The Wedding Rescue, Book Five(12)

I brought her home in time for a late lunch in my penthouse. Hard to believe it was only mid-afternoon. She ate a tuna melt with absent attention. I took in the faint purple bruises under her eyes, the slump of her shoulders, and bumped back the hair and make-up appointment a half an hour. She needed rest more than she needed an elaborate hair style.

Leigha resisted only a little when I carried her to the bedroom and stripped off her shirt and jeans. I tucked her into the bed and climbed in behind her, wrapping my arm around her waist.

“Just close your eyes for a little while,” I said. “You’ll feel better.”

“I can’t sleep, Dylan. There’s too much in my head.”

“Just try. You had a long night and today has been rough. Even if you can’t sleep, resting your eyes will help.”

She did as I said, and a minute later, she was out. When I was sure she was asleep, I eased out of the bed and went straight for my phone. Axel answered on the first ring.

“No sign of him,” he said. “We’re looking, the police are looking. You can bet Tsepov’s men are looking.”

“We’ll need extra security. I don’t like the way this guy is fixated on her. Coming back to burn her house wasn’t a smart move.”

“Can you keep her contained until we’ve got him?”

“I can keep her in the Delecta,” I said. “At least until Monday. But I can’t keep her in the penthouse.”

“Loosing your touch?”

“Her sister is getting married at six tonight,” I said. “She’s not going to agree to miss the wedding. Can you cover us?”

“I’ve got it. I have two guys covering your floor, and I’ll coordinate with Russell to get more on the wedding and reception. How’s she doing?”

“She’s asleep. She got through talking to the police, but she’s in shock.”

“I can’t make it up to her, but I can at least keep her safe until we get Steven.”

“This isn’t your fault, Axel.”

“Not entirely. But I played a part, Dyl.”

“So did I,” I said. “Now let’s just keep that asshole away from her."

I hung up, frustrated that there was nothing I could do to end this situation. I ran a casino and part of Kane enterprises. I had a lot of skills, but hunting down fugitives wasn’t one of them. Out there, I’d get in Axel’s way more than I’d help. His guys were trained. They’d find Steven.

With nothing else to do until it was time to wake Leigha in an hour, I got back on the phone and called the Audi dealer. A few minutes later they’d agreed to deliver a white Audi TTS convertible roadster with all the extras.

I thought about getting her the R8 Spyder; it had an aggressively sleek look I liked for her, but I had a feeling she’d balk at my giving her a one hundred and thirty thousand dollar car. I was pushing my luck with the TTS. The dealer assured me that she could exchange it if she didn’t like the color, but I thought she’d keep the white. It was elegant, but still sporty. The perfect look for my Leigha.

That item ticked off my list, I sat at my desk and did what I always did when I had a spare second. I opened my laptop and worked.





7





Leigha




Dylan didn’t wake me up until the hair stylist arrived. I opened my eyes surprised I’d managed to fall asleep at all. I wasn’t much of a napper under normal circumstances, but with all that had happened, my mind and body must have needed an escape.

I sat in a chair in the living room, bundled in a robe, and let the stylist fuss with my hair. I told her I wanted an up-do and zoned out. Anything she did would look good with my formal dress, and I didn’t really care anymore. I just wanted to get the wedding over with and then face the fact that all my worldly possessions could currently fit in my purse.

Across the room, Dylan sat at the desk in the corner of the living room, working on his laptop and occasionally fielding calls. If he wasn’t staring into his computer screen, he was pacing in front of the windows, his phone to his ear, speaking in tones low enough that the stylist and I couldn’t hear any details. Once again I was aware of how much work he must be pushing aside for me. If we stayed together, he couldn’t keep doing that. He had too many responsibilities between the Delecta and Kane Enterprises. I knew he must work long hours. Could I handle that?

It was a stupid question - I’d deal with the long hours if they came with Dylan. There were times of the year when I worked crazy hours as well. I was an accountant - January through the end of April were pretty nuts for me. If I could deal with Dylan’s work, he’d learn to deal with mine.