Maya Banks - Colters’ Gift

“We understand that,” Liam said gruffly. “And we don’t have all the answers right now. The only thing that occupies our mind is getting Lauren through this thing with Joel Knight safely. Once she’s free of that threat, then the choice will be hers to make as to whether she wants a life with us. From there we’ll take it one day at a time, but she’ll never be alone. She’ll always have us. And she’ll always have you and the Colters.”

Max nodded. “I understand and I appreciate your devotion to her safety. I apologize for some of my earlier remarks. Lauren is very dear to me. After our mom passed, it was just the two of us, and I feel like I failed her because I wasn’t around to see the kind of man Joel Knight was. I was too locked in my own private hell over Callie.”

“Apology accepted,” Noah said.

Max stared hard at Noah, as if trying to see deeply inside Noah’s head. “Do you love her?” he asked bluntly. “Liam’s been very adamant about his feelings, but you haven’t had anything to say.”

Noah didn’t need any time to think about his response. He just wasn’t as comfortable about throwing the words around publicly. To him they were intimate, private words and if used too much, they lost their meaning. He coveted them, never having heard them growing up. To him, they were the most precious gift to give to another person.

“Those words are for Lauren only,” Noah said in a soft voice. “She means more to me than any other person has ever meant to me. I wouldn’t be here if she didn’t.”

Apparently satisfied with Noah’s response, Max rose and extended his hand to shake Noah’s. Noah shook it and then Max turned to Liam to do the same.

“If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to contact me,” Max said. “Give me a go date and I’ll make sure the jet is ready.”

Noah nodded, then he turned to Liam. “Let’s go get Lauren. We have a lot to go over with her.”

WHAT did he say?” Lauren asked anxiously as they pulled away from the Colter house.

“He’s very eager to talk to you,” Noah said. “Apparently they’ve been looking for you for some time. They were worried that you’d met a similar fate as some of the other women of Knight’s association.”

“They thought I was dead?” Lauren gasped.

“They weren’t sure what to think. Only that you’d disappeared and they were very interested in talking to you. They’ve been investigating Knight for over a year, but he’s squeaky clean and no one inside his organization will talk. They’ve been looking for any way in they can find.”

“So he believed you? I mean about the information we have?”

“We didn’t go into that kind of detail,” Liam said grimly

She frowned. “I don’t understand. What did you tell him then?”

“Just that we had incriminating evidence, detailed evidence, that he would be interested in,” Noah said. “I didn’t want to tip our hand this soon. He jumped on the opportunity. I could practically hear him drooling through the phone.”

Lauren went quiet, Holly Colter’s words echoing through her head.

“This could take a long time,” she finally murmured, her gaze sliding sideways so she could take in Noah’s and Liam’s expressions. “I was talking to Holly about when she was in protective custody. It was months before she saw Adam, Ethan and Ryan again, and it could have been much longer except her ex-husband pled out at the last minute instead of going to trial.”

Liam’s hand slid over her shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. “No matter how long it takes, we’re going to be right there with you.”

“What about your family, though?” she asked anxiously. “This seems like an awful lot to spring on them. Not only are you and Noah involved with the same woman . . . me . . . but now you may have to disappear for months or longer because of what I’m doing.”

“I’ll call them before we go meet Castanetti,” Liam said. “I’ll explain everything to them then.”

Lauren twisted her hands in agitation. “I don’t want them to hate me before they ever even meet me.”

Noah smiled. “I can’t imagine the Prescotts hating anyone, and certainly not someone as sweet and beautiful as you are. They’re going to love you, Lauren. I admit, I was worried at first, but I was doing them a huge disservice. They’re some of the most loving, giving people I’ve ever met. I was fortunate enough to be able to call them my family.”

“We’re very lucky,” Liam said in a low voice. “We have your family solidly behind us and they’re obviously hugely loyal, and we have my family who I expect nothing less from. With families like ours, we can’t possibly lose.”

“I’d like to meet them,” she said wistfully.

Noah pulled her hand up to kiss it. “As soon as we can arrange it, we’ll absolutely take you to meet Liam’s parents. But you come first.”

When they reached town, Noah parked in front of the clinic in one of the on-street parking slots. He left the SUV running and Liam got out and opened Lauren’s door for her.

She frowned. “What’s going on? Where are you going?”

“It’s where we’re going,” Liam said, taking her hand. “You and I are going to run up to your apartment so you can pack a bag. We’ll tell you all about it and the plan. I promise.”

The blood drained from her face. “Do you think we’re in danger here?”

“We just don’t want to take any chances, honey,” Noah said gently. “Now that we’ve made the call to the D.A., we have to prepare for any eventuality. Now go on. I’ll wait here. Liam will go up with you.”

She turned and numbly allowed Liam to lead her up the stairs to her apartment door. Once there, he took the key from her hand and inserted it into the lock.

“Stay glued to my back,” he ordered tersely.

She pressed herself to his back as he pushed open the door. He drew his pistol and did a quick sweep of the room.