“Go ahead, shout for all you’re worth. I don’t need this crap!” He spoke through clenched teeth. “My father always told me there are some people you just can’t help!” Moving closer, Josh whispered into her ear, his breath a stream of warm air. “When those men get their hands on you, and never doubt that they will, remember this moment. As you draw your last breath, think of me and how, I tried to save you.” Finished with what he had to say, he dismissed her and strode off to join his brothers.
Stunned into immobility, all she could do was follow his departure with her mouth hanging open. He was trying to freak her out and she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing it worked.
When Josh reached his brothers, he said something that caused them all to turn and look at her. With Josh’s arrival, the woman seemed to transfer her attention from the blonds to the black haired devil.
Always the charmer, it appeared to Lux that it didn’t take long for Josh to gain her sole attention. Well, who could blame her, the man was a walking wet dream. If one was attracted to that type of male, Lux quickly revised her thoughts.
No doubt using a charm offensive, she watched as the big lump smiled down at the woman. When he raised his eyes, he extended his hand to indicate that she proceed him. The woman giggled like an idiot and Lux felt her irritation spike. She couldn’t stand simpering females.
Pulling her thoughts back to the matter at hand, she became aware that the official wasn’t approaching her alone. All three men were walking behind her with looks of steel in their eyes. The one who had driven the boat, Jason, was the one who held her attention. They all looked dangerous but somehow he looked deadly.
When they reached her, the brothers folded their arms across their chests and watched her unblinkingly. Lux snorted, if these oversized men thought they could intimidate her, they were mistaken.
“Good evening, ma’am, I understand that you are leaving Trinidad today?”
“Which one of them told you that?” Lux responded.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, I believe it does!”
“I’m not quite sure, one of those two I think,” the officer said, indicating the twins. “Is this information incorrect, ma’am?”
Lux decided to stretch out the silence to see how they would react. Josh smiled while the other two looked as though they wanted nothing more than to wring her neck.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m out,” Jake broke into the standoff. Turning he strode towards the waiting aircraft.
“Ma’am, I don’t have all day to stand here with you. Are you leaving of your own volition or are you doing so under duress?” The woman broke off as she gave Josh and Jason the once over. “Lord knows these men are fine but good looking don’t feed my children!”
Just like that her faith in womankind was restored. All she needed to do was say the word and she would be on her way back to her house.
“It’s okay, I’m not being coerced. I want to go with them; it’s time I returned to my real life. But I thank you for making sure that I was fine,” Lux smiled at the pretty woman.
“Okay, you are all free to go. Make sure you come back and visit us again soon, Mrs. Kingdom.”
****
Settling her into a seat, Josh made sure Lux was comfortable before walking away to prepare himself for takeoff. Foremost in his mind was the way she balked at being called Mrs. Kingdom. Yet that was her title, she was his wife of nearly eight years and throughout that time, they had spent less than one year together.
Sitting alone, Josh closed himself off from everyone. He’d worked hard at hiding how much Lux’s departure had hurt him. It didn’t matter how many years had elapsed, he still found it difficult to understand the way she’d snuck away.
Once they were in the air, Josh stretched out his long body and relaxed for the first time in over forty-eight hours. The night spent at her house hadn’t offered him any means of relaxation. Although pleased to see her, he was too much on edge as so many memories rushed back.
Lost in thought, it took a while before he became aware of a shadow looming over him. When Jason sat down beside him, he already knew he wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to get all touchy-feely with me,” Josh broke in before his brother could speak.
“No, not my style.”
“So what do you want?”
“Where do you intend to take her?” Jason asked, his eyes steady.
“Why?” Josh had no idea where this conversation was going.
“Aviva–”
“What about, Aviva?”
Jason ignored his interruption and continued on as though he hadn’t spoken, and it annoyed the hell out of him.
“Aviva,” Jason began again, “is already pissed with a woman she’s never met. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Lux, but you need to sort it out. I will not have my wife upset because of you. Do we understand each other?”
If it had been any other time, Josh would have laughed off his brother’s comment. But no matter how he tried, at the moment he couldn’t find any humor in the situation.
“You know how much I love Aviva, but this is not about her.”