He slanted Ian a look and Ian almost laughed. It was a look Eden had given Ian more than once. It was a definite sign of irritation. Still, El rose from the seat. “Did you have a fun chat with the billionaire?”
Like El could talk. His family was loaded. He and Eden would someday have more money than they knew what to do with.
“He knew her mother and her father, so I wanted to listen to what he had to say.”
El nodded as his smile faded. “I can’t understand how someone can deal with that big of a blow at that age.”
He knew. She had become hyper vigilant, mistrusting of everyone’s motives, and it’s probably the one thing that helped keep her alive.
El headed back to sit with Jenner and Ian’s father, as Ian sat down next to Lila. She was still sleeping, a testament of how exhausted she was. He took in the dark circles under her eyes, the pallor of her skin…and he was sure she had lost a lot of weight. Her clothes didn’t fit her well. They looked to be at least a size too big.
First order of business, he was going to get her to safety. That meant using one of Dillon’s many safe houses or possibly renting one himself. The latter option would require more work, so he hoped Dillon had the house they’d promised. Either way, he would be by her side. He owed her for so many things. But that was all it was about. Yes, he found her impossibly attractive. He didn’t know why, but she just drew him in. He could keep his lust at bay. He was the man who was known not to have a heart.
With a sigh, she moved closer, frowning in her sleep, as if disturbed by her dreams. He could only imagine what chased her in her nightmares. Soon, she settled her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh. This close he could pick up her scent. It was so delicate and it was at odds with the woman herself. Or maybe, he didn’t know her well enough.
Either way, it didn’t matter. He would think of her every time he caught the scent of roses.
That one little thought hit him right in the chest. His feelings for the contrary woman were all over the place, but one thing was certain. He would do everything he could to eliminate the threat to her life. He wouldn’t rest until he knew she was safe.
“Lila, it’s time to go,” someone said. It was a deep British accent, attached to what she hoped was a very sexy man. It would be better than most of the nightmares she had.
“Well, thank you, I guess.”
She blinked her eyes open. It took a second or two for her mind to start working. It was probably because it wasn’t accustomed to all the rest she had been getting. Normally, she slept about two to three hours a night. Her brain had just shut down when she’d gotten settled in that seat. It was then that she’d realized she was at an odd angle. Shit, she was practically laying on Ian. He had been the sexy British voice she’d heard.
She sat up so fast her head started to spin. He was giving her a smile that told her she had been speaking out loud and not just with her thoughts.
The only way out of this was to pretend not to know what he was talking about.
“What are you talking about?”
“You called my voice sexy. Again. I like that.”
She rolled her eyes. “Hardly something I would say.”
Her obsession with Ian had started years earlier, knowing that he was Sam’s son. She had always thought it had something to do with losing her brother, Adam. But soon, she realized that she did not have sisterly feelings for Ian.
“Right,” he said, giving her a shark’s smile.
From his tone and that smile, she knew he didn’t believe her, but that wasn’t important at the moment.
“What’s the plan?”
And how soon would she be able to slip away? As if reading her mind, he leaned forward to say, “We’re going straight to a safe house. Conner and Luc will meet us there.”
Oh, they were pulling out the big guns.
“And just so you know, the house is surrounded by a forest, so don’t think you will be able to get away that easily.”
She gasped, and it was his turn to roll his eyes. “You are so easy to read.” Then he undid his lap belt.
She did the same and hurried to follow him. “It would be better if I disappeared.”
He stopped so fast that she ran into the back of him. He turned to face her. “Who would it be better for?”
She opened her mouth, but he didn’t give her time to respond. “Just so you know, it will not be better for me, because if you disappear, I will not rest until I find you.”
The man needed to get a grip. While she did appreciate his help, she didn’t like his tone. “Is that a threat?”
