden leaned up and pressed her lips to his. “I promise.”
She went in for another quick taste, but Alex deepened the kiss. Soon, what was meant to be a short symbol of reassurance turned into a passionate embrace.
Tongues intertwined, the two became so lost in their unspoken promises to each other, neither realized they had company until Sergeant Murphy cleared his throat.
“I take it you two have come to an agreement?” The man’s rough voice rumbled from behind Alex.
Turning to face his boss, Alex wasted no time making his conditions clear. “If we do this, she’s to have eyes on her at all times. No exceptions.”
“That’s the plan,” his boss assured him.
“I mean it, Richard.” Alex reached back for her hand, which of course, Eden was more than happy to give.
“I hear you, Bennett.” Murphy took a few steps toward them. “But you need to remember, I’m the one in charge here. Not you.”
“Not where she’s concerned, you’re not.”
The two men stared each other down for a stretch before Murphy surprisingly backed down. “Fair enough.” He looked at her. “The press is already starting to gather outside.”
“Already?” Alex frowned. “We just agreed to do this like two seconds ago.”
“Wrong.” Murphy shook his head. “Youjust agreed to do this. She’s been on board from the beginning.”
“What if I’d talked her out of it?”
Murphy chuckled. “Like that was going to happen.”
Eden held back her grin.
“You ready?” Murphy directed the question to her.
