CHAPTER TEN

"You're sure you'll be okay here with her," asked Travis.

"I'll be fine, brother. I'm going to drive her out to her parent's estate and make sure the security knows that there's been a problem. When that's done, I'll take the train back and meet you guys at the jet at Gatwick. Just get that shit out of the storage unit, and we'll get it back to Louisiana."

Carter and Travis boarded the Osprey as Savannah took off toward Egypt. They'd been given special clearance to land in the middle of the night, hoping that they could avoid being seen while they emptied the storage unit.

As the chopper flew away, Chris loaded Daphne's bags into her tiny little sports car. He stared at the driver's seat, wondering if he would even fit.

"What the hell is this thing built for, a ten-year-old?" he frowned. She laughed, shaking her head.

"I didn't buy it so that a six-feet-three man could drive around in it. Besides, it's not mine. It's my sister's."

"Oh, is she living with your parents?" he asked as they pulled away from the curb.

"No. She passed away about fifteen years ago. I was just heading back to boarding school, and she got sick."

"I'm sorry. That fucking sucks," he frowned. "Do you mind if I ask how she died?"

"I wish I knew. The doctors told my parents it was an unidentified virus of some sort, but they had no name for it, no cure, and anything they tried failed. She was only sixteen. She had her entire life ahead of her."

"I'm really sorry about that."

"No, it's okay. This was her gift from my parents for her sixteenth birthday. They kept it for years, and then I asked if I would drive it. I think they were happy not to have to look at it any longer in the garage. What about you? Wife? Children?"

"Yes, on the wife. No, on the children. Ironically, Elizabeth is a kindergarten teacher at our elementary school on-property. She's freaking amazing. We tried having children. Hell, we never not tried," he laughed. "I guess there were other plans for us."

"Sounds like she touches a lot of children's lives," smiled the young woman.

"She does. We met at Belle Fleur during a party that Irene was throwing."

"Irene?" frowned Daphne.

"Oh, sorry. Irene and Matthew Robicheaux are sort of our patron saints. They donated all of the land where we live, our businesses, all of it," he smiled.

"That's incredible."

"Yep. My Elizabeth was being forced into a marriage she didn't want and defied her parents. I made sure they knew that they'd have to get through me first."

"She's a lucky girl," whispered Daphne. Chris stared at her, seeing the pain in her face.

"What about you? Married?"

"Obviously not, or my husband would be with us," she smirked. She paused for a long moment, just staring out at the retreating cityscape and looking toward the country. "I was, though. Once."

"Didn't end well?"

"Didn't start well. In a lot of ways, the aristocracy of Britain is still old-fashioned. We don't marry our cousins any longer, thank goodness, but our parents often force us into proper, profitable, pretentious relationships."

"Ah, the three p's," he grinned.

"He was thirty years my senior. And not a pretty thirty years. I suspect you're about twenty-five years older than I am."

"Sure, let's go with that," laughed Chris.

"Wait, you're older?" she frowned. "Never mind. Don't tell me. Anyway, he wasn't a nice man. He believed the wife should be submissive at all times. I begged my parents to let me make my own choice. I was terrified of them and what might happen to me if they got angry.

"It was silly, really. Elena helped me to realize that later. They just kept saying that he was a good man, respectable. But they didn't see what I was seeing in private. The night of my wedding," she swallowed, staring out the window.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to," said Chris.

"Actually, it's helping me, I think," she smiled. He nodded for her to continue. "The night of my wedding, he beat me with his belt, telling me that if I were going to act like a child, I would be treated as one."

"What the fuck?"

"He didn't like that I danced with someone else at our wedding. A fast song. He raped me, beat me again for good measure, and left. He said he was going into London for a few nights to allow me to think about what I'd done."

"What did you do?" he asked.

"I called my parents, and they came right over. My father was appalled. He called the police, and my ex -husband was arrested. Because it was his first offense, he was given probation, mandatory counseling, and a fine. I was granted an annulment at once."

"That's fucking pathetic," growled Chris.

"Yes, it's one of the many things I like about your American justice system. You tend to punish offenders."

"I wish that were always true, Daphne. Different states have different laws, so you never know. But we do side with the victims more times than not. Is he still around?" he asked cautiously.

"He is. He had to sell his estate in the country and now lives in a townhouse in London. It damaged his reputation, and he blames me."

"Does he bother you?" he asked.

"Once in a while, he shows up where I am as if to say, ‘I can get to you.' But I try to ignore him and pretend it doesn't bother me."

"Are you sure you'll feel safe with your parents? I can bring you back to Louisiana with us. Didn't you and Brix hit it off?" he asked with a smug expression. Daphne laughed, shaking her head.

"We didn't ‘hit it off,'" she smiled. "He's very nice and was very helpful with Elena. I'll always appreciate that about him. But I'm not sure. He seems to be looking for a fling. I'm afraid I'm a bit past that phase."

"Listen, I've known all of the boys their entire lives. I was there when they were born. Brix is from an amazing family. His parents are both badass as they come. His father and grandfather were both Navy SEALs."

"His eyes are startling," said Daphne.

"His grandmother has eyes that almost seem other-worldly. They are a startling light bluish gray with swirls of other colors. His grandfather, Zulu, is an enormous man, built like a mountain. His father is a twin. His name is Tyler, but they call him Tiger. His mother was in the military as well, and they're going to love you."

"You really like them," she smiled.

"I love the people I work with, Daphne. They are like family to me. I was an awkward, shy kid, hell, an awkward, shy man sometimes. Elizabeth changed me, my commander and team changed me. All of these men are special. All of them."

"Perhaps I should visit Louisiana sometime soon," she smiled.

"I'm going to bet that Brix would like that very much."