Tears pricked her eyes and rolled from the corners. “I know. I’m scared.”

  “Try not to be. I’m here, honey. I won’t let anything happen to you. I’d die first.”

  She was terrified it would come to that, and she wouldn’t be able to live with the pain or the guilt. “I’m not worried for me. I’m worried about you.”

  And us.

  “Don’t. Todd may have connections, but I know how to protect myself. We just have to stay strong, use the time we can get away from the asshole, and outlast the Pershings. If we do that, we’ll walk away together and never look back.”

  “I want that.” Madison hoped that after her three-month penance, she could simply put her hand in Matt’s and walk into the sunset with him, especially since the man she loved seemed to want her for more than mind-blowing sex. She wanted forever with him…but even if he wanted the same, Todd would never make that easy.

  “I’m not going to give you up a second time, especially to him,” Matt vowed. “I was serious when I said you’re mine.”

  She felt his words deep in her heart. “I made such a stupid mistake when I married Todd. I’ve wished a thousand times that I could go back. I’d always pick you.”

  Matt dropped a worshipping kiss on her lips, so different from the desperate, fevered kisses they’d shared minutes ago. This was slow and full of a completely different sort of passion, the kind that came from a place far deeper than his sex drive. It warmed every corner of Madison and filled her with hope. After the last three horrible years, maybe she and Matt could work it out and live happily ever after. Didn’t the universe at least owe them a chance?

  The thought was an enticing one, but useless. The universe owed them nothing, and she feared some mistakes were forever.

  Madison clung to him, pressing herself against his damp skin, drinking in the scent of his body, and trying to commit this moment to memory forever. She didn’t even want to think about the long three months ahead. She refused to imagine the rest of her life without him.

  After another tender kiss, Matt pressed their foreheads together. “And I’d definitely pick you over my freak-out. I didn’t handle that well. I’m more fucking sorry than you know.”

  “Your dad’s girlfriend committing suicide in his kitchen was a lot. I understand. It’s okay.”

  “It’s not.” He grazed her still overheated cheek with his thumb. “I knew the guys you’d dated in the past had always abandoned you. I never meant to make you feel like you weren’t important. You are, honey. More than you know. I wanted you in ways I didn’t know how to deal with.”

  “You’re important to me, too.” He was everything to her. “And we’ve both made mistakes.”

  “More than a few. We won’t be perfect, but we need to communicate and be honest. We can’t fuck up that horrifically again.”

  “You’re right,” she said as he slowly pulled free and disposed of his condom.

  Even with a mere few feet of distance between them, Madison had to shove down tears as she crawled off the bed and stripped the sheets. She didn’t want to be weepy or clingy. She shouldn’t be a pessimist, either. But if she was already anxious about how long she and Matt would have to wait to be together again, before she could show him without words how much she loved him, how on earth would she keep her shit together until the midterms? The trials in front of them felt daunting. Madison tried not to let anxiety defeat her.

  In silence, they stacked their few possessions in Jack’s duffel and set it by the door, then systematically cleaned the cabin. Madison bagged up the last of the trash. As they heard the whine of the boat’s motor in the distance, Matt carried their belongings outside and killed the generator.

  Their idyll was over. Her stomach tightened. Dread sat like lead in every corner of her body.

  Matt eased beside her in the humid heat of the July evening. Around her, birds flew, insects buzzed, and gators lazed. For those creatures, life went on as normal. Hers was falling off a cliff. The Pershings would expect her to put on the straitjacket of “acceptable” behavior for public perception. This time, Todd would tighten her bindings because there would be more eyes on her. And because he was an asshole. Matt would be beside her, but she couldn’t take comfort or pleasure from him without risking everything.

  He pulled her against his side as the rattle of the boat motor came closer. She closed her eyes and tried to disappear into his touch. He tightened his hold, his embrace telling her that he was there with and for her. As much as Madison might have appreciated pretty lies in that moment, she was glad he didn’t bother with platitudes.

  “Where are we spending tonight, do you know?”

  “Not exactly, but I have guesses.”

  She tensed. “Not together?”

  “No. I need to take care of a few things at my place, and I’m sure the bosses have some…words for me before I head out for three months.”

  “How will they do without you and Ethan for that long? I know you’re usually busy on missions, and…they’re just letting you two do this work for months? Ahead of your other clients.”

  “They’re not stupid. First, Todd is paying double our going rate. Second, they know that if they don’t let me keep you safe and fight for what’s mine, I’ll quit. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but a few years back they lost two of their best operatives to the women they married. So Hunter, Logan, and Joaquin aren’t eager to lose more guys who get shit done and run clean ops. And I made it clear that if they don’t let me put you first, I will walk. I’m not letting you go again.”

  “And Ethan?”

  A smirk crept across his face. “I didn’t say the bosses intended to make this easy on me.”

  She turned to him with her heart in her eyes. More questions floated through her head, but she pushed aside all her worries to share one of these last precious moments alone with Matt.

  Then Jack Cole pulled up in his pontoon boat, wearing a ball cap, a tank that showed off the fact he kept a solid gym habit, and a somber expression. “You two ready to get back to civilization?”

  If by civilization he meant a world where people watched their every move, waiting for the opportune moment to break them apart, no. But that was neither Jack’s fault nor his problem.

  “As we’ll ever be.” Matt grabbed the duffel and loaded it as Jack double-checked the generator and locked the cabin door.

  Satisfied, their Cajun host stowed the cooler of leftover food. Matt helped Madison into the boat that still scared her. But instead of his face being all stern demand that she shelve her fears and comply, he sent her warm encouragement and reassurance. She extended him her trust and stepped in. How could the man who demanded she strip and spread her legs for his tongue be the same guy who filled her with such quiet confidence?

  The ride across the swamp was silent, but she wasn’t sure if that was because no one wanted to shout over the loud motor or because they couldn’t think of anything to say.

  Once Jack docked the boat in the marina, Matt assisted her onto dry land. His touch lingered for a long moment. Then he dropped his hand. His stance turned purely protective. He was no longer her lover but her bodyguard.

  Madison’s knees threatened to buckle. God, the nightmare was already starting, and they hadn’t even left Louisiana. She tried to tell herself it was necessary and not to let the distance he put between them bother her, but she couldn’t help but feel as if Matt was already slipping away.

  Chapter Three

  Two days later, Madison sat in Nash Scott’s pickup. Matt’s fellow operative and pal stopped his truck beside a sky-scraping glass-and-concrete building that ate up a whole city block. He had volunteered to spend his Saturday driving her and her bestie, Haisley, from Lafayette to Houston so she could visit Daddy. Since nearly being carved up while trying to protect her from intruders—aka Todd’s thugs who’d broken into his apartment two weeks ago—he was thankfully on the mend.

  Nash glanced at Haisley in his rearview mirror, his stare hot and focused. The redhead pretended not to notice him as she brushed a speck of lint from her sundress and glanced out the window, the sun glinting off the boho-chic braids in her long hair. Madison would have been amused if she wasn’t so tied up in knots.

  Before she could visit Daddy, she had to make it through the prearranged gauntlet of the press. Then she had a mere hour or two to spend with her father and discuss his cancer treatments before Nash returned her to the safe house in Lafayette, leaving her in the protective care of Caleb Edgington, the retired colonel who had owned EM Security Management before he’d passed the business to his sons, Hunter and Logan, along with his stepson, Joaquin Muñoz.

  Madison was thankful for any time with her father, but the stress of her looming DC trip had taken its toll. In the past two days, she’d barely eaten. She’d constantly slept. Still, she was exhausted and unsettled. She hadn’t seen Matt since Jack had dropped him off at the office before sending her into seclusion. His frequent calls and texts helped…but without him close, she felt as if a part of her was missing. Thankfully, Haisley’s magic with makeup hid her lingering dark circles and pale pallor. Otherwise, Daddy would know something troubled her at a glance.

  Nash unlocked the doors to his truck, then shoved on a ball cap and aviators. If he was attempting to blend into the background, that would be tough for him to do at six-foot-seven.

  Haisley didn’t wait for Nash’s help, just dropped to the asphalt, shook out her flowing skirt, tossed on her shades, and waited expectantly while she sneaked a clandestine glance at him. It was hardly the first. Though Madison could recite the hundred reasons she would have sworn Haisley would never give the guy a chance, she suspected her best friend was rethinking things—a lot.

  Interesting development…

  “You ladies ready?” Nash helped Madison from the truck, sending Haisley a pointed stare, which she ignored.

  “Absolutely.” Madison felt beyond ready to see her dad. Their phone calls the past couple of days hadn’t been enough. He sounded cranky and demoralized. She hoped her recent silence hadn’t hurt his feelings, especially since she’d had to lie to him about where she’d been. But the less Daddy knew about her situation with Todd, the better. Since his health was fragile, he didn’t need the extra stress of worrying about her. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Right after she made it through the gauntlet of the press.

  “Let’s do this,” Haisley quipped.

  Nash nodded. “I’ll walk first, make sure nothing or no one is threatening. Stay close behind me. If I sense anything wrong, I’ll get you back to the truck. Here’s the spare key, just in case.” He handed it over. “If shit goes down, get yourselves out and call for help.”

  She’d run once while he’d protected her during an attack. She felt too guilty to do it a second time. “Nash⁠—”

  “This isn’t a negotiation. I’m trained to deal with this. You’re not.”

  “But you’re still recovering.”

  He scoffed. “I’m fine. And Matt will have my balls if I fail to protect you.”

  Madison sighed. Since Matt had called to give her the same speech this morning, she knew Nash wasn’t kidding. “Ugh, you macho men drive me insane.”

  “Complain all you want. I won’t let anything happen.” He sent Haisley another stare. “To either of you.”

  Her bestie looked away, but not before she bit her lip. Was Haisley actually blushing?

  Madison’s stare ping-ponged between them. Had the two of them been hanging out—or hooking up—while she’d been hiding in the swamp with Matt?

  Before she could ask, Nash rounded the corner of the building, his body tensing, his gaze turning even more watchful. He motioned for them to follow, and Madison swallowed her question. She was out of practice with the press, and she needed her wits until she made it into the hospital.

  Moments after the reporters and internet gossips darted for them, all rolling video, Madison dashed for the door, doing her best not to flinch. As far as these people knew, she and Todd were happily married. She hadn’t spent most of the last two weeks being commanded and pleasured by Matt, the ex who had declared himself her Dom and now called her his. She was merely here to see her dad.

  “Madison, are you excited to see your father today?” asked an insistent woman with long blue nails. Her impatient tone was grating. “What’s his prognosis?”

  Why did society enjoy butting into other people’s lives uninvited? Madison would never understand.

  She swallowed her annoyance and pasted on a smile, slowing her trek to the hospital’s door just long enough to answer. “My father’s prognosis is good. We’re feeling positive about his recovery. He still has health challenges, but he’s in a world-class facility getting the best care possible. And Dad is strong. I know he’ll come through. I’m just here to spend some quality time with him.”

  “How long do you anticipate he’ll be here?” asked another thirty-something man also rolling video.

  “I’m not sure. I’m hoping to have a more in-depth conversation with his doctors today.”

  “Is your husband gearing up for Senator Pershing’s reelection bid this fall? Is that why he isn’t with you?” shouted yet another reporter.

  “One of the reasons. My husband also has other responsibilities and business ventures that unfortunately precluded him from making this visit with me. I miss him, but I’ll be back in DC soon, and we’ll make another trip here as soon as possible.”

  Haisley shot her a little smile of approval for her on-script answer. Madison hadn’t said anything the press could tear apart for some hidden meaning. Of course, that hardly stopped them from outright lying if it meant more clicks that cha-chinged into sweet, sweet green.

  The small horde of reporters around her pelted her with a handful of other questions, each easily fended off and smoothed over—until she was ten feet from the door.

  “Do you have any comments about the continued allegations that your husband’s cousin wasn’t killed in a car accident but was murdered in a downtown DC high rise?”

  This wasn’t the first time Madison had heard the press fishing about Brent’s death, but now they had more specific details. She maintained her smile as she scrambled for an answer that would deflect more questions. She’d love for Todd to pay for his cousin’s murder, but she couldn’t tip off these vultures. The Pershings would retaliate. Then what would happen to Daddy? To Matt?

  “None. I’ve been focused on my father’s health and Senator Pershing’s campaign. The summer is half gone, and the election is coming soon! Besides, if I paid attention to every internet rumor, I’d be convinced that Elvis is still alive, living with Bigfoot and their passel of kids somewhere off the grid.” She faked a laugh.

  Ahead of her, Nash reached the door and held it open. Madison felt the cold blast of the air conditioning hit her face. She prayed it cooled her panic in this sweltering July heat. Just a few steps to go, then her escape would be successful…

  “What do you say about the fact that, while you’ve been in Louisiana, both you and your former lover disappeared and resurfaced on the same day?”

  Madison’s heart leapt to her throat and threatened to beat out of her mouth. Somehow, she managed to keep her frozen smile in place. But her thoughts spun like water swirling down a toilet. Act as if she hadn’t heard the question or laugh it off? Either approach could blow up in her face.

  “Y’all, the woman is here to cheer up her sick father,” Haisley snapped. “Since Madison is visiting her hometown, it’s no surprise her ex-boyfriend happens to live there, too. She doesn’t know where he is. Maybe he went on vacation during the Independence Day holiday. Maybe he had a work commitment that took him out of town. Either way, my friend is married, and her ex is no longer her concern.” Haisley grabbed her hand and all but shoved her into the hospital. “No more questions. She’s here to see her father. We’d appreciate some privacy.”

  The second the door shut between her and the press, Madison breathed a sigh of relief and turned to her bestie. “You really just did that?”

  “I thought the outrage would sound more authentic coming from someone who hasn’t spent the last couple of weeks letting her supposed ex fuck her brains out.”

  Haisley was right. And Madison refused to take the blame if the press didn’t believe her answers about Brent Westbrook’s murder or her affair with Matt. If Todd hadn’t wanted any whiff of those potential scandals reaching reporters, then he shouldn’t have butchered his cousin and threatened her with the bloody knife.

  “Thank you,” Madison murmured.

  Haisley shrugged. “What are besties for?”

  With a crisp nod, the redhead held out her arm. Madison threaded her own through it and marched straight for the elevator Nash hailed. Time to focus on Daddy.

  “Well said,” Nash murmured to Haisley. “But if you wanted to stay off the press’s radar, that wasn’t the way to do it.”

  She glared his way, complete with rolling eyes. “Did you think you’re the only one who can help Madison fend off an attack? I might not have taken on guys with actual knives, but I’ve been keeping blades out of her back since grade school.”

  Following her mic-drop moment, she dragged Madison into the car while she grinned and pressed the button for her father’s floor. Nash filed in behind and formed a protective wall between them and whoever might try to enter the elevator. The big bodyguard had shoulders a mile wide, and Madison knew her bestie well. That was one of Haisley’s weaknesses.

  Her tone might be full of sass, but Madison was beginning to believe that her friend’s libido was saying “hell yes.”

  “Someday, that mouth is going to get you in trouble, sweetness.”

  Despite the stress of the reporters and the dread of her trip to DC making her queasy, Madison laughed. “Truer words were never spoken.”

  Haisley stuck out her tongue at Nash, then turned to her, hand on her hip. “Whose side are you on?”