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“We’ll take you home when you’re ready,” Liam promised.
As the bailiff led Hammer toward the antechamber door, he turned and looked back.
Liam waved, and Raine blew him a kiss.
He needed them, maybe a whole lot more than they needed him. Hammer clenched his jaw. He’d find a way out of this fucking mess if it killed him.
Without a word, he left the courtroom.
After a shitload of paperwork and waiting that had Hammer gritting his teeth and ready to smack heads, Liam and Raine were waiting for him in the hallway just outside the processing office. He’d never been so happy to see them in his life. His heart pounded as the three of them clung to one another as if they’d been apart for months. Hammer kissed Raine senseless. Liam gave him a hearty slap on the back.
With their girl between them, they headed out the door.
Lost in the sweet relief of the moment, Hammer wasn’t prepared for the throng of reporters that swarmed them and barraged them with questions.
“Liam,” he barked. “Put Raine behind us.”
But his friend had already moved into position, protecting her as Hammer pushed his way through the crowd.
“Mr. Hammerman, when did you start molesting children?” One reporter shoved a microphone in his face.
He clenched his teeth and shot the prick a killing glare. “No comment.”
“Miss Kendall, did Mr. Hammerman rape you as a child?” a blonde bitch in a suit asked. “Is he your pimp? Why don’t you ask the police for help escaping these two deviants?”
Raine buried her face in between the sleeves of their coats and refused to say a word.
“Back off, you bloody mongrels,” Liam roared.
They still barked questions. Raine clutched him tighter.
Hammer wrapped an arm around her, pressing her between him and Liam. “No fucking comment, you vultures!”
With a shove, they burst from the press, then sprinted to Liam’s SUV. He hoped they got some damn peace so they could enjoy their time together and figure out who the hell was persecuting him…but Hammer had his doubts.
Raine stepped into the kitchen to find Liam and Hammer with their heads together, talking in low tones. They both stopped abruptly and stared when she entered.
Her suspicions launched. Her dread crashed. “What? Has something else happened?”
They glanced at one another in that silent communication they shared. Then they both shook their head.
“No, love.” Liam gave her a gentle smile.
“I’m not buying it.” She shook her head, hands on hips. “You’re either up to or protecting me from something. I need to know.”
Macen sighed. “It’s nothing. The phone was ringing off the hook earlier. Fucking reporters. We took care of that.”
A glance over at the handheld unit and its accompanying answering machine proved that someone had yanked it from the wall—literally. And taken a hunk of drywall with it.
Liam grimaced. “I might have lost my temper a wee bit. I’ll fix it later.”
As long as they were on the subject… She plucked her new cell phone from the pocket of her skirt. “I had to turn mine off. How did they get this number so quickly? I got four calls while I was trying to nap.”
They both took theirs from pockets and set them on the counter. The screens were blank.
“We did the same, precious.”
“Those bloody leeches could give stalkers lessons,” Liam cursed.
“I should have expected them to be waiting for us.” The fact that he clearly hadn’t bothered Hammer.
“I knew but…I was too excited to have you back. I wasn’t thinking.” Raine caressed his arm in silent comfort. “Let’s have a nice dinner in tonight and ignore the rest of the world. Any preferences? Your mom has done so much of the cooking, Liam. I’d like to prove that you won’t starve when your folks go home.”
“They know, love.” Liam pressed a kiss to her cheek. “But you needn’t worry about us. I’m going to take my parents out for a nice dinner and gossip about the brood back home.”
“But…” Disappointment nipped at her. “It’s Macen’s first night back. We should all be together. We—”
Hammer cut her off with a kiss. When he eased back, she felt slightly dizzy. But the air of gravity around him righted her head again.
“I want to talk to you. Alone. Liam knows why.”
Whatever Hammer had to say was important. Immediately, fear told her he meant to leave her. But Liam looked placid, almost happy. If Macen had any intention of packing his bags, they’d be fighting now. She had to trust that, after everything they’d been through, he wouldn’t just walk away.
“All right.”
“Excellent.” Liam clapped Hammer on the shoulder and brushed a kiss over her lips. “We won’t be quick. Enjoy.”
He exited the kitchen, leaving her alone with Macen, who wore a determined expression she couldn’t quite decipher. What did he want?
“So it’s just us for dinner?” she whispered into the suddenly thick tension.
