“Who was that?”

“Detective Lee,” he replied. “Just updating her on the latest turn of events.” He jerked his thumb at the flowers.

“Oh. Thank you.” The prick of guilt from earlier was growing into a ball in my stomach. “I’m sorry my problems are taking up so much of the company’s resources. It doesn’t seem fair to everyone else. You really don’t have to do so much for me.” I could take care of myself. I needed to be able to stand on my own two feet.

He strode over as I placed my stuff on the desk that had been dragged in for me to use and took my hands. The warmth in his expression instantly made me feel better.

“You have nothing to apologize for. Everything that’s happened is on Tom.” He kissed my forehead, and my eyelids fluttered closed. It was the sort of sweet, affectionate kiss I’d always longed for. It said I meant something to him. “We’ll get to the bottom of this and then you’ll be free of Tom’s problems. I promise you’ll be safe. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything were to happen to you.”

Ronan

As I held Willow close, I battled internally over the next step. If I was serious about keeping her safe, then the simplest way to do that would be to pay off Tom’s debts. But that would mean protecting an asshole who’d done nothing to deserve it. A man who’d bullied me as a child, fired me when I was grieving the loss of my mentor, and tried to force his sister to marry someone in order to pay his debts. Every part of me rebelled against the idea.

I brushed some hair from her cheek. “I need to talk to Zeke. I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere.”

“But I was planning a downtown shopping spree,” she said, tongue in cheek. I was glad she could find humor in the situation. Her smile softened. “Don’t worry, I’m not moving.”

I kissed her once more, then headed straight for Zeke’s office. I couldn’t help but think what a remarkable change there had been in my relationship with Willow over the past few days. I hoped we were building a solid foundation for things to come, but I had a niggling fear that she might not need me so much once everything had been resolved. I wouldn’t push her though. I’d fix things and then hope she wouldn’t be done with me afterward.

“Hey, King.” Zeke stopped hammering on the keyboard as I entered. “What’s up?”

I jammed my hands in my pockets. “Have you found proof Tom Lennox is involved in anything illegal?”

Getting Tom locked up wouldn’t solve Willow’s problems, but having dirt on him would be useful as leverage to make him go along with our plans.

Zeke leaned back and interlaced his fingers behind his head. “A few minor things but nothing that would get him serious time.” He hesitated, which was strange because I’d never known him to hold back on offering his opinion. “I’m always a fan of a good revenge plot, but if you’re serious about Willow, then maybe you shouldn’t start your relationship by trying to have her brother arrested.”