Page 69 of The Billionaire's Angel

From behind me, I heard a soft intake of breath. “Anthony?”

Fuck. Sophie. I didn't want her anywhere near this guy. The second I'd realized who he was, it took everything I had not to beat the life out ofhim.

I loved Sophie with every breath in my body, and this man had made her life a misery. He’d tried to destroy her. She'd been afraid he'd kill her. My muscles locked down, as a fine, almost imperceptible tremble shook me from head to toe. I would not lose my temper. I would control my anger, myrage.

Hurting Anthony would not help Sophie. Not in that moment. She needed me to think. She needed me to hold it together. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing my emotions to settle before I looked atSophie.

She stood beside Aiden and me, her eyes wide with shock, skin pale. As I watched, she started to shake. Ignoring Anthony, I stepped back and went to her side, pulling her into my arms and wrapping her in a tight hold. She pressed her cheek to my chest, still staring at Anthony with those wide, terrifiedeyes.

In a soft tone that pretended to soothe, Anthony said, “Sophie, darling, I know this is a shock. If we could go somewhere to talk… Everything is over now, and you can comehome.”

Aiden shifted to block Anthony's entrance to the house. “I'm afraid I can't invite you in. Sophie isn't going anywhere. Since we were all under the impression that you died in a car accident two years ago, we can start with you explaining your presence on mydoorstep.”

“You're not going to let me in the house?” Anthony asked,incredulous.

I got the impression people rarely told him no. He'd met his match in Aiden. I tightened my arms around Sophie. Everything inside me wanted to deal with the vermin on our doorstep, but I wouldn't leave Sophie alone with Anthony so close. Aiden didn't need my help. Sophiedid.

“No,” Aiden said, “I’m not. Explain yourself, or get off myproperty.”

“Sophie, they wouldn't let me tell you,” he said smoothly, his eyebrows coming together in a frown as he took in his wife's face pressed to my chest, her arms wrapped tightly around mywaist.

Forcing the expression from his face, he gave her a coldly gentle smile and went on, “I've been in protective custody. I testified against my former employers, and the prosecutor wanted me off the street until the case wasclosed.”

“I thought you were dead,” shewhispered.

“I know, darling, I know it was hard, and I'm so sorry I hurt you like that. Testifying was dangerous, and it seemed safer for everyone if I appeared to be dead. Telling you would've put you atrisk.”

“That case ended over six months ago,” I said. “Where have you been sincethen?”

Hot rage flared in Anthony's eyes as he met my gaze, then disappeared so quickly I wondered if I'd imagined it. In the same cool, gentle tone he said to Sophie, “We wanted to make sure the dust had settled before I came back tolife.”

“Who is we?” I asked, suspicious. “You and the prosecutor? You and the US Marshals service? I assume that's who had you in protectivecustody.”

“Of course,” Anthony said. Turning his attention back to Sophie, “You should never have had to go back to work, sweetheart. Damien was supposed to see that you were provided for. Taken care of. He's been dealt with, and now it's time for you to pack your things and comehome.”

At those words, Sophie shook harder, her breath tight and short. Warm tears soaked through the front of my shirt, and I realized she was crying. I'd seen her wake from nightmares about this man, seen the fear his memory evoked, but I don't think I truly understood how bad things had been until I felt her fall apart in myarms.

“Sophie isn't going anywhere with you,” I said, slowly and deliberately. “Sophie's home is here. With me.Weare her family. She's getting a restraining order, and then she's filing for divorce. You can contact her through our lawyers. Aiden will get you theinformation.”

I didn't wait for Anthony's response. I swung Sophie into my arms and carried her down the hall to the library where she and Amelia had been reading before Anthony arrived. Amelia looked up in surprise, then shock, when she saw Sophie in my arms and heard the sounds of her quietweeping.

“Tell Mrs. W we need a tea tray,” I said, “Tell her to make it strong and sweet.” Amelia hesitated, clearly wanting to ask what was wrong. “Now, Amelia,” I said, working to keep my voicegentle.

With a worried glance at Sophie, Amelia left. Sophie raised her head off my chest and tried to climb out of my arms. I sat on the couch and pulled her closer, stroking her hair back from her tear stainedface.

“Angel, it's okay. He's not going to get to you. You never have to see him again. You're safe from him, Ipromise.”

She drew in a shuddering breath and said, “I have to leave. He's going to come back, and I have to leave. I can't stay, I can't let you protect me like this. I can't, Ican’t—”

“Shhh, Angel. It's going to be okay; I'm not going to let anything happen toyou.”

“You deserve better than this. Better than me. I stayed with him. I let him hurt me. I'm not strong enough for this. Foryou.”

“Sophie, no.” It was like she didn't hear me. She closed her eyes and sobbed so hard her body shook with it. It felt like she cried for hours. Amelia returned with the tea tray and waited patiently until Sophie finally ran out oftears.

I hadn’t wanted to leave her while she was crying, but I needed to talk to Aiden. I needed to make sure Anthony Armstrong was gone. I settled Sophie into the couch and stood. Crouching in front of her, I wiped the tears from her cheeks with the pads of my thumbs and tried to get her to meet my eyes. Her green gaze was dull and fixed on thecarpet.

“I need to go talk to Aiden,” I said, softly. “We won't let him near you again, do youunderstand?”