Page 95 of Brutal Ice

“You’re alive. I’m alive. You needed to be reminded of that. Sex is basic. It’s primal. With you, it’s fucking life affirming. And I’ve told you before, but I’m telling you again. Nothing about you is wrong.”

The limo had stopped.

She shoved back her hair.

“Reporters are here,” he muttered as he peered out the tinted window. “Swarming around my house. You don’t have to talk to them. I’ll get you inside, and we’ll shut out the rest of the world.”

But that pack of reporters told her it wasn’t going to be so easy to shut things out.

The screen that separated them from the front of the limo lowered with a whir of sound. “You two ready for this?” Kai—the driver—asked.

Good thing he hadn’t rolled that screen down about three minutes ago. Heat stained her cheeks as Violet realized he probably knew exactly what they’d been doing.

“I can take you someplace else,” he offered. “Say the word, Royal.”

Royal peered through the window once more. “I think my low profile has been shot to hell and back.” A reckless smile curved his lips. “So much for hunting in the shadows.”

“Royal?” Violet said his name softly.

He reached for her hand. “No one else will touch you.”

She wasn’t afraid of the reporters. She was afraid of the man in the mask. Micah. All along, it was him?

It made sense, though. A twisted sense. He would have been able to stay late at the theater on the night of her abduction. He would have known her routine.

He would have also been able to get Simone to leave and go just about anywhere with him. Because Simone would have trusted him. Right up until the moment he plunged his knife into her.

“Ready?” Royal asked.

Violet didn’t speak. She was lost staring at the crowd.

“Can’t get closer,” Kai said. “The reporters are blocking the drive. Dick move, one that they’re doing deliberately.”

“Yeah, I figured that,” Royal said. “Thanks for the lift, Kai.”

“You know I’m coming in with you. I’ll be watching your back. I’ll leave the car out here. Not like anyone would dare tow it. And, fair warning? Beau is already inside.”

“Yeah. Saw his car.” Royal’s thumb stroked over Violet’s knuckles. “My brother has a key.”

Brother. She hadn’t even called her brothers. Everything had been so crazy, and she knew that Dawson must have seen the stories on the news. With Parker being deployed, he probably hadn’t heard about the attack last night.

But Dawson would be a different story, and he would be freaking out.

Where is my phone? She didn’t even have her phone. Had she left it at the police station? If Dawson had tried to call her, he would have just gotten voicemail. She’d have to contact him as soon as she got inside.

And they were going to head inside. Kai had already raised the screen back up and was coming around to open the limo door. But Royal didn’t move. He just stared at her and waited.

Oh, right. He’d asked if she was ready. She had to give some kind of agreement. Her head inclined toward him.

He leaned forward, and Royal’s mouth pressed lightly to hers. “Focus on me. Not them.”

She was going to focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

The back door opened.

The questions roared at them. Just as before, Royal wrapped his arms around her. He tucked her against his body as they hurried through the crowd.

“Back up!” The bellow came from Kai as he trailed them. “And you guys know the drill—you don’t step foot on private property, so stay off?—”

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