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Zayne stepped forward, his shoulders squared, and an air of authority surrounded him. His jaw twitched, his expression revealing zero emotion. I’d spent enough time with him to understand that his ability to hide his thoughts kept him sharp and clear-headed. I suspected he would have a lot to say once we left my parents.
“Sir. Ma’am.” He pinned me with a troubled gaze. “When Giselle shared the circumstances with me, my boss started to dig into Donovan and Ander. What she says is true.”
Father’s brow arched. “Are you saying that I would doubt my daughter?” His voice was stern, and his eyes were tight with anger.
Panic crept up my throat, and my heart pumped wildly in my chest. The relationship between these two men couldn’t start like this.
“No, but when someone is in danger from a person who should be trustworthy, outside proof can make it easier to digest. Uprooting your family and everything you’ve built in order to run and protect your loved ones is no simple matter. Emotions run high and it often helps everyone deal with the situation when there are facts presented as well.”
I hadn’t ever seen Zayne stand his ground before, but I was pretty sure I had just fallen more in love with him. Not once did he flinch or back down from my father.
Father blew out a big sigh. “You’re right. I have to remember that you’re protecting my girls. I apologize for being rude. Please, tell me everything. We’ll start packing as soon as we’re done here.”
Father sat in his chair behind his mahogany desk, focusing on my bodyguard. Mother held my hand while we talked about the next steps and what it would look like. My head swam with the details. Panic bubbled inside me, but I refused to let it take over. For the first time in my life, I was about to be free from Donovan Lambert once and for all. Not only that, but I would have the freedom to be with Zayne. The realization that I could finally be with a man I cared for sparked a bit of light in my otherwise dark world. All I wanted to do was tell him I loved him, and hoped he felt the same.
36
Zayne
Clarity was power. Watching Giselle spill her guts to her mom and dad, I witnessed everyone shift from distress into problem-solving mode. They all became focused, but they weren’t the only ones. As I watched Giselle cry, her pain clawed at my chest, threatening to tear me into pieces. It was hell not gathering her in my arms and comforting her. But once her parents were on board, it was as if a black cloud had lifted off Giselle. I was so goddamned proud of her—her strength, determination, and fierce protectiveness of Ashley made me fall for her even harder.
After Giselle and I had left her parents’ house with a plan intact, I picked up hamburgers and shakes, then drove to the lake where we could enjoy the water and talk without worrying. Once we decamped from the car, I spread the blanket on the grass under a giant oak tree that provided shade.
“You really love it here, don’t you?” Giselle sipped her thick chocolate drink as she got comfortable on the ground.
“It’s one of the places that gives me peace when the world doesn’t make sense.” I unwrapped my hamburger and took a bite, staring out of the water as it lapped against the shoreline.
“Thank you.”
I glanced at Giselle. “For what?”
“For being there for my family.” She offered me a sad smile.
“It was a tough as hell conversation, but you did well.”
A frown marred her beautiful face. With everything inside me, I wanted her in my lap, but after the day she’d had with her parents, I was afraid to push her.
“What is it?” I set my food down, focusing on her.
“Do you think the plan will work, and I’ll finally be free?”
It was clear this woman had no idea that she’d become my entire world in a short time. I removed my sunglasses and held her gaze. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Giselle. We’ll get you all out. We have two days left. Hang in there. I’ll be right by your side every second.”
Her beautiful features shifted, appearing shy and unsure. “You’re making a new life for me possible, Zayne. Not only do I want to know that my family is okay, but I want to start over.” She picked at the foil hamburger wrapper, then looked at me again. “With you.”
Unsure of exactly what she meant, I offered her a safe response. “I suspect we’ll always stay in touch. I won’t disappear on you if that’s what you’re worried about.” Although I hadn’t lied to her, I wanted to be in her life more than I was able to admit. I was just afraid it would spook her if I said the wrong thing too soon.
“You beautiful, dense man.” Giselle shook her head, then set her food down on the blanket. She crawled over to me and straddled my lap.
My hands instinctively traveled to her thighs, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“I just want to be yours,” she said softly.
A slow smile spread across my face, my pulse kicking up a notch with her confession. I smoothed her hair, assessing her for any concerns. “Are you sure? I’m stubborn, bossy, protective, and I do some bad shit, Giselle.” My hand snaked around her waist, and I pressed my lips to hers. “There’s no need to answer me yet.”
She cupped my cheeks, forcing me to look at her. “I don’t need time, Zayne.” Her fingertips traced my jaw. “The night I died … when I opened the bathroom door, I saw you right before I collapsed.” Giselle gave me a gentle kiss. “There was something special about you. It was as if in the last seconds I could see things clearly—see you. And somewhere inside me, I realized that you were there forme. I guess after I recovered, I had to tuck that moment away. If Donovan knew how you had touched my heart, he would have made it his life mission to destroy you.”
My molars ground together. Right then, I made itmylife’s mission to not ever have to speak the devil’s name again.
