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"You don't have to apologize. Someone broke into your flat."
"I know, I'm just used to being independent."
"I said it's okay." He hung up the phone and crossed something off his list.
When I angled my body, I saw that it was a little to-do list of items to take care of me. Shopping, sending someone to pick up my clothes. Sending a cleaning crew. He was almost done. "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"I can't figure you out. It's like you're my fairy godfather or something."
Westin laughed then. "Well, consider me an enigma then."
"An enigma, great. But truly, thank you. I appreciate it. And I'm sorry, very sorry, I brought this to your doorstep. All part of the charm of working for Julian. Do you know why my father brought you back in on this babysitting gig?”
“No, just that it was dire enough for him to put me on the job.”
“Julian doesn't exactly have the cleanest track record. This isn't your average babysitting gig. You need to watch me because he fucked up and got in bed with the wrong people."
He frowned and crossed his arms as he watched me.
"He's been really pressuring me for ages to join the family business."
"You have no interest?"
I nodded. "Exactly. And now with this thing with the letters, I’ve done something potentially dangerous that you should probably know about.”
He lifted a brow. “What?”
“Interpol approached me and I’ve agreed to give them information on my father.
His eyes went wide. "What? When?"
"At the café when you went to the loo."
He stared at me blankly for a long moment before he ran his hands through his hair. "Fucking hell. Nissa, this is dangerous."
"I know. I know, and I just… My father is at the very least a manipulative narcissist. And while I don't think he would hurt me, he does hurt other people. The kind of people he wants to do business with are terrifying and scary, and I don't want any part of it. And he lied to me for years so he could control me. I’m not sitting back and taking it anymore.”
“Bloody Interpol? You know they just have their own agenda.”
“I had no choice. It's not exactly like I have anyone else to trust.”
Westin cursed under his breath. "Bloody Christ. You have me. You have to stop, Nissa. This is a dangerous game you're playing. You cannot get any more involved. You have to let Interpol handle this."
"You think I don't know that? Especially now. This just got way more fucked up than I ever imagined. I never thought anyone would come into my home. And now… now… shit."
He scrubbed both hands over his face and then marched over to me, hands back on my shoulders again like I was a touchstone he needed in this moment of crisis, even though I was the one on the verge of angry tears.
Leaning forward, touching my forehead with his, he spoke so calmly to me. Not the yelling I was used to from Julian, but like I mattered, and he didn’t want my tears to fall. "It's okay. You're okay. I'll help you. It's going to be all right. We will figure this out. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. I have some friends I can call in for favors. We will get your freedom."
“Is that really even possible? You got away once, but now you’re back.”
He tilted my chin up to meet my gaze. “I’m back by choice, Nissa. Julian didn’t find me and drag me back. He only thinks he did. I’m exactly where I want to be. And you and I are going to make him pay.”
Before I knew it, he wrapped me in his arms, holding me close to his chest. The steady beat of his heart soothed me. His heat helped me relax, seeping into my muscles, releasing the tension in them. Then there was his voice, so familiar, not terrifying, not scary. "I have you. I will protect you, okay? For now, let's get you to bed, and then we'll figure out just what the hell we're going to do in the morning."
It was so easy being in his arms. And for once I didn't feel all alone. "I'm not sure this is the best idea."
