Page 48 of An Enchanted Spring

He didn’t move. “MacDermott won’t stop until you’re six feet underground, Emmaline.”

Her eyes filled with tears that she rapidly blinked back. “I’ll figure out a way to shake him.”

“I can keep you safe. You just have to let me.”

“I can do it on my own,” she whispered. “It’s easy enoughto disappear.”

Aidan regarded her for a long moment, weighing his words. Finally, he asked, “How?”

Emma opened her mouth, then paused. “I don’t know yet. Give me some time.”

“You don’t have any time.”

Aidan’s gut twisted with her look of helplessness. It was one he figured she didn’t wear very often, if ever.

“I just need some time,” she repeated.

“Allow me to help you,” he asked softly. She jumped up from the bed and started to pace. “Like it or not, I’m involved. I have ways to protect you from him.”

“I don’t want to need your help,” she whispered, losing the battle against her tears as they spilled onto her cheeks. “I didn’t ask for this. You didn’t ask for this.”

“We didn’t,” he agreed. He stood and stopped her, sliding his hands down her arms to join hers. “But you have me. And I can help you. But you have to let me.”

A moment passed, and while she silently considered, Aidan said more prayers than he had cumulatively in the whole of his life.

Finally, she closed her eyes in defeat.“I don’t want to. But I think I have to.”

He released a breath and wiped her tears. “Your trust isn’t misplaced, Emma.” His voice firmed. “You have ten minutes to be downstairs, and we’re leaving in fifteen.”

“But —”

“Grab what you can and I’ll buy you more when we get there!” he called over his shoulder as he thumped down the stairs.

“I’m not calling youmy laird,” she muttered. “Ever.”

“…a month, maybe more.”Aidan was on the phone when Emma cautiously entered the kitchen. “Make it happen.”

“Let’s roll.” Reilly bounced on his heels. “I’m ready.”

“Reilly loves to fly,” Aidan explained wryly, hanging up his call.

“I do,” Ry confirmed. “A metal bird in the sky that I control? Oh, aye. Definitely aye.”

“Wait. You pilot the plane?”

Reilly smirked. “Private pilot’s license.”

“Les will be flying this time, though,” Aidan said with a roll of his eyes. “He’s meeting us at Logan.”

“We’re really doing this,” Emma said, dazed.

“Cian, bring Ms. Perkins’s bags to the car,” Aidan instructed. “Colin, tell your mother that I’m sorry to have missed her.”

“No way,” Colin said with a glare. “Youcan tell her when you next see her.”

Aidan gave a slight shake of his head, and Colin paused before he nodded back, resigned.

“Be well, uncle.”

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