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“No. Being with me isn’t a danger to you.”
“Then I don’t want to be tripping over bodyguards. I want us to live as normally as possible, along with any additions to our family. Can you promise to give us that?”
Begrudgingly, he agreed, “fine, I won’t have security in your face.”
Emmanuel had kept his promise all this time. It had never, ever been a close call. Now a threat coming from his own damn family was going to make him break the promise.
“Well, that shit sucks, but temporary coverage will be on site within six… no, give me eight hours. Permanent coverage will be available within forty-eight. I noticed you didn’t include yourself. No worries. We’ll have you covered too. As well as keep eyes on Larson.”
By the time Emmanuel slipped back into bed, he felt relief.
“Hey, Baby where did you go?”
“We’ll talk in the morning, Doc. Go back to sleep,” he instructed as he pulled her into his arms.
Ivy wasn’t going to be too happy with him. He would gladly put it off until the morning.
Their alarm went off much sooner than he would have liked. It took Emmanuel a moment to get up and running, by the time he dragged himself out of bed Ivy was already in the shower. After brushing his teeth, he slipped into the shower with her.
Ivy was lathering her hair.
“Need some help?” He offered. She nodded as she dropped her hands, making room for him. She sighed in contentment as his fingers massaged her scalp.
“Thank you, Baby. You’re the best.”
“Remember, you just said that.” Emmanuel’s movements slowed.
“Aht, aht, aht. If you are here to deliver bad news, keep those fingers moving.”
Emmanuel decided to just rip off the Band-Aid. “Larson’s last message was concerning. Everyone is getting security. All the children and my mom included.”
“Okay. If you think it’s for the best. Does that include me?”
“Yeah, Doc.”
“Roy?”
“Of course.” Emmanuel was sure to offer her some small comfort that she didn’t have to deal with a stranger.
“Okay then. Just know, I’m not it. You’re telling all the kids and your mom.” Well, she was taking the news a lot better than he thought she would.
“No objection?”
“No, I trust your decision. Besides, Larson has been acting a bit manic. God knows how he is going to handle it when she files for divorce.”
“I suppose we cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, at least I know you will all be safe.”
Between helping Doc with her hair and other activities, the shower ran longer than expected. It threw them both off schedule. Ivy grumbled that she didn’t appreciate him making her late when she was already leaving the office early for the lawyer’s appointment.
While Emmanuel took responsibility for the shower, the quickie once they were dressed was completely her fault. But he wasn’t foolish enough to mention it to her.
It only added to his wife’s irritation that she had to leave the office so early to meet Anna Harkness, only to have the lawyer be an hour and a half late. It was soon forgotten as they explained the reason for their visit to Anna. Emmanuel was doing his level best not to look smug as his lawyer’s neutral expression slipped. Ivy explained the science behind what had happened.
“I’m sorry. What?” Anna looked from Emmanuel to Ivy.
Her gaze rested on his as she asked, “so, you have an identical twin brother that you never heard of before? Who set you up to take paternity of his son? I know this sounds completely unprofessional, but that is some Dynasty shit if I ever heard it.”
He had wondered how the straight lace Harkness was friends with Frank, and now he understood. Beneath it all was the same irreverence.
