Maya Banks: Colters' Gift

“What do we need to do?” Max directed at Noah and Liam. “Are there any precautions that Lauren needs to take? How likely is this guy to come after her?”

“It’s hard to say,” Noah said grimly. “We need to find out everything we can about him.”

Lauren trembled against Liam and his grip tightened on her.

“We aren’t going to let anything happen to you, Lauren,” Liam murmured.

“I don’t want her left alone,” Max said sharply. “Is this the sort of thing you can have others do for you?” Then he shook his head. “I think you should move back in with me and Callie, Lauren.”

“Max, no,” Lauren pleaded. “I like it here. I just got moved in. My job’s just across the street. Clyde is a world away from New York City. You heard Noah. They haven’t told anyone where I am. How on earth would he find me, and who says he even cares what I’m doing now?”

Max looked torn. Seth was frowning.

“I hate to upset you, Lauren, but I’m in agreement with Max on this one,” Seth said. “You shouldn’t be alone. Especially until we’ve had time to investigate this guy. I’m assuming from your tone that you have no desire to press charges?”

She shook her head emphatically. “He’d be out of jail in an hour. He’d never do time. I just want to forget he ever existed. I don’t want to give him any reason to care about me one way or another.”

Seth didn’t look happy, but he didn’t try to talk her into it.

“She won’t be alone,” Noah said. “Liam and I would stick to her until we are absolutely certain this guy poses no threat.”

“What do you want to do, Lauren?” Max asked.

He was staring hard at Liam’s arm wrapped protectively around her. His gaze swept up and down the bigger man as if trying to figure out what it was he was missing in the big picture.

Lauren sucked in a breath and then glanced at each of the occupants of the room.

If she swore off any protection, A) she’d be the world’s biggest dumbass; and B) Max would have her moved back in with him and Callie in an hour flat. So much for asserting any sort of independence.

“I want to stay here. In my apartment,” she finally said.

“And you’re okay with Noah and Liam shadowing you twenty-four hours a day?” Max asked.

She snuck a quick glance at Noah. Liam, she was relatively sure of. His hold on her spoke volumes. Noah . . . well, she didn’t know if he was still pissed or if he would be even more so once he got stuck babysitting her on a full-time basis again.

“Why are you looking at me that way?” Noah asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Because I’m not sure it’s fair to ask you to take on the job of babysitting me again,” she said bluntly. “I lied to you. I made your job more difficult. I wouldn’t blame you if you couldn’t wait to see the back of me.”

“How about you let me worry about what I consider difficult,” Noah said softly. “Whether you move in with your brother or you stay here in this apartment, you’re stuck with me.”

“And me,” Liam interjected.

“And Liam,” Noah agreed. “So you better just get used to it. Until we know exactly who and what we’re dealing with, you’re going to be tripping over us on a daily basis.”

“I don’t want any trouble,” Seth said, straightening his stance. “I need to be kept in the loop on everything. If there’s a problem in my town, it’s my problem. Plus, Lauren is family. My entire family looks out for her. I need to know whatever threat there is because you can damn well bet my wife, mother and sister will be in the thick of it.”

“Understood,” Liam said, his hold never loosening on Lauren. “We’ll give you whatever information we uncover as soon as we get it. We’ll get some of our people digging immediately and we’ll let everybody know what we come up with.”

Max looked reluctantly toward the door and then back at Lauren. “Are you sure you don’t want to come home with me?”

She broke loose from Liam and went to her brother. She hugged him tightly and then leaned up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for worrying about me, and I’m sorry I lied to you, Max. I didn’t know what else to do at the time. I was just scared. But I’m fine now. Promise.”

He didn’t look a hundred percent certain, but he nodded anyway. “Okay. I’ll go back home.” Then to Noah and Liam, he said, “I expect a report the minute you find out anything further.”

“I’ll get on out of here too,” Seth said. “Keep me posted. Holler if you sense anything out of the ordinary. Things stay pretty much the same around here. People pay attention when they see new faces in town. Get me a description of Knight. A photo. Any pertinent information on people who work close with him. I’ll distribute it to my deputies so we can all be on the lookout.”

Liam extended his hand to shake Seth’s. “Thanks. We’ll definitely keep you posted.”

Seth shook Liam’s hand and then nodded at Lauren. “Take care, Lauren.”

“Thank you,” she managed to get out.

Max leaned forward, kissed Lauren on the forehead and then trailed behind Seth out her front door.

She damn near wilted on the spot as soon as the door closed behind Max. But the look in Noah’s eyes halted her in her tracks.

Her brow furrowed, she glanced at him in question.

“Now that they’re gone, we have a hell of a lot else to discuss,” Noah said in a determined voice. “Starting with me. You. And Liam.”

NOAH stared at Lauren’s pale face and for a moment considered backing off. Giving her time and space to deal with the fallout of their arrival. It was obvious she was on shaky ground.

But fuck it all. This whole situation was burning a hole in his brain. Liam had already made his move. And if Noah didn’t do some serious catching up, he was going to get left in the dust.

Liam had said for Noah to come back and see Lauren and then make up his mind. Hell. As soon as he’d laid eyes on her again and saw the shame and vulnerability in her gaze, he knew there was no goddamn way he was walking away from her. And Liam, the bastard, probably knew it.

“I don’t understand,” Lauren said in a faltering tone.

When Noah looked at Liam, his friend’s gaze was mocking. Challenging. It made Noah want to wipe the smug smile right off his face.

“Come sit down,” Liam said, gently herding Lauren to the love seat.

He settled her down beside him and then glanced expectantly back up at Noah. Noah had no choice but to take the armchair Lauren had sat in earlier.

Once he was settled and staring at Lauren, who was looking at him, expecting him to say what was on his mind, he struggled to find the words. How the hell was he going to explain this one when he didn’t fully understand it himself?

Son of a bitch, but he hated this uncertainty. He was a decisive person. He didn’t second-guess himself or his decisions, but he was paralyzed by the enormity of the situation. He and Liam hadn’t even fully come to terms with this . . . whatever the hell it was. How could he be expected to make Lauren understand what he wanted? What Liam obviously wanted.

“Lauren, will you excuse us for a moment?” Noah said bluntly.

Liam’s brows drew together, and then Lauren’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Noah stood and motioned for Liam. “We’re just going to go across the street.”

“And leave her?” Liam demanded.

Noah blew out his breath in frustration. “Come on, Lauren. You’re going with us. We’ll take her into the sheriff’s station.”

“What on earth is going on?” Lauren asked in bewilderment.