Page 9 of The Defiant Curse

That worked for him.

That gave Michael time to prepare for her arrival.

Gene wasn’t done.

“She wanted to come there. I think she misses you, and she needed to. So please, be ready for her, and remember, I’m the ONLY one—to my knowledge—that knows where she’s heading. So, if anyone asks, you haven’t seen or heard from her. In fact, Elizabeth who?”

He understood the assignment.

This arrival was classified.

Mum was the word on this one. Truthfully, that was fine with him, too. That would mean she’d be safe, and he doubted the family would be pissed at him.

In fact, he would just not answer any calls.

That would solve that problem. This was his newlywed time with his husband, and he’d pretend to be bedded down for some sexy moments if need be.

It wouldn’t be like that was a lie.

Now would it be?

As for her wanting to get to him, that told him all he needed to know. Elizabeth was NOT a runner. If she was, that meant something HUGE was chasing her.

“And this asshole is handled?” he asked. “Asking as Jet’s friend, and a VERY angry pissed-off Marine.”

Graham heard the tone, and he knew that his husband took the news of his friend’s death very hard. In fact, he’d reeled yesterday when he’d learned that they’d lost part of their family.

It was just one more reason he was trying to distract the man with his masculine wiles in bed.

Gene didn’t mince words.

“Let’s just say he died in a horrific fire with the remains of the animals who spawned him. We’re going to leave it at that, if you know what I mean.”

Oh, he got it.

The trash had been taken out.

PERMANENTLY.

Good for them.

He hoped it was painful as fuck, too.

“I’ll make sure that she has a ride to the castle. I know what Mom likes. We’re safe up here, and with both myself and Graham, she won’t be in danger.”

That was what they’d both hoped when Elizabeth told him the plan.

Michael continued.

“Even if she ventures into the town, media…it’s not as persistent here as it is there. I know the media played over the whole Riley-Blackhawk thing, and no one even acknowledges it here with me. So, I doubt they’ll give a shit she’s here. We’ll get Finn involved to help keep her safe if I think they’re going to start circling.”

Gene knew he would.

The fact that the people who lived there might not care that a Blackhawk is there…

That was precious in their world.

Anonymity had been stripped from their lives a while ago, and that kind of fame made a person regret a lot in life. It was all kinds of bizarre to have someone walk up to you and ask if you were sleeping with someone.