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Zeke rubs at his forehead. “That doesn’t make it better.”
“I’m just saying. Maybe pull your head out of your arse and see this might actually be a good thing.”
Luke gives me a look I can’t decipher before he leaves. Zeke doesn’t speak, just leans against the desk. My eyes stray to the monitors, locking on the camera showing the living room and Aurelia. Fuck, she really is beautiful. She’s nibbling her nails, worry in every line of her face. I love that she cares, but I hate seeing her so agitated.
“I’m sorry,” I say when he doesn’t say anything.
Zeke raises his head and pins me with a stare. “I want to gut you.”
“Understandable,” I murmur.
“Did you instigate it?”
“Does it matter who did what? I love her. She loves me.”
His face contorts. “I hate it. But I also know there’s not another man alive who I trust more than you to keep her safe. You see my quandary?”
“I do. Mr Fraser—”
“Think we’re past that now, aren’t we?”
“Zeke…” I test his name. “You love Aurelia. She’s lucky to have three brothers who would do anything for her.”
“You’re a good man.”
“But?”
“No but. Just that. Yeah, I was pissed when I found out about you and Aurelia, but I have a wife who is very convincing when she wants to be.”
I smile a little, wondering what Bailey said to him. “She’s a smart woman.”
“She is. She thinks I should let you two play out.”
“What do you think?”
“I think if you hurt my sister, I’ll bury you in the deepest, darkest hole I can find.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything else,” I say.
“I don’t like this plan. None of us do—except maybe Luke—but I don’t see an alternative either. Charlotte isn’t going to stop coming for Aurelia. That continues to put her at risk, and if Charlotte takes her, the chances of us finding our sister diminish.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
“She can’t marry Aurelia to anyone if she’s already married. Is it a perfect solution? No, but I don’t see what choice we have.”
“Charlotte won’t take this well. We need to be prepared for that.”
Zeke considers me for a moment. “We have plans in place to start our takeover, though it’s going to take time, and that is not something we have right now.”
“So, you’ll support this?”
“Yeah. Reluctantly, but yeah. Bailey told me to listen to Aurelia and what she wants. She wants you. Whether I think it’s a mistake is not the point.”
It stings a little that he sees this as a mistake, but I’ll take his backing down as a victory—no matter how small.
“Malone… I know you’ll take care of her, but things are going to get difficult for our family. Keep her close.”
“I will,” I promise. “I’ll protect her with my life.”
