Page 69 of Taboo

“You will not. You will rest,” her husband ordered.

“Oh, bugger off,” she said to her husband. “This is an emergency.”

“How is Jules?” Alek asked.

“She’s upset. More about what this means for you. She thinks that she’s ruined your life.”

“Talk about bullshit.”

“And Jakob will probably be there by one this afternoon. The plan is for her to come back here. But there is more.”

“So much more. You have no idea?—”

“Good lord, Jensen, shut the hell up. The sooner I get off the phone, the sooner I can go lay down.”

“What is he talking about?” Alek asked, his impatience with this conversation rising to new levels. He needed to get to Jules, to protect her, to tell her that he didn’t care what the fuck this stupid tabloid said about them.

“Jakob isn’t alone.”

“So you said.”

“No. Lillian is with him.”

He knew the name, although he had not met her.

“And she wants her daughter back here, where she can be sure she is safe.”

Without a beat, he said, “Over my dead body.”

There was a pause, then when she spoke next, he heard the smile in her voice. “Good. So…the truth is, theentouragecan’t come back this way for at least a day. They don’t have the company jet, but Jakob chartered flights. I would suggest you get to Oahu as soon as you can. I think he might try to come to Maui to confront you, but my mother-in-law will probably stop him. Maybe. But better that you get to Oahu.”

“On it.”

“And, Alek, I hope I’m not being presumptuous, but welcome to the family.”

“He is not welcomed to this family,” Jensen shouted.

“Ignore him. You are. Go get your woman and tell her.”

He knew what she meant without her even saying more. He had only realized it last night for sure, and now, the thought of her going all the way to England, well, that wasn’t acceptable.

“Thanks, Nic.”

“Be careful.”

He ended the call and looked at his grandfather. “I have work to get done, but I need to get to Oahu.”

“You’re a target. The reporters are going to see you and know who you are.”

“True, but I don’t hide.Wedon’t hide. But if I wait, she might be on her way back to England and then I’d have to fly around the world. I am not about to let them steal my woman.”

A long moment passed with his grandfather before his mouth curved. “You love her.”

He sighed. There was no need to lie about it now. “So much it scares me shitless.”

“What happens after?”

“What do you mean?’

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