Page 83 of Royal Pain

“That’s usually not a good sign,” Jeff admitted.

“No. We’ll have an entire team, but I don’t like the information I’ve read or seen. People have disappeared.” Gage was looking at me.

Sighing, I moved to the bag, trying to ignore the rest of the information. It was tough and I found myself shaking all over again. I hated this so much. The worry. The violence. The anger. The hatred. All coming from me.

“Yeah, I know. More than you think,” Jeff said. “Anyway, we’ll be ready tonight. Try and relax as much as you can. This will be a tough mission.”

Mission.

This was like going into battle with the devil himself. I honestly hadn’t wanted to think about how horrible the situation was, but it was impossible to ignore at this point.

To think I’d gone on a lovely vacation with people I’d trusted only to realize the new life I’d built for myself had been a glass house. It had been destined to be shattered when I least expected it.

Who knew one could find a hero nestled in a kink club on the coolest island on the planet. Or that he’d be so devilishly handsome. I was thankful for his help and could never repay him. A single tear slipped past my lashes until I noticed the four ice cream containers, whipped cream, two kinds of sugar cones, and sprinkles in different colors. When I laughed, both men looked in my direction.

“You took me seriously.” I was thrilled more than he could know even though it was a ridiculous thing to feel at this point.

“You are eating that ice cream. At least a cone’s worth. Period.”

This time I saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

“She has you trained. Boss. I’ll leave you to your… ice cream.”

As soon as Gage turned around, he immediately ripped off his tie and his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. “Now, I’m going to go change and when I return, we’re going to make a cone together. We’re going to walk the beach because I know you’re dying to digyour toes in the sand. After that, we’ll make dinner and enjoy an evening together.”

“I am going tomorrow.”

He walked closer, his face pinched. “I know I can’t stop you but it’s going to worry me.”

“I’ll feel safer with you than I would anywhere else.”

He looked away briefly then nodded. “You will follow my orders.”

“To the letter.”

“Then fine. Just remember there’s a lot at stake.”

“I know that, Gage. But you need to remember that while he was conceived in violence, Damien’s birth almost killing me, he was welcomed in love. There was nothing like watching him flourish, his eyes lighting up with every new accomplishment. I enjoyed reading to him so much, the little man giggling when something delighted him. When he spoke his first word, which thankfully was Mama, I cried all night long.”

“Oh, honey.”

“He has a special room complete with a racecar bed. He used to love staring at the ceiling because I had a special mobile highlighted by one of his lamps that made it appear as if his ceiling was a racetrack. And the first Christmas when he really understood Santa was magical. I’d never wanted a child. I’d never thought of myself as mother material. I was too selfish, too impatient, too professionally minded. I didn’t have a ticking clock or worry that one day I couldn’t have a child because of my age. I just didn’t think about it. But when he was first placed into my arms, I knew then I could have a passel of kids, at leastsix and I would be perfectly happy. Maybe that’s sick or old-fashioned but it’s how I feel.”

“I think it’s beautiful.”

I lifted my head, looking into his eyes. “Of all the bad I’ve experienced, the horrors that most people should never, ever go through, I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant reliving having Damien all over again.” I could see a heavy weight placed on him, but he nodded in complete understanding. “What’s wrong? Other than the obvious. I can tell you know something.”

His sigh was heavy, his anger swelling all over again.

“The family sources hired either from Connecticut or sent there to gather information found out your house was trashed.”

I wasn’t certain why the news made me laugh but it did. Whether inappropriate or not, it was so like Joseph. “My ex throwing a temper tantrum again. I once watched him break literally every dish in the house after a bad business call. He tossed plates and glasses against the wall. It was pretty comical by that point but when I dared laugh, I was backhanded into another room. The man is truly deranged. I was hopeful he would lose it entirely but he’s holding onto enough mental faculties to get whatever he wants.”

“Let’s just say I used his mental instability against him.”

“Meaning what?”

He couldn’t seem to help himself, grinning like a kid. “Meaning the three Royal brothers crafted an email that should push his buttons.”

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