Page 78 of The Rebel Billionaire

I knew I'd lose him eventually. He'd made it clear he didn't want me forever. I'd have to livewiththat.

But for now, I'd take what Icouldget.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

LUCAS

Icouldn't seemto shake the knot in mychest.

Was itanger?Fear?

Fuck that. I don't getscared.

There was no denying we'd all been lulled into a false sense of security over the last few weeks. Charlie's stalker had backed off and we were all relieved. Me, mostofall.

This thing with Charlie would run its course, likely sooner than later. As long as the stalker was out there, I had an excuse to stickclose.

We'd moved way beyondfriends with benefits. I didn’t know what we were, but whatever it was, Ilikedit.

I liked being withCharlie.

Not just in bed, though that was fucking spectacular. Before Charlie, I'd never been a guy to go back for seconds. Honestly, I'd expected the whole thing with her would be over before itstarted.

In a million years, I never would've imagined she'd be this good. It wasn't that she was skilled. I'd been with women who had way moreexperience.

For the first time, sex wasn't about experience. It wasn't about tricks and skills. It was all about Charlie. Not the way her pussy gripped my cock or how well she used her hot mouth. All of that would've beenenough.

No, it washer. The way she smelled underneath her lotions and sprays, her natural musky sweetness. The silk of her hair. The way she never took my shit or let me boss heraround.

It was everything. I was totally fucked. I knew it. Everyone who saw us knew it. As soon as we caught the stalker and she was safe, I'd be out ofexcuses.

I was turning down work every day. I picked up a few small jobs I could do from my laptop, but I turned down everything that would take me outoftown.

Leaving Charlie unprotected was out of thequestion.

Never mind that Sinclair would have a guy on her the second I stepped away. No one could keep her safe the way Icould.

Noone.

Sinclair Security only hired the best. I didn't doubt that whoever they assigned to Charlie would be technically proficient. Considering that they thought of her as family, whoever it was wouldn't just be proficient, they'd be exceptional. But no one knew her likeIdid.

To them, she'd be just another client. They wouldn't get that she was precious. And it wasn't just about keeping her safe, it was about making sure she wasn't afraid. That she never had to be afraidagain.

Fuck.

The look on her face when I ripped open the door to her shit heap of a truck left me sick with rage. Her ocean blue eyes had been wide with shock, her skin blue-white it wassopale.

She'd been so fucking proud of her front porch, the new planking, the patches on the siding. It looked like a mess, but anyone who'd renovated a house could see the progress. Now, some asshole had destroyed it and stolen herpeace.

When we finally managed to pin this on Hayward, I was going to fuckingkillhim.

Aiden had called a family meeting for dinner even though Holden and Tate were out of town at a gaming conference. After announcing the dinner, he left, taking Charlie with him. Letting Evers lead her out to the car, he stopped at the door to say to me, "You'll move her stuff over? And be at dinnertonight?"

I nodded. Aiden lifted his chin in goodbye and left. I kept waiting for him, for any of them, to object to Charlie sleepingwithme.

The Winters clan was surprisingly laid-back. I didn't get it, because they were bossy as hell with every other aspect of Charlie's life. Aiden had fucking fired her from a job she excelled at because he didn't think she was happy, but they didn't mind her shacking upwithme.

If I had a little sister, I sure as hell wouldn't want her shacked up with a guylikeme.