Only Alice would spend this long worrying about others and not herself. Her sweetness was more palatable than sugar. He stayed still so she wouldn't jump. "Good. Whoever hears her tell that to the world won't bother with her. Right now, I want you with me until I find out who is behind the threats. If you go home, you risk putting your family in danger. It's safer if I put a patrol on the outside while you're with me."
Her eyes misted like she might cry, though her pale cheeks stayed dry. She stared at him like he'd set out to hurt her. "So I can't go home?"
He'd have to go slow with her and not push too hard too fast, but no one would get to her on his watch. "I have to insist you stay with me."
Her lips twitched. "You don't have a place, and I'm not staying at Castle Morgan."
His brother's home would have state of the art security where no one would get to them, though he'd rather not bunk with Peter. He had his own version of a Morgan home that he never used and the family service just stocked for him. "I don't want to go there either."
"I won't be your shield from your brother. You need a better plan if I'm staying with you. The hotel?"
"No." He rubbed his chin. "Let me think."
She crossed her arms too as if this was an argument she could win. "I finalize buying my condo next week…."
He dropped his arms to his sides so he wouldn't close her off. She needed to agree to be with him. He missed the rest of what she said and blinked. She turned to leave. He said, "What?"
She turned back around, shook her head and threw her arms to her sides. "Yeah. I do have a life, John."
He reached out with both hands and stroked her arms until she calmed down. She gazed up at him and her blue eyes welled with tears. He lowered his head and the scent of strawberries caught in his throat. He spoke softly but firmly as he vowed not to bring up every type of criminal out there and what they might do. "If you intend to keep that condo, then you stay with me. We don't know who is after us yet."
She licked her lips but shook her head. "This is insane."
He texted the service his family used to ensure that the house was livable. With Morgan security it would be the safest place for them.
Victoria poked her head into the room he was in with Alice. John saw Peter and Jennifer in the background. Peter had his hands in his pockets, wearing a confused expression as he looked at Alice. Vicki smiled at them and opened her arms. "John, Alice, come join us. I've missed you both so much."
John had no words. Perhaps his family hadn't heard the shot or they were pretending again. The attack had used a silencer. His sister wasn't a ghost, but he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing either. He took Alice's hand. A spark of fire grew in his belly. No harm could come to Alice because of his stupidity today. He'd find a way to keep her safe until this was over.
His gaze returned to Peter. For Victoria, they'd work together.
