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Mei-Lee, who’s been sitting beside Eden holding her hand, glances up.
Are we going home now?she asks.
“What’s she saying?” the officer questions.
“She wants to know if we’re allowed to return to the mansion tonight.”
“I don’t think that’s advisable. At least, not until your window is repaired and we can ensure that the security system is in working order again. I think it would be safer if you stayed with friends or family. Maybe even a hotel, if you have no other options.”
Eden swallows. “We can go back to my apartment.” She speaks softly, a whisper. “I’m sure Taylor won’t mind. Plus, I’ve got a pull-out couch that Mei-Lee can sleep on and you…”
I nod. “Would you feel safer there?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s where we’ll go.”
* * *
“Holy fucking shit!” Taylor gasps when the three of us walk through the door together. She gawks at Eden’s neck, which is swollen and growing darker by the minute. There’s no doubt in my mind that her bruises will be purple by morning.
“I’m fine,” she insists. “You should see the other guy.”
“God, your texts made absolutely zero sense. Some freak really broke in to drop off doll lookalikes? That’s some straight up voodoo-level creepy shit.”
“Thank you for having us,” I tell Taylor. “Apologies for the sudden intrusion.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. The more the merrier and all that. I’ve already made up the pull-out for you, and if you’re hungry, there’s some leftover Italian in the fridge.”
“Thanks, Tay,” Eden mumbles. “But I think I just want to go to bed.”
“Totally understandable. You guys get some rest. I’m going to double check the locks before crashing.”
Eden takes my hand and starts to tug me down the hall, but not before signinggood nightto Mei-Lee.
The second the door’s closed and we have a bit of privacy, I pull her toward me to inspect her throat. My fury knows no bounds. Whoever did this to her is going to pay a thousand times over. I won’t rest until that sick fuck is rotting behind bars. I don’t even care about my own safety. I don’t give a rat’s ass that they stormed into my home and violated my privacy. All I care about is that they had the audacity to harm my woman and—
“It’s really not that bad,” Eden whispers, almost like she’s reading my mind. “You can relax, Hunter. I’m safe.”
“I should be the one comfortingyou.”
She shakes her head but doesn’t speak again. I can’t tell what she’s thinking. All I know is that my poor, brave, wonderful girl really needs her rest. After the shitshow that was today —first with her exam, then being confronted by paparazzi, and then being assaulted in the middle of the night— she deserves nothing less than good dreams and a deep slumber.
“Come here,” I murmur, scooping her up to carry her over to her bed.
It’s cramped compared to mine, a measly double-sized mattress that barely has enough room for us both. Neither of us complain. She curls up against me, tracing the edge of my tattoo as her eyes flutter shut. I cover us with her blanket, holding her as close and as tightly as I dare.
“I’ll take the day off tomorrow,” I offer.
Eden nuzzles that much closer, pressing her cheek to my chest. “Don’t do that. You’ve got way too many people counting on you to just take the day off.”
“Eden…”
“I’ll be alright,” she whispers, a promise.
My throat is tight. I don’t like any of this, but Eden has a point. I’m not in a position to drop my work responsibilities at the drop of a hat. Hundreds of people rely on this production for work, to earn their paychecks. Work comes first, not because I want it to, but because it has to.
I close my eyes and press a kiss to her hair.
