Page 125 of Shadow

“Fuck. Sorry, Liv. That was Brian. I have to meet him in two hours and end this.”

Her heart slammed into her chest. “What if it’s a trap? Are you taking anyone with you?”

Ripley shook his head. “We both agreed to come alone.”

Olivia didn’t like this at all. “They’ve already proven they can’t be trusted. You should take someone with you.”

“I know how to protect myself, baby girl. But don’t worry, you won’t be alone, OK?”

She waved a hand. “I’m not worried about me. I’ll be fine here. It’s you I’m worried about.”

He stood and came back to her, some of the ferocity gone from his eyes. “Do you want this to be over, or not?”

“Of course I do, Daddy. But I want you alive at the end. I don’t like this at all.”

He played with a section of curls that had fallen into her face. “I don’t love it. But I do know I can handle it. Now we need to get ready to go. I’m dropping you off somewhere you’ll be safe.”

“Why can’t I stay here?”

“Because I said.”

She wanted to be petulant and argue, but she also recognized he wasn’t in the mood for it, and she might find herself over his knee for the kind of spanking that would leave her in tears and not at all horny. So, she ducked into the bathroom to fix her hair without another word.

An hour later, they were back in London where they pulled up to a familiar place. “Why are we back at Tyson’s restaurant?”

Ripley simply smiled as he opened her door and helped her out. “He’s going to keep an eye on you today.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

He laughed and laced his fingers through hers. “I know, babe. But you do need protection, and he can provide it. Samuel already had to fly back home.”

“Did you two even do what you came here to do?”

Ripley nodded. “Some of it. But once I handle things with Brian, I’m going to make one more stop for him.”

And of course, he couldn’t tell her what it was.

Instead of going in the front of the restaurant, they entered through a side door that led to the kitchen.

Olivia gasped when she spotted Sabrina sitting on a prep counter in jeans and a stylish blouse laughing at something Tyson said.

“Olivia, you’re here!” Sabrina exclaimed as she slid off the counter and came toward her with open arms. “Are you a hugger?” she asked before she got too close.

Olivia nodded and opened her arms to accept the girl’s hug.

“This is a pleasant surprise.”

“Tyson called me when he found out you were going to be here for the afternoon and asked if I could come keep you company. I hope that’s not too weird.”

Olivia smiled. “Not at all. It will be good to get to know you a little better outside of Serendipity. That place is wild.”

Ripley hugged Sabrina and shook hands with Tyson who came up to them after he finished chopping vegetables.

“Olivia, it’s good to see you again, darling.”

Surprisingly, none of their interactions felt awkward after everything they had done the previous night. She recognized that Tyson and Sabrina would be good friends and despite feeling anxious about what Ripley was about to go and do, she felt at ease here.

“I hear you were gossiping about me last night, Vance,” Ripley teased after their initial greeting.

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