“Raven?” She jumped at the sound of her name.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She nodded. “I know. Come here?” She patted the space on the mattress beside her and he slid onto the bed, joining her.

“What’s up?” he asked, not knowing where her mind was after that meeting. True, she’d reiterated her desire to play a target but he wasn’t sure she’d thought things through.

“I need you to trust me,” she said. “There is no way I can even think about having a future unless Lance is gone. I want to see my nephew and not worry that Lance will devolve to the point where he’d hurt a child. Don’t I deserve to be able to go out and have drinks with a girlfriend like Stevie without worrying she’ll end up like Emily?”

“You deserve all those things and more but I don’t want to lose the woman I love like I lost my mother!” His shout came as much of a surprise to him as it did to Raven, who’d jerked at his tone.

He blew out a calming breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.”

She crossed her hands over her stomach and blinked back tears. “I know. Just like I know I want to say it back to you, but I can’t.”

His heart stopped beating in his chest. He’d been more aware of nearly losing control than he had of the words he’d been holding in for so long. He knew damn well she wasn’t ready to hear the depth of his feelings and he’d never meant for them to come out.

“I know.” He grasped her hands in his. “Forget I said it. I understand where your head is at. We can table all relationship conversations,” he said, hoping he didn’t regret not pushing her now.

“Remy, if I can’t lure him out, I have to leave, and if I go, I won’t tellanyonewhere I end up.” A lone tear dropped down her cheek and he brushed it away with his knuckle.

He shook his head, ignoring the jolt of panic racing through him at the possibility of her disappearing forever.

“You’re not going anywhere.” He clasped her hands tighter. “I’ll give your plan some thought and I’ll talk to Zach and even Garrett.” He hadn’t invited the detective over today because his old friend had rules to follow that Remy didn’t.

But when it came to putting any plan into action, he and Zach would figure out how to protect everyone by including the NYPD. The goal was to have Lance arrested and put away for a long time.

“Thank you.” She threw her arms around him and crawled into his lap. “I’ll be careful and I won’t let him take me to a second location.”

Pulling his head back, he met her gaze and caught her amused grin.

“Watching those true crime shows again?” He’d caught her up at night in the family room watching TV when she couldn’t sleep.

But she’d always end up back in bed with him come morning. And that was how he wanted things to remain. Which meant he’d give in to her plan. He’d have to trust her and the people he would strategically place around her to keep her safe. He had no other choice.

After coming to an understanding, they arrived at another one. She’d already called him out on telepathy with Zach but he and Raven also knew how to read each other’s mind. In tandem, they rose from the bed to strip off their clothes. Once they were naked, she returned to her position on his lap but this time, she’d raised herself over him.

His cock stood at attention and she easily dropped down, coating him in her wet heat and taking him deep. And despite the fact that she wouldn’t say the words back to him, he knew it was out of fear. Fear that she’d have to run.

And it was that fear inside him now that had him arching his pelvis and fucking up into her as she rocked her body, her clit rubbing against his pubic bone. They were both needy and desperate and it wasn’t long before she stiffened.

“Oh,” she moaned, the heady sound reverberating in his ear. “I’m coming so hard.” She trembled and shook, grinding her pelvis into him as her pussy clasped his dick over and over.

Once she’d begun to relax, he knew her orgasm had finished and he leaned back on his hands and lifted his hips until he came, feeling his come spurt inside her.

A while later, they’d showered and collapsed into bed. No more words were spoken about Lance or love but as he held her, Remy knew that was exactly what they both felt.

The next morning, they were both ready for work, about to head downstairs to his SUV, when his phone rang.

Raven paused in front of the elevator, waiting for him to take the call.

He checked the screen and saw Dex’s name. “Hello?”

“Rem, you need to get to Glen Cove Hospital. Dad’s been admitted. They think he had a heart attack.”

His own heart squeezed in his chest. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He disconnected and shoved his phone into his back pants pocket.

“What is it?” Raven asked.