“I…” He stopped, then drew me onto his lap. Pulling me so I was straddling him, he rested his hands on my hips and didn’t look me in the eyes for a moment. His gaze was downcast. He leaned forward, resting his head into my chest. A deep shuddering sigh left him, and I blinked back tears. I felt his fear then. It was in me, too. Closing my eyes, I wrapped my arms around him and held him. No matter what he said, this war was real. If it wasn’t full-blown now, it would be. Carter knew it, and I trusted him.

“Carter,” I whispered.

He tipped his head back, looking up at me.

I framed his face with my hands and vowed, with every inch of me, “I will stay alive. No matter what happens, I will.”

His Adam’s apple jerked up and down. I could tell he wanted to believe me, but that was the fear. “I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t.”

“They could come for you.”

I shook my head. “You’re not in, right? You’re making money for them. Why would they want to hurt you?”

His hands rested over mine. “Because it’s not about money. It’s about power. They didn’t kill you before. I handed them a solution on a silver platter, but Cole is back. His presence changes everything. They thought he was dead. It’s a matter of time before they find out I’m the one who saved him.”

Carter was to blame. That’s what he thought. I frowned. “You think this war will be because of you?”

He shook his head, slightly. “No. If the war happens, it’s because the Bartel family wants the Mauricio land and assets. That’s all, but this isn’t like last time. I didn’t have anyone to lose.” His hand touched the corner of my lip, resting there. “No one knew about you.”

They did now. Now he had me to lose.

Oh god. I started to feel a different form of terror. He had to think clearly. He had to be ruthless. He couldn’t hesitate. I knew that much. If you wanted to survive, you fought back.

“If something happens, you don’t hesitate,” I told him fiercely. “For any reason. I will fight back. I will stay alive. I will, but so will you. Got that?”

He gave me a half-grin. “When are Theresa and Noah coming?”

“In three hours.”

“Good.” He stood, holding me against his chest, and walked to our bedroom. “That gives us plenty of time.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and my mouth found his. He laid me down on the bed and as he slid inside me moments later, I sighed from contentment. I loved this man. He was scared of losing me, but it went the other way, too. No one would take him away from me.

I wouldn’t allow it.

That’s how I had come to be sitting in a limousine outside of JFK, waiting for Theresa and Noah with my own bag packed in the trunk. The door to the limo opened, and I shifted down in my seat, unsure who all was coming with them. Theresa burst inside first. She looked haggard, though her hair was pulled to the top of her head in a bun and she had on a trendy black coat. She plopped down and let out a deep breath. “I hate traveling.”

“I thought you came in a private plane?”

“We did, and I’m thankful for that, but I’m still exhausted.” Pressing a hand to her stomach, her lips pressed together. “I feel a little nauseous.”

Noah had been climbing inside as she said those words and, hearing them, he switched to the seat opposite from where she sat. “I’ll take this one. Thank you.” He grinned at me. “Hey, Emma. Is Carter around?”

No. Carter was where he always spent his time during the day: in meetings with the elder board of a very powerful mafia family, but I couldn’t say that. I didn’t know what he’d shared with Noah, but I knew Theresa couldn’t know. So I just shrugged. “He’s got some business to handle. He’ll come tonight, though.”

The car door was still open, and I waited, wondering if Amanda had come with them. But just as I was about to ask, the driver closed the door and returned to the front.

“Amanda didn’t come,” Theresa said. “She couldn’t get off work, but she might fly out next weekend if we’re still here.”

“You’re going to be here that long?” I asked Noah.

He nodded. “It works. When Theresa mentioned coming to see you, I had something coming down the pipeline with The Richmond, so instead of coming here later, which I would’ve anyway, I pushed everything ahead.”

Theresa beamed at me. “And I get to help you with your account.”

“Really?”

She nodded, and just like that, she’d slipped back into the professional Theresa I’d met first and worked with on the bourbon project. She touched Noah’s hand before her eyes widened and she retracted it. “He said you’re updating the records for a new launch, right?”

“Yeah. I’ve worked through half the file.”

“I’ll help with the rest. Once we’re done, Noah’s promised a full day of shopping.” She winked at him. “On him.”

He stared at her like a stranger was talking. If he’d been one to show his emotions, I knew his mouth would’ve been hanging open. Instead, he only blinked at her, his face an impassive wall, but he couldn’t look away.

Noticing this, Theresa rolled her eyes. “What? I might be snippy because of our personal life, but I’m still a damn good worker.”

“No, I know. I didn’t—” He stopped himself. “I…you were very adamant about this being a week of vacation for you and Emma. The two of you were going to be shopping every day and to hell with your work ethic for one week. Your time, not my time. Right? Was that how it went?”

She flushed, folding her arms over her chest. “I was mad. I said things I didn’t mean, but I’m a good worker. Emma and I can get it all done, and then we’ll have a fun day. Besides, I’ll be spending time with her. That’s why I came.” She turned to me again. “And we’ll have Amanda fly out, whether she wants to or not. A fun weekend in New York will be the ultimate girl’s trip.”

Amanda and the secret boyfriend who could ruin Carter’s life, or mine. Yes, that would be lovely. “Just Amanda?”

Theresa cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

She still didn’t know. That was the answer I needed. “Only the triad?” I teased. “Just making sure we’re enough for you.”