Leo spoke up. “She’s right, Damien. If he is around, still following, he may take the chance.”
I stood. “I’ll think about it, and we’ll discuss the logistics in the morning.”
Raven didn’t budge. “We’ll discuss it now.”
I rubbed my eyes, tamping down my temper. I recalled how often Missy defied Marcus. The time Evie went on a lone shopping spree and drove Matteo mad with worry. I had laughed at their frustration. Their overreactions. I hadn’t expected it from Raven. I supposed I should have. They would laugh at me right now.
“We will have rules. Boundaries.” I pointed my finger at her. “You will adhere to them.”
“You figure it out, and I’ll bring in the men,” Leo offered. “We’ll make sure she’s safe.”
I nodded, and he left with a quiet assurance that he would contact me later.
Raven and I stared at each other.
“We have to do this, Damien. I have to do this. If we let him, we could still be wondering and worried a month from now. I can’t put my life on hold forever.”
I exhaled hard. “I know. I hate the idea, but I know.”
She stepped in front of me, laying her hand on my chest. “You’ll keep me safe. If he approaches me, you’ll get him. But maybe he listened to you. Walked away when he realized he wasn’t getting near me and I was serious when I said no.”
I covered her hand, not telling her how dubious I was. That men like him didn’t stop until they got what they wanted, or the woman they were after literally disappeared to get away from them. And even then, sometimes, it didn’t stop. I had seen it.
“You will do everything I tell you.”
“Yes.”
“No deviations.”
“No.”
“Fine. I’ll work it all out with Egan, Leo, and the men. Tomorrow, something will delay me when you go shopping, and my lazy, good-for-nothing man will sit on his ass in a car outside. You will be inside with Deb.”
She smiled. “Better not let them hear you say that.”
I laughed. “Nope. But that’s what I want Andy to think. See if it draws him out.”
“If it doesn’t?”
“Saturday, we’ll take a walk and have an argument. You’ll storm away and jump in a passing cab and go home. You’ll let him see you’re alone in the apartment.”
“But Egan will be inside my place?”
“Yes.”
“And it will be your man who drives me home?”
“Yes.”
“And there will be some of your people in the store?”
“Of course.”
She smiled at me. “Then I’m safe.”
“You’re coming back to mine on Sunday.” I lifted her hand and kissed it. “If I last that long.”
“Okay,” she agreed easily.
“I hate this. The thought of you being out of my sight makes me want to rage.”
“But you won’t. You’ll do it for me.”
“Yes. Now I guess I had better take you out to dinner, so he hears us if he is listening.”
She nodded, her eyes dimming. “Okay.”
I wrapped her in my arms, knowing how brave a front she was putting on. “We’ll figure this out, Raven. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She lifted her head, the trust in her gaze humbling me. “I know. That’s why I can do it.”