Page 63 of Loving Her Enemy

Sloane met her halfway. “What’s wrong?”

“Owen just called me.”

Unease clawed down Sloane’s spine. “What?”

“I just heard from Owen, but he called me from a different number. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyway, thinking it might’ve been someone trying to reach you since your phone kept ringing.”

“What did he say?”

“He apologized for how he ended things with me. He said he’d explain everything to me soon, and then he hung up.” She looked back and forth between Sloane and Hershel. “What’s going on?”

Sloane debated how to respond and figured he’d give a little of the truth. “That was Owen who was trying to reach me. He wanted to know why I sent people after him.”

“You found him?”

“Yes, but he disappeared.” Sloane grabbed the bag and then placed a hand at the small of her back. “Let’s get going. There’s something I need to talk to you about, but not here. I’ll explain everything when we get home.”

Halayna searched his eyes, and he hated the worry he saw on her face, but then she nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Halayna wasn’t sure what was going on, but she had a feeling whatever it was, she wasn’t going to like it. The tension radiating off Sloane was palpable, and the fierceness glowing in his eyes could cut glass. She was sure the change in his mood had everything to do with Owen, but why?

Yes, she had asked him to find her ex, but when they agreed to dissolve their contract, she had told him she no longer needed to confront Owen. Had Sloane’s people already found him at that point? Did something happen when they confronted him?

She had too many questions and no answers, but maybe that’s what Sloane wanted to talk to her about. Maybe something went wrong when they found Owen.

Then there was the phone call. Why, after all this time did her ex suddenly decide to call her? She was sure Sloane hadn’t wanted that because her overprotective husband had said more than once that he didn’t want her anywhere near her ex-fiancé.

Sloane had never liked Owen, but now even more so, probably because of the way Owen had broken things off with her.

“I’m glad the asshole left you alone,” Sloane had said, but he’d been pissed Owen had stolen her life’s savings.

Sloane reached for Halayna’s hand and brought it to his lips while giving her a reassuring smile.

It was amazing how just a smile from him could ease her worries. How had she lived this long without him in her life? He meant everything to her, and she was determined to make their relationship work. She’d be the best wife he could ever want because there was no going back. Like he always claimed—she was his, he was hers, and she would always fight for them.

When they stepped outside, it was like stepping into a greenhouse, hot and muggy. Almost immediately beads of sweat popped out on her forehead even at that time of night. She probably would never get used to Atlanta’s heat, but at least she didn’t have to be out in it often.

As they strolled across the sidewalk to the SUV, she took in the quietness of the street. It was a wonder the restaurant generated business considering it was on a side street and didn’t stand out. Maybe most of their customers lived in the neighborhood because there were several nearby…

Wait. She stopped abruptly at the car door. Was that…

Sloane stiffened at the same time she recognized the person walking across the street.

“Son of a…” Sloane dropped the bag he’d been holding and took off like a scalded cat, racing toward Owen before anyone could react.

“Sloane!” she screamed and started to go after him, but Quiana blocked her path.

She opened the back door. “Halayna, please get in the car.”

“No way. We have to stop Sloane. Otherwise, he’s going to kill that man!” Halayna had heard him say so, and she believed him.

Halayna flinched at the brutal way Sloane tackled him, and they crashed to the ground. Fists were flying back and forth between the two men, and she couldn’t understand why security wasn’t pulling them apart.

“Sloane! Nooo!”

“Come on, Halayna. Get in the car,” Quiana said with urgency, still blocking her path. Halayna almost obeyed until Owen screamed her name.