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Piper was right Dane, Landon, and Cooper were heroes They had saved her, and what did they get in return? Cameras shoved in their faces and their lives ripped apart in the press
She’d seen that, too The press had been busy, interviewing their fa all kinds of intrusive questions
Dane’s BDSM leanings had been splashed across the papers, his ain His faht he’d been lost in the crash He’d been labeled perverse by his ex-wife, who see all his flaws
Cooper’s family had been inundated As far as she could tell, they had been busy trying to keep reporters off the ranch
Only Landon had been spared since he didn’t have family, but that wouldn’t last The hotel had proven that They would be all over hi pressure
None of them should have to
“Hoas the flight back?” Piper asked, walking up beside her “I orried that it would be hard on you”
Herthey could to make it safe They really were the best “It was fine Mr Anders is an excellent pilot”
Alea turned slightly and saw that all three of the her even as they talked to her cousins This was going to be so hard, but she had to do it Their tiht about one thing She really hadn’t done anything to help those other girls She should have fought harder, found a way out, but no, she’d given into the drugs they’d put her on She’d closed her eyes and just prayed to die
She didn’t deserve the heroes who claimed to love her, and they definitely didn’t deserve this pain But it see them
“Tal, can I speak with you privately?”
Piper frowned, obviously upset, but Alea was resolute After this was done, she was going to lock herself away and just try to stay out of the public eye
Tal’s eyes narrowed “Of course Brothers, Piper, if you wouldn’t mind”
“I’ll go and get everything ready in the board room,” Rafe said “Dominic Anthony is scheduled to arrive in the next hour”
“I’ll help,” Kade offered They took Piper’s hands and led her out
Dane, Lan, and Cooper stayed right where they were
“I would really like to speak to Tal alone, please” She would explain her position to Talib He would understand He, more than the others, knehat it ht
“Lan, Coop,” Dane began “Why don’t you go and find the Anders brothers and get things set up I want to get a full update as soon as Dominic lands”
They nodded reluctantly and left Then she stood alone with Tal and Dane
“Please, Talib Completely alone”
Tal shook his head “No, Lea At least for now, you won’t be alone At least one of your guards must be with you, even in your locked rooms”
“That won’t be a problerio into battle “We’ll beShe won’t ever be alone”
“Excellent,” Tal said, and there was no way to h of relief “I’ll call the contractors tomorrow Her suite is too small for all four of you We’ll start the expansion plans as soon as possible”
She was rapidly losing control “No, Tal They can’t move in with me”
The rooot very quiet as both men turned to her It was obvious she had their full attention
“Alea, where did you think ould stay?” Dane asked quietly, his voice icy cold “Did you think ould go back to our own rooms? Just meet in the middle for a little rendezvous?”
“Explain yourself, cousin The way I heard it, you’ve settled your relationship with yourme you haven’t?” Tal asked
“They’re not ood idea” She couldn’t quite meet Dane’s eyes
“Really? So yesterday in the shoas good-bye, was it, Lea?” Dane asked
“Could you be a little more discreet?” She couldn’t help how her face flushed
Dane towered over her “Not a chance, and it’s going to get uglier If you had wanted to keep this between the four of us, you shouldn’t have brought your cousin into it”
“He’s the head of s worked here in Bezakistan They ht down to it, Tal et hi any of the guys could do
Dane seerow a couple of inches as he watched her, his whole body going into battle , Alea, because I apparently wasn’t clear I ao old school with this I’ve been extremely patient so far, but you need to think about what you’re doing and stop Nothing has changed We’re together, and ill get through all of this together As a faether If you continue down the path I think you’re taking, you’re going to put ht my way out of it”