Page 23 of Inescapable Gravity

It was pertinent to her protection and that had been in the history that Alex had prepared for him.

It hadn’t been a secret that her father had been involved in shady business dealings. It had been a tongue-in-cheek joke in the Hamptons that he was their own personal mob boss.

But he hadn’t been a boss. Highly placed?

Yes.

High enough that he was the target of both enemies and the government?

Absolutely.

The night that her father dragged her away, they’d both nearly been killed.

It was the same night that the FBI took them away and put them under the protection of the U.S. Marshal Service. Witness Protection.

They’d gone into hiding so her father could testify against the men who tried to kill them and his former bosses.

They couldn’t go home after that.

He understood that now.

And why she protected her identity when she performed.

A mask gave her a way to step into the spotlight but still keep herself safe.

Well, until the recent threats.

He could understand Mister Blackwood’s frustration with her. She liked to keep herself apart from others.

How could he blame her?

But Blackwood hadn’t been able to get close to her. She was probably keeping him at arm’s length to keep him safe.

Now she had him, Marius almost smiled.

She didn’t have to push him away to keep him safe. The shoe, as his grandmother used to say, is now on the other foot.

Heather had him.

He'd be her friend. Her support.

And if she allowed it, her lover.

Miles stepped up to the edge of the stage and caught Marius' eye.

"We have a few places that need watching tonight. We can place plants and other obstacles to block access. That will turn heads if people try to move around or break through those barriers."

“Good job.” Marius nodded and felt a strange need to get back to the house. He’d left Heather in the capable hands of Gunny & Badger.

Then again, he didn’t want to think about their hands anywhere near her.

Yeah, he really needed to talk to Alex after they’d eliminated the threat to Heather’s life.

"Let's get back to the house and I'll introduce you to Nix.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Sitting in her dressing room, Heather smiled to herself.

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