Page 92 of Brutal Ice

“Out that way, too.”

Figured they were.

“But your buddy Beau has a limo waiting at the curb for you,” Curran added with a wave of his hand. “I’ll get you a police escort to it.”

Right. Sure. A police escort as he wore prison orange. Whatever. Like he gave a damn. There would be no more standing in the shadows. Not now. The world had seen him. Some would think he was a villain. The cops and Feds did. But others would think he was more. Because of Violet.

Minutes later, they were rushing through the crowd of reporters who did, in fact, wait outside. Royal curled his body closely around Violet’s and didn’t let anyone else get near enough to touch her. Reporters hurled questions at them, but Royal didn’t stop to answer anything. He just wanted to get Violet away.

He recognized the man standing near the back of the limo. Kai. A friend of his and Beau’s. Hell, technically Kai was Beau’s right-hand man at LeBlanc’s. But, like Royal, Kai knew all about getting his hands dirty.

Kai was also the guy that Royal had recently hired to keep an extra eye on Violet. When you had something precious, you needed someone you trusted to be close in case of an emergency.

He trusted Kai. Kai was the kind of man who would walk through fire for a friend. Literally. Kai had been there and done that before.

Kai dipped his head toward Royal. “Was starting to think you were enjoying the time at the station too much.”

Royal grunted. “You know me. I do love spending time with cops.” He urged Violet inside the limo. “Take us home,” he told Kai.

“Gladly.”

Royal ducked inside and yanked the door closed behind him. The shouted questions were immediately muted, and he found himself sitting across from Violet as the limo swiftly drove from the scene.

Violet’s breath shuddered in and out. “Is it…over?”

He didn’t move.

“They have Micah. Simone identified him. I stabbed him.” Her hands twisted in her lap. “They’re not going to let him go, are they? It’s over? I’m safe?”

“You’re safe, sweetheart.” I will keep you safe. I swear it.

But…

Curran’s words whispered through his mind and made Royal’s gut knot. All the pieces don’t fit. They don’t.

Chapter Eighteen

Even as the limo drove down the road, Violet launched herself at Royal. She held him tightly and did not want to let go. “I told the cops that you saved me. I told them and the federal agent to let you go.” She’d told them over and over. “You aren’t the bad guy, I told them that.”

His hands came up and curled around the wrists she’d locked behind his neck. Slowly, carefully, he pulled her hands down. She was sprawled on top of his lap. She should move. But she didn’t.

His gaze seemed so intense. His expression hard and unreadable.

“I didn’t tell them about the night at the winery.” He needed to understand that. “I promised you that I’d keep your secrets, and I will.”

His mouth took hers. Not soft. Hard with need and passion and a burning desire that had hunger and lust flooding through her. She’d barely held her control during all of those long hours at the station. And when Curran had quietly told her that Simone had died…

I was the one to shatter. Just like glass, she’d felt herself breaking apart on the inside. She’d wanted to save Simone. No matter what else might have happened between her and her friend, the last thing she’d wanted was for Simone to die.

Then Violet had been kept from Royal. Though she’d asked to see him again and again.

His mouth pulled from hers.

She wanted it back.

“They kept us separated,” he growled against her lips. “Because they thought one of us would break.”

Not one of them. Her. “They think I’m the weak link.”

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