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The silence they left in their wake made her cringe, but that was quickly eclipsed by excitement over Lyle’s presence. The driver held the door as they ducked into the back of the BMW. She peered between the front seats and saw Roth hadn’t moved. Johan was speaking to him while Mo stood a few feet away. Apparently, it was Johan’s turn to take the blow if Roth lashed out. She felt like Roth was trying to communicate something to her, but the frequency was off. She was relieved when he finally gave in and stalked to Aleixo’s car.
“He thinks I’m going to steal you away from him,” Lyle said quietly.
“That’s absurd,” she said impatiently.
He sat back. “I should.”
“Stop it.” She smacked his chest lightly as she belted herself in. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Of course I’m here,” he said testily. “Now, cut the crap. What’s going on?”
She blinked. “What?”
He leaned forward, but was forced back in his seat as his driver slammed on the gas to catch up with Aleixo.
“He takes you out of the country, away from family, and is jumping from place to place like he’s on the run.”
“He’s tying up loose ends.”
“Whatloose ends?”
She waved her hand. “I don’t know. Stuff so he can run everything from New York. I don’t get into his business.”
A car passed, briefly illuminating Lyle’s perplexed expression.
“You’re telling me you’re fine,” he said in a disbelieving tone.
“Yes.” She raised her eyebrows. “Did you think otherwise?”
His silence answered for him.
“You thought I needed to be rescued?”
He cursed under his breath.
“Aww.” She reached out, found his cheek in the dark, and gave it a pat. “You’re the best brother-in-law.”
He jerked away. “You’re a pain in the ass. I came here, thinking he was keeping you hostage, and find you two making out on a cliff, watching the sunset like a real couple. I’m not buying it.”
The initial burst of joy at seeing him began to wane. He wasn’t here to see her; he was trying to catch her in her lie. He may have agreed not to hire a private investigator, but he wasn’t giving up. Anxiety bloomed, making her hands go damp with sweat.
“I don’t understand,” she said slowly. “I’ve been checking in regularly. I didn’t say I was in danger.”
“As if you would,” he snorted. “You think text messages and infrequent calls are going to stop us from worrying? If I thought I could get away with it, I’d shove him off that cliff and claim it was an accident.”
“That’s not funny.”
“I don’t think any of this is funny. When the hell did you become such an accomplished actress? I didn’t think you had it in you. He told you I was coming, didn’t he?”
“No. How could he know that?”
“I don’t know how, but that bastard is always two steps ahead of me. That’s the only explanation for the show you two were putting on. He’s really going all in this time, isn’t he?”
“Lyle, that wasn’t an act.”
There was a dangerous pause, and then, “You can’t actually believe he has feelings for you.”
Even though she had thought the same thing countless times, hearing it aloud cut her to the quick. “Is it so impossible to believe someone cares for me?”
