Ian did not need to see Kari retreat down another step to understand. The description she had shared of her awful childhood, the terror she had felt toward that man and his rages . . .
He told a wide-eyed Rafi, “You and Graham take Kari back to the bar.” He then turned to Connor and added, “Don’t let anyone near her until you see me signal.”
Connor nodded. “On it.”
Ian turned to Megan and Danny and Arthur, but before he could speak, the attorney said, “Go, Ian. We’ll keep Kari safe.”
He nodded and faced the three ladies and the band. “I need your help.”
“Honey, you just name it.” Maxine.
Trish demanded, “Who’s up there making all that racket?”
Ian waited until Kari was back down at the base of the stairs to reply, “Her father.”
“Humph.” Maxine again. “That man needs a lesson in how to shut up.”
Ian started up the stairs. “I couldn’t agree more.”
As they neared the landing, Ian heard a woman say, “Sir, Mr. Langham, this event has been sold out for months—”
“I amorderingyou to bring mydaughterout hereright now.”
“Sir, I’m trying to tell you, Ms. Langham hasn’t arrived—”
“That’sabsurd. This isher show.”
“Even if she was here, we couldn’t possibly allow—”
“Enough of that. Now get out of my way!”
Ian reached the landing as a middle-aged woman in a yellow-gold sheath turned to a younger aide and said, “Call security.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Ian moved in tight, invading the man’s space. “Come with me, please.”
“I’m going nowhere but through those doors and into that—” His words were chopped short by two massive ladies grabbing his upper arms and lifting him partway off his feet.
Maxine asked, “Where do you want this garbage?”
Ian pointed to a single pair of double doors opposite the ballroom. “In there.”
Maxine and Trish kept Maxwell Langham up just high enough for his tiptoes to touch the carpet. The band members formed a human wedge and shooed people out of their way. The foyer was jammed with gawking guests, many with phones raised.
Behind him, Lucinda demanded, “What should I do with this one?”
Ian shot a glance back to where a wide-eyed Justin hovered out of reach. Ian could see traces of Kari in the handsome middle-aged man. But his crystal gaze was blunted by an avaricious gleam. Traces of the rich life were already blurring the lines of his face and frame.
Ian said, “He can come, long as he behaves.”
* * *
Kari was still recovering from the shock of hearing her father’s almost incoherent rage as they approached the lobby bar.
“Wait.”
Graham had a firm hold on her arm. Connor was keeping such a tight step behind her, he collided with her when she stopped. Rafi was almost at the bar when he realized they were not following him. Graham tugged. She tugged back. Harder. Freeing herself.
“I saidwait, Graham.”
