Page 52 of My Silver Fox Savior

“Landon will find a way,” Ethan snaps, then clams up.

I sigh and stare out the window until we get to his apartment. Ethan helps us carry the bags to the underground parking lot’s elevator. The urge to scream is almost overwhelming as we ride it up together. How can I stay here, hiding away from the world, when Landon’s helping people?

“What happens if we want to leave?” I ask.

“Why would we do that?” Mom snaps. “We should be grateful. If bad men are after us …”

“I’m just asking.”

“I’m not going to stop you,” Ethan says. “I can’t legally keep you here, but I’ve never heard Landon like that. He made me promise to protect you. He sounded committed and seriously passionate about it. He would never forgive himself if you left here and something happened to you, Lily.”

“Okay, I get it,” I tell him, guilt pulsing through me. “I’m not going to run. I’m not going to do that to him.”

A bitter voice reminds me that I have to remember about my job. If anybody sees us together …

The elevator door opens. A woman is lounging on the hallway chair, wearing nothing but a robe. She stands up when she sees us, brushing herself down.

“Are these your friends?” she says anxiously. She’s got a British accent.

“I said you could wait in the bedroom, Rosie,” Ethan replies.

“Are they staying with us?”

“Withus?” Ethan says, shaking his head. “Jesus, we talked about this …”

The woman frowns. She has a dignified look despite her messy hair and her outfit. “That isn’t very gentlemanly to say in front of company.”

Ethan glances at us, gritting his teeth, and not from the effort of holding our bags. “Rosita?—”

“So we’re back to formal names now,” the woman utters. “Oh, excuse me, ladies.” She sneers over at us. “I just hope you know what sort of man you’re dealing with. He’ll turn a business meeting into a date, into drinks, then act as if you’re trying to marry him for making a simple comment.”

“Let’s talk in private,” Ethan says, stepping forward.

“I knew I should’ve stuck with the other one,” she snaps. “My good boy Landon would never treat a lady like this.”

She struts away. I gasp, a chord of shock jolting through me. Ethan drops the bags and follows Rosita, who is babbling. I hear the wordsorryat least three times before they disappear around the corner.

“She said Landon,” Mom mutters.

“I heard her,” I snap.

“Ethan said he never dated, but she said?—”

“Mom.” I spin on her. “Just listen to me, please. Iheardher, and Idon’twant to talk about it.” When she opens her mouth to say something, I raise my hand. “It’s been about the longest day of my life. I don’t know what she meant, but I trust Landon, and that’s that.”

Mom lowers her gaze and allows a slight nod, but I can see how badly she wants to start tearing into Landon even now, despiteeverything he’s going through. She’s too scarred by my father, by the love-bombing crap. I wish I could say it was just her, though. I feel the same uncertainty. Why would she say that about Landon?

Ethan returns a minute later. “Sorry about that. Let me show you to your rooms.”

“Can I ask something?” Mom says.

I glare at her. I don’t want to get into this now. Landon can explain it to me himself. I meant what I said. I trust him, even if Mom doesn’t understand that.

“Where is your bathroom?” Mom asks.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

LANDON

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