Page 79 of When He Protects

Louis ran a shaking hand over his face. “I started putting the pieces together because of an attack in Texas years ago.”

Sonofabitch.

“Hell, you would have been a kid back then. But he did it. Iknowyour father did it. He was in Houston at the time, and the man he took out? It was a guy who tried totestify against your dad. This man went to the Feds in Houston. He made a mistake, and he went to Thaddeus. The guy had intel to use so he could bring down the house of cards. Only the next thing that happened was that the poor bastard and his wife got blown to hell in their Lincoln.”

My parents.

“Now Thaddeus is here in Paris. He’s involved in a CIA operation when he shouldn’t be. He’s pushing me to hand over what I know. To tell him everything.” A quick, negative shake of Louis’s head. “I will not trust him. I won’t make that mistake.”

The mistake my father made?Tyler shook his head.

“Your father likes to watch the explosions. He’s always close.Do the work, Esme.Look into his travels. Pull up attacks that occurred when he was in different parts of the damn world. You’ll see that I’m right.” A sigh. A sad one. “I’m right. I’m sorry. He’s evil, and I want to help you but if you found this…Hell, if you found this…” His lips pressed into a line. Silence. Then, “You have a really great smile, Esme. Did I ever tell you that? It lights up the whole freaking room.”

The video stopped.

Tyler could not move. He felt frozen to the spot.

The silence stretched until—“I didn’t find the video after the bombing.” Esme’s muted voice. “I was in the hospital for so long. I-I wasn’t supposed to be in the café.”

“Your father wouldn’t have set the explosion if he’d known you were there.” His hands fisted and released. Fisted.

“By the time I was released, all of Louis’s belongings were long gone. I have no idea how Jorlan got hold of Louis’s message.”

“There could be more copies.” Of everything. Somewhere?—

“Do you hate me?” Low.

“What?” He was still staring at the screen and feeling dazed and shocked and angry and as if he’d just lost his parents all the hell over again. The wound was as fresh and raw as ever.

“I’m so sorry that you lost your parents. I just, I?—”

She touched him. He flinched.

Her hand immediately pulled back. “I understand.”

No, she didn’t. He didn’t understand the emotions ripping him apart.

“I’m going back to the safe house,” she told him. “You do—you do whatever it is that you must with those files. But, ah, I’m not so sure I’d be handing them to Thaddeus Caldwell.” Her steps shuffled away from him. She went straight to the door. He should stop her. Call out to her. Say something.

My parents. The Lincoln. The fire.

“I’ll help you lock him away,” Esme quietly promised. “I’ll help you get your justice.”

He looked up at her. Her face was far too pale and tense and sad.Stark.That was how Esme looked. All of her beautiful, glowing brilliance was gone.

You have a really great smile, Esme. Did I ever tell you that? It lights up the whole freaking room.

Esme unlocked the door. Stepped out. The door closed behind her with a soft click.

Tyler swallowed. He unclenched his right fist and reached for the laptop. His fingers were shaking as he closed the files and pocketed the USB drive.

The door swung open. Tyler’s head immediately whipped up.Esme?

No. Not Esme.

Kane. A glowering Kane.

“Uh, not to tell you how to do your business…” Kane began. Then he stopped. “Who the hell stole your puppy?”

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