Page 58 of What Remains

“Love you, too.” I end the call before I break down, shoving the mobile back at Dad.

He tugs it gently from my hand, knowing how damn hard that was for me. The things you do to protect those you love.

When the car rolls to a stop behind Carter’s escort in front of us, Dad unbuckles and twists in the back seat to face me. “You ready?”

It’s snowing out, but it’s not the cold air keeping me immobile in the back seat, wedged protectively between him and Natasha. Not even that call with Elaina. It’s knowing how many people are inside waiting for me. Maybe even a traitor amongst one of the guests.

I’m not sure I’m ready to go through the motions, even if I love everyone like they’re family. I also have no plans of ever telling Mum and my brothers about what happened. They live very far outside my special operations world. There’s no sense in worrying them for no reason. They’d never understand anyway. But given Jezebel knows about my family and my brother’s hospital, I’m relieved they have extra security just in case.

“Hey.” Dad again. Holding my hand. Worry dripping through his tone even in that one word. “We can stay here as long as you need to.”

Easton unbuckles and twists back. “Why don’t I go in and let my sister and the others know to give you some breathing room until you’re ready.”

“Thanks,” Dad answers for me since I’m still staring into Easton’s eyes, currently contemplating what shade of beautiful brown they are tonight.

“Did Carter give my room to Nash?” Easton opens his door, and I spot Carter, Julian, and the others already starting for the hotel.

“No, um, it’s still yours,” I tell him, and his eyes narrow. Relief? Surprise? I don’t know what, to be honest. A little of both probably.

Dad leans around me to look at Natasha, blocking my view of Easton as he exits the SUV, stealing my chance to make a decision on the color wheel of his irises. “Babe? You want to stay back, or?”

“I’ll give you two a minute,” Natasha answers as Easton shuts his door. She unbuckles and pats our driver’s shoulder. “Cam, can you walk me in and make sure I don’t slip?” she adds in a teasing voice. “Take your time,” she whispers to me before getting out, and Cam takes hold of her arm, because he doesn’t want to deal with Dad’s wrath if Natasha falls on his watch.

Now it’s just the two of us. Our first time alone since this nightmare began. Did I just set myself up for a lecture? Bloody hell.

“I’m not going to say anything.”

Please don’t, especially not about Elaina’s marriage comment about E and Zoey. I remove my belt and face him.

At least Cam left the engine running so we won’t freeze our arses off out here. We may be a bit.

“Just don’t tell me I’m never allowed to be alone again.” I half shrug, half smile. “Or blame yourself for anything.”

He rubs his palms up and down his jeaned legs. “This is why I chose silence.”

“Only”—I wait for his eyes to find mine before I smile and point out—“you just talked.”

“Smartass,” he teases, and it’s good to see him grin, even if it’s just for a second. “I do want you getting checked out at some point tonight before you sleep. Carter has a medical team here, right?”

I turn and look out the window at the snow swirling in the breeze, the hotel lights lining the pathway to the front fuzzy through my tired eyes. “I’m fine. Seriously.”

“Good, and as soon as a medical expert tells me that, I’ll feel better.”

No point in arguing with the man. I rest my forehead against the cool window and palm the glass by my cheek, shutting my eyes. “What if they do go after Elaina? Or that woman uses⁠—”

“Liam will never let anyone near his family. Like I should have done.”

I jerk my head upright. “Don’t. Go. There.”

He ignores me, asserting, “And nothing that woman does with your laptop will be your fault. You hear me?”

“Yeah, well, the helo accident wasn’t Easton’s fault, and he didn’t listen. And me being taken from the hotel wasn’t yours, and you won’t listen, either. Why do you both expect me to do what you two won’t?”

“One of my main jobs as a father is to protect you, and I failed. Easton . . . well, he didn’t fail. He made the right call having you up on the bird with him on that op. There was no other choice. I told him that months ago. He’s just stubborn and won’t⁠—”

“Listen, exactly,” I grunt. “But my job was to protect everything on my rig, and that woman faked me out with that AI video, and I handed over everything to her. I failed. And the only way I forget that fact is when . . .” I let my words go, realizing I almost admitted to him that Easton calms my mind in a way I don’t yet understand.

Dad takes hold of my chin like I’m five. “You’re going to work this case whether I want you to or not, so that means you’re going to have to accept you did what you had to do and none of us blame you. Nor does your grandfather or POTUS. No one.”