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I nod, not needing to say anything else.
“Where is she?” he asks before taking a drag of his cigarette. I stand next to him and put my hands in my pockets.
“At mine,” I answer. “I cleaned her up and put her to bed. The staff know to treat her with the respect they would show me,” I add.
“You aren’t going to stay away if I ask you to this time, are you?”
I look into his eyes, so similar to his sisters and shake my head. “No,” I answer honestly.
“I should have known you would both find each other again somehow,” Oliver sighs pushing himself away from the wall. “When I asked you to leave her alone when you returned from your father’s, I was surprised you did. I expected you to ignore my wishes.”
“You are my brother; I had to try.”
Oliver Lawson has had my back since the day we met. Other than Harry and Neil, there is no one I trust more. The day he turned up at mine and told me I had broken his sister's heart, I hated myself. So, when he begged me to stay away from her, I did. I never wanted to cause that woman one ounce of pain. I cared too deeply for her.
“And now?” Oliver asks, watching me.
“Now she is a grown woman, able to make her own choices. If she wants me and what comes with being with me, I won’t stand back again,” I answer honestly.
“She will want you. She’s always wanted you,” he sighs. I watch as my oldest friend stands tall and looks me straight in the eye.
“Keep her safe. Protect her from this world. She deserves to be treated like the princess you always told her she was.”
I stand tall and hold out my hand to him, the hand that is covered in the blood of the men who tried to harm the most important woman in our lives.
“I promise I will protect her with my life.”
Oliver looks down at my hand and takes it; I pull him into a hug before he has a chance to fight me. I always knew that we would have this conversation one day, and I’m glad he finally realises how serious I am about his sister.
“Go and ensure she’s okay; I will be around to see her myself in the morning. Message when she is up for visitors,” he says, turning away from me. I don’t bother to reply because he knows I will. I take a deep breath and walk back to the car.
As soon as I get close, Malcolm gets out and opens the back door for me.
“Home, Sir?”
“Please,” I answer, climbing in to realise that Neil is already inside waiting for me.
“Harry will make his own way back to the house. He wants to ensure everything is cleaned up properly.”
I nod and reach for the wet wipe he hands me. I’m cleaning my hands as Malcolm pulls away when I hear a phone ringing. Neil pulls out his mobile and looks at the screen before answering. I watch his eyes widen whilst listening to whoever is on the other end of the call.
“Are you sure she hasn’t just wandered into another part of the house? … Oh shit!” he looks up at me, and I know something’s wrong.
“Miss Lawson isn’t in your room, Sir. Ms Edwards is.”
“What the fuck? How did she get in? Has Gabriella left?” I yell, pulling out my phone and looking at the screen: no messages or missed calls.
“Yes, sir. She was seen on the cameras walking down the drive and getting into a taxi.”
“Malcolm, you remember where Gabriella lives?” I demand,
“Already on route, Sir,” Malcolm says before picking up speed.
“Get that fucking woman out of my house! Make it known that Gabriella Lawson is the only female caller I will ever have!” I snap as I pull up Gabriella’s number on my phone. It rings out and then cuts off.
“Fuck!”
Chapter Nine
