“That’s not your problem,” Duncan said, kissing her forehead. “You’ve been through enough.”
“If it’s someone I know then I don’t know who to trust.” Damn, the fear in her voice was like acid bubbling in his stomach.
“We’d have to cut you off from everyone to keep you safe,” Eli admitted.
She was silent for a long moment, obviously thinking. Just as Duncan was about to kick out his brothers, she spoke up in a quiet whisper.
“I’ll do it.”
Chapter Twelve
Oh, she was so getting a spanking. He was in charge of safety. That did not mean she got to throw herself into danger.
“No,” he growled.
“Yes,” she countered.
His brothers looked at them both. Eli with sympathy. Kellan looked as he always did: cold.
“Laken,” he growled.
She placed her hand on his cheek. God, she was freezing. He looked over at the thermostat, then nodded at Eli. His brother rose and raised the heat.
“Duncan, I have to. I can’t keep running. He could find me and then what would happen? At least here, I have friends. I have you. I have to stop him before he hurts someone else. Please support me. I need your help. I’m not strong enough to do this on my own.”
God, she was killing him.
“Baby,” he began.
“Please. Help me. I’m not so scared with you by my side.”
How could he answer that? How could he refuse her?
“You’ll do everything I tell you,” he growled. “No hesitation. No arguing.”
She nodded. “I will.” She pulled him close. “Thank you.”
Laken glanced over at Duncan’s brothers. “So how would this work? W-when do we start?”
She could do this. She could. She had no choice. She’d tried running from this, tried hiding. God, she thought she had been safe in New York. But he’d been there the entire time. She’d never be safe unless he was dead or in jail.
“As soon as possible,” Eli replied. “It’s been six weeks since his last victim was found and he might be trying to find his next. We need him to focus on you.”
“Fuck,” Duncan swore.
She ran her hand up and down his arm. “Couldn’t you be wrong? I mean, you don’t know for sure that he’s here watching me, right?”
Kellan stared at her sternly. “You mentioned flowers and chocolates that you received in New York. What about since you moved back here? What about those flowers you threw at your ex just before?”
“They were from Ricky,” she said.
“You got flowers from your ex and you didn’t tell me?” She glanced up into Duncan’s eyes which had gone cold. Uh-oh.
“I knew you’d get mad,” she told him. “Ricky thinks that a few flowers and some phone calls will get me to forgive him for being a complete asshole.”
; “Phone calls?” Duncan’s voice was arctic.