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Dane touched the co your charge, buddy"

"No, I’m not" Lan stepped up behind her His face was closed off as though he was just waiting for Dane’s brutal judght to know"

Coop winced Hell, there was going to be a thro He would be lucky if hehis life, much less his job

Alea walked into the roo and I threatened Landon He didn’t have a choice"

Dane’s face had turned a spectacular shade of red "What exactly did you threaten hi to use your nail file on hih heels at hi I threatened to tell my cousins that he’d made a pass at me and have hiround even as Dane rose and stalked toward her

Coop stood, too, because this could get out of hand very quickly "Now, Dane Hold up We should listen"

Dane towered over her Her crazy-hot, four-inch heels were no match for his six and a half feet of pure muscle Alea tilted her head back to look hiive hi here, you really should talk to me"

Lan shook his head, and Coop kneas about to do so stupid "She didn’t threaten me Besides, everyone knows I hit on her all the ti to be a problem anymore, Nix Consider yourself officially fired You can pack your bags and be out of here by " Dane turned to the rest of the roo we need I’ation"

Tal was sitting back in his chair, watching the drama unfold with curious eyes "Naturally, I will help in any way I can"

Alea wasn’t through with Dane She stoner shoes as she followed him "You can’t fire Landon I won’t allow it Tal, tell hiently "Dane is in charge of security He can hire and fire as he likes But he s at stake than whether Landon followed orders"

Dane turned and glared at Lan, see for hiiveness

And Alea was now looking through one of the folders, her skin turning pale as she caught sight of the pictures taken of her in the hospital after her rescue That frail, gaunt creature looked nothing like the stunning beauty standing before him now Her hand shook as she touched the picture

Lawson Anders stood up, shoving some file folders into his briefcase "To answer your question, Princess, yes My gut tells ain They had a bleak future all planned for you, and it didn’t involve you being rescued and co home I don’t knohy you weren’t killed, but if someone wants to wipe you off the face of the Earth, I suspect they won’t hesitate to snuff you out next time"

Alea’s eyes fluttered, and her shoulders dropped "And you believe this is someone I know, someone I spend time with?"

There was no hint of emotion in Lawson’s eyes "Yes No idea who yet, but we’ll find out"

Tal cursed and glared at Law "Did you have to be quite so blunt?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned to Alea "Are you all right?"

She nodded, looking drawn and still

Straightening his tuxedo jacket, the sheikh cleared his throat, hiding a whole lot of pissed off "Then I’ back to the ballroom I probably only have a few more hours of peace left Once Piper finds out about this ood news is, she’s adorable when she’s mad We’ll leave the cleanup to you three After all, you wanted to be responsible for her Be careful what you wish for"

After Tal had gone, Alea swayed on her feet Cooper moved across the rooht her just before she hit the floor and lifted her weight into his arht beside hi expressions of concern

This wasn’t how he’d pictured holding her for the first time But no matter He held her close now, even as her eyes fluttered open

"Lea, you’re going to be okay" Da?

"I think I’d like to go to hting hile and tell him she could walk, but she let her arm drift up around his shoulders and she laid her head on his chest She could probably hear his heart pounding

"Absolutely" He glanced back at his friends "So for Dane and Lan to answer, he started out the door If so her first

Chapter Three

Alea dragged in a long breath as Cooper strode toward her private aparted my mind You can let ators and look at that report"

She enjoyed being in his arms far too much He made her feel delicate and feminine, loved and almost innocent And it was all a lie

"Not until I’ve exaot woozy I never lost consciousness"

No, but that would have been nice She’d been brutally aware of all of tonight’s events Her cousins, whom she trusted ators and not bothered towith the plan to keep her in the dark When had they planned to tell her that so for another chance to send her back to hell?

Cooper used his foot to kick the door open "You were about to hit the floor"

Alea frowned "Well, the dress is tight"