“I was in his way.I stopped him from achieving his goal.He won’t like that.If I hadn’t been there, maybe he would have gotten his high body count.But instead, everyone but Benedict got out.He failed in his main goal.I figure that failure had to unleash his rage.Perhaps in his mind, I’m now the one who has committed the biggest sin.”
Gage took a step back.“I…I can protect you.If he’s coming after you, I can keep you safe.”
“I’m on it,” Atlas assured him.“I have her.”And no one will ever take Lily from me.
“Is that why she’s in your house?”Gage wanted to know.“Why you’re about to put a ring on her finger?Because you think that will protect her?”
“That and the army of guards who are about to burst inside.”Because Desmond would respond instantly to Theodora.He always did.
As if on cue, the front door burst open.Four guards rushed inside and thundered toward the dining room, with Desmond in the lead.
“I believe we are done,” Atlas said even as he motioned for the guards to hold their position.“As my lawyer indicated, multiple times, in fact.”
Red tinted Gage’s cheeks.“Not yet, we’re not.”His head angled down toward Lily.“I had an interesting talk with Magnolia recently.”
Because Atlas still had his hands around Lily’s shoulders, he felt the tension slide through her.
“She’s worried about you,” Gage added.
Lily laughed.
Atlas realized it was the first time he’d ever heard her laugh.But…he didn’t think that was a real laugh.It was brittle.Mocking.
“I find that highly doubtful,” Lily returned in a cool voice.“Though I suspect she is very annoyed with me, and therefore, she’d try to mislead you.”
The red deepened in his cheeks.“She told me that you were hunting a serial killer.”
“I don’t do that.I’m not in the BAU.That’s your department.”
“Magnolia says…Lily, you believe you are going to find some kind of soulmate.”Gage’s stare shifted from Lily—to Atlas.He glared at Atlas over Lily’s head.“Someone who understands you.”
Well, well, well…
“He won’t,” Gage bit off.“He can’t.”
Oh, but Gage was very wrong.Shocking.“Don’t be so sure of that.I understand Lily perfectly.”
“Do you?”Gage challenged.Then he smiled.A smug bastard kind of smile.“David Warren.”
Lily didn’t tense.She trembled.He didn’t like for Lily to tremble.Not unless her trembles were from the pleasure that he intended to give her.Instead of pleasure, though, his instincts said that Lily was afraid and that was why she trembled before him.
“Leave,” Atlas ordered.“Now.”
The guards stepped forward.Agent Sharon Hinkle and Detective Kurt Wry immediately began to depart.
“Thank you for your time,” Sharon murmured.Her gaze darted up to the chandelier.“Insane place you have here, by the way.”She hurried for the front door, with Detective Wry right on her heels.
Only Gage lingered.
“David Warren is dead and buried,” Lily said.“I don’t really see how he is relevant to anything.”
“Isn’t he relevant?”Low.Gage’s voice seemed to carry only to Lily and to Atlas.“Why the hell doesn’t your fiancé know about him?Or are you scared of what he’ll do if he does find out?Worried you’ll get punished, Lily?”
Why in the hell would Lily ever get punished?
But, screw that.Using his grip on her, he pulled Lily back.Then he positioned himself in front of her.A deliberate choice.Because he needed the Fed to understand one basic fact.“Anyone who wants to hurt Lily will have to go through me.”He wanted this prick far away from her.
“You don’t know her.”Gage shook his head.“I do.I know what makes her tick on the inside.I know the demons she fights.You won’t help her.You’ll destroy her.”
