Page 44 of Secrets & Desires
Livia was unbelievably touched. Who would have thought she meant so much to the ice queen? She knocked gently at the door and poked her head in, smiling at them both. Roan had disappeared. “I hope I’m notintruding.”
“Not atall,baby.”
Odelle came to her and hugged her, and Livia returned the embrace. “We’re okay, Odelle,really.”
Odelle sniffed and Livia realized she was crying again. The other woman drew away finally, wiping her eyes. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Livia smiled at her then went to Nox, taking his hand. Odelle gatheredherself.
“Look, I can get on the phone right now and have protection set up here, at the home, at the restaurant and youroffice,Nox.”
Nox nodded. “That would be a weight off,thanksOdie.”
Odelle got straight on her cell phone, stepping out into the hallway. Livia nudgedNox. “Odie?”
He grinned. “I’m the only one she lets call her that. And then, only on specialoccasions.”
“Like being shot inthehead?”
“Like that.” They both laughed, the tension being lifted by the joke. Noxkissedher.
“By the way, I’m liking the hotscrubslook.”
Livia rolled her eyes. “I’mfilthy.”
“Look, baby, I’ll get Sandor to take you home. Eat proper food, grab a shower and some sleep. I’m not goinganywhere.”
It did sound tempting and after a while, Livia agreed. “As long as someone iswithyou.”
“I don’t think Odelle is goinganywhere.”
“Where didRoango?”
Nox shook his head. “He got choked, mumbled something about being sorry and left. Odelle is annoyed with him aboutsomething.”
The sat in silence for a while, holding hands. Livia cleared her throat. “Nox…I have this feeling. A feeling that whoever is behind all this…is close to us.Toyou.”
“Iagree.”
She studied him. “Do youthink…Roan?”
Nox sighed. “I hate saying this, but I can’t imagine anyone else. He’s been drinking, he’sbroke…”
“Isn’t he marryingOdelle?”
Nox’s mouth set in a straight line. “He is. And he should think himself lucky. But it still doesn’t guarantee him any money. Odelle’s father won’tpermitit.”
Livia looked at him askance. “Odelle’s father realizes this is the twenty-first century,right?”
“I don’t mean he’ll not consent to the marriage, but Odelle is an heiress. She doesn’t have money of her own—it’s all tied up in her trust fund, which her father can withdraw atanytime.”
“So, why is Odelle marrying himanyway?”
Nox gave her a strange, half-sad smile. “Because sheloveshim.”
“Nox, would Roanshootyou?”
“I can only tell you that Roan is a superb marksman. If itwashim, then he didn’t intend to kill me.” Nox looked sick at having to say the words. “When I get out of here, beautiful…we need to talk about a lot of things. Your safety is paramount. Our future, too. Odelle tells me they have your name in the press. They’ll be hounding you at the college, at therestauranttoo.”
