Page 25 of The Devil’s Lair

I gape at the man who, less than two weeks ago, didn’t even know I existed, and the same goes for me. Yet he’s helping me fight off the La Salles, offering me a job, providing a safe haven until the custody threat has receded, and now buying toys for Isla, too.

Tears prick my eyes, hot and sharp. I blink them away. “Why are you doing this for us?” Even though it’s not the first time I’ve asked him, I can’t help wondering if there’s more to this than a feeling of responsibility because Marcus died at his club. Living with Marcus and being around his friends taught me that people don’t do things for others, especially strangers, unless there’s something in it for them. What’s Tobias De Vil’s angle?

“Aside from what I’ve already told you, I can’t abide bullies. Felicity and Preston La Salle are the worst kind of bullies. Unfortunately for them, they’ve met their match this time.” He grins, and his entire face lights up.

He’s awfully handsome. He must have the ladies falling all over themselves. If Marcus hadn’t broken me, he’d be the sort of man I’d go for. Now, the thought of letting another man touch me makes me want to throw up.

“But, if I’m being honest, it’s more than just that.”

My stomach drops. Ah, here we go. I’m about to learn the real reason he’s offered me a safe haven. If he wants payment in kind, I’m out of here.

“The truth is that I can’t get you out of my mind.” He must read my thoughts because he lowers his voice. “Don’t misunderstand me. This isn’t sexual. It’s hard to explain.”

He invites me to sit, and I do. He chooses the chair, his respect of my boundaries not going unnoticed.

“Remember I told you I had a sister who died?”

I nod.

“Well, it wasn’t an accidental death.” He glances at Isla, as do I, and sees her engrossed in her new toys, paying us no attention.

“What happened?”

“She and my eldest brother, her twin, were kidnapped. He escaped, she didn’t. The men who took her…” He glances away for a second, blinking slowly when his gaze shifts back to mine. “They raped and strangled her. She was sixteen.”

My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh, my God. That’s… horrific.”

“I was only seven at the time. Old enough to know something dreadful had happened even if I couldn’t properly process it. Two weeks after my sister’s funeral, my mother killed herself.”

According to Marcus, I’m overly emotional at the best of times, but Tobias’s story breaks my heart.

“I am so sorry.” I reach over and place a hand on his forearm.

He flinches and moves out of my reach.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to touch you without consent.”

“It’s fine. Your husband shot me without consent. This is considerably better.” He chuckles, but I get the feeling the joke is a cover for his physical response to me touching him. “Anyway,” he continues, “my older sister’s murder changed all of us. Made us… over-protective of the women in our lives. Just ask Saskia, my younger sister. We drive her crazy most of the time, and she isn’t shy about telling us, either.”

“I don’t mean this to sound ungrateful, but I’m not a woman in your life. You don’t even know me.”

“True. I know men like Marcus though.”

This time, it’s me who flinches.

Tobias clasps his hands together. “Me helping you doesn’t have an agenda other than one human reaching out to another in a time of need. I understand you only have my word for that, of course.”

I run my forefinger along my bottom lip and look over at Isla. My world. My only reason for staying with Marcus for as long as I did. For suffering through his cruel punishments and violent outbursts. Without Tobias’s help, all that will have been for nothing. Felicity will take Isla unless she’s stopped. I can’t stop her, but Tobias can.

“I’m grateful to you. More than I’ll ever be able to express. Thank you.”

He gets to his feet. “I’ll leave you both to settle in. If you need anything, call me or send a text. You have my number. Or, if you prefer, use the phone on the occasional table to call housekeeping. Just dial nine.” He crosses the living room and opens the door. “Oh, your suitcase is here.” Picking it up, he takes it into the bedroom, leaving it just inside the door. “I’ll see you both soon.”

The door closes with a quiet click, and we’re alone.

The adjoining bedroom is as luxurious as the living room, with thick carpeting beneath my feet, a giant king-sized bed, and expensive sheets. Next to my bed is a single for Isla. One look at the cover on the quilt brings more tears to my eyes. Paw Patrol. Her favorite cartoon. Something tells me this is Tobias’s doing, too. How did he know?

There’s also a dressing area, a walk-in wardrobe, and the bathroom is bigger than my bedroom back home. Not that it ever felt like home. More like a prison where I never knew if something I said would set off the guard, and I’d get a beating for my insolence. I can’t believe that part of my life is over. Once this custody battle is sorted, Isla and I can hopefully move on. To what, I’m not yet sure. That’s tomorrow’s problem. Tobias may have offered me a job, but it’s another part of his altruism. I don’t, for one second, believe he needs an assistant, though I appreciate the kindness. I might never be able to pay him back, but I’ll do my best to figure something out, however long it takes.