I gave her a look. My “mom look”, as she often called it.
But unlike when she was a little girl, she didn’t back down. If anything, she held her head higher, eyebrow raised.
I wanted to tell her she was only fourteen and didn’t get to make decisions yet. At least not like this. But over the years, she’d proven herself to be a very levelheaded teenager. I should at least listen to her thoughts on the situation.
“Fine.”
I turned back toward Lachlan, expelling a sigh. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not going to allow Nick to force me out of my home. Away from my friends. Away from my family. Going to California, then hiding in Hawaii for God knows how long while they try to find him?” I shook my head. “I won’t do it. Not to mention, Londyn’s in her third trimester. Considering she was one of his earliest assault victims, there’s no telling what kind of stress this is causing her right now. What kind of stress this could cause the baby. If anything happens, I need to be close by. Not a nine-hour flight away.”
“But she has Wes to watch out for her. Who will watch out for both of you when I’m not here?” He glanced at Imogene before returning his worried eyes to mine.
“I managed just fine before you, Lachlan.”
My words came out more biting than I intended, but I wasn’t going to take them back.
I’d survived everything Nick threw at me for years without anyone coming to my aid. I could do the same now. I didn’t need some knight in shining armor to protect me or Imogene. I could do that myself.
“That was before your goddamn psycho ex escaped a fucking prison transport!”
Before Imogene could call him out on it, he reached into the pocket of his gym shorts and pulled out a few twenties, handing them to her.
“Paying in advance?” I remarked, the mood lightening momentarily.
“She charges me a higher rate because of who I am.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips as he feigned annoyance. “Complete bullshite if you ask me.”
“Like I said… You can afford it, Hale,” she teased.
I smiled, grateful for the brief moment of levity, then blew out a long sigh.
“Lachlan…” I placed my hands on his chest, the mood becoming serious once more. “It means a lot that you’ll go through all that to keep us safe. But look around you.” I stepped back, gesturing at our surroundings, my house swarming with cops. “Nick would be an idiot if he tried to come here. His face is probably plastered on every television within the state. Hell, across the country. He won’t get far. You heard what Captain Dawson said. Most escaped convicts are apprehended within the first twenty-four hours.”
Lachlan widened his stance. “Most escaped convicts aren’t bloody geniuses like your ex-husband.”
“It’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll be back in prison by this time tomorrow.” I forced a smile, attempting to offer him some sort of assurance.
When he didn’t say anything, I added, “Please, Lachlan. Let me make this decision for myself. For Imogene. Don’t let him chase us out of our home.”
He studied me a moment longer, then relaxed his stance, exhaling deeply. “How about a compromise? I won’t push California and Hawaii if you agree to stay at my place instead.”
“I just got done telling you I refuse to allow Nick to run me away from my home. I—”
“And he’s not,” he attempted to placate me, running his hands down my arms.
“But—”
“I don’t want you to think of my place as just mine. I’d like you to feel as if it’s your home, too, love.” He gave me a shy smile that chipped away at my resolve.
God, why did he have to have such a sexy smile? It was impossible to say no to him when he peered at me that way.
“Plus, the entire perimeter of my property is gated, making access quite difficult. There’s also a top-of-the-line security system, complete with cameras at each entry point, as well as several along the exterior. So even when I am gone, I won’t have to worry about your safety being left in the hands of a bunch of cops I don’t trust to guard a pile of garbage.”
I chewed on my lower lip as I contemplated his offer. I did like his house, especially the kitchen.
“He does have a great pool,” Imogene offered in support of Lachlan’s proposal. “And that theater room is to die for.”
“See.” He playfully waggled his brows. “Imogene likes my plan.”
I glared at both of them before pushing out a sigh. “Fine. We’ll stay at your place. But it’s only temporary.”
In a heartbeat, it was as if a giant weight had lifted off Lachlan’s shoulders. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his chest.
“Thank you.” The relief in his voice nearly broke me.
Then he reached out for Imogene, pulling her into our embrace.
It was just a hug, something people did all the time. But as we held each other in the middle of my kitchen, it felt so much deeper and more powerful than a simple hug.
Like the bonds of our embrace would protect us from anything, as long as we had each other.
I could only pray it would protect us from what I feared in my heart the future held.