Page 18 of Scarred Sunrise

He watched her tip her head to her watch to confirm the time. She was so beautiful, her creamy skin the softest thing he’d ever touched. It was hard to focus when he was around her with his guard down. She must have noticed him watching her because she adjusted the neck on her t-shirt, which had slid off her shoulder and blushed.

He loved that he could still affect her that way, it gave him hope they could make this work. Smithy focused on his task. “We need to call the team and get someone watching Mateo.”

Worry creased her forehead, and he wanted to smooth it away with his lips. “Do you think she’d hurt him?”

Smithy shook his head as he held his phone to his ear. “No, but when it comes to you and Mateo, I’m not taking any risks.”

He saw her eyes take on a warm, vulnerable look before she blinked and it was gone. He hated that he’d made her so guarded because of his actions. After only a few sessions with Dr Lawson he was starting to see that it was before and after his kidnapping he’d done the most damage to those he loved, not during his time with Rhea Winslow.

“This had better be good,” Zack answered sharply.

“Nazareli Holt called Lizzie tonight and wants to meet her.”

Smithy heard shuffled movements and whispered words before Zack came back on the line. “Is she safe?”

“Yeah, I’m with her now, but I want someone over to her ex-husband’s place to watch her son. Nazareli knows Mateo was with his father. It could have been guesswork or just knowing her routine, but let’s not take the risk.”

“Agreed. Call Dane, and I’ll meet you with the others at Fortis in twenty minutes. And, Smithy, don’t leave Lizzie alone.”

Smithy glanced sideways at Lizzie who was watching him intently and biting her lip. “I had no intention of it.”

“Good man.”

Hitting dial on his phone, he called Dane and explained the situation to her brother, not surprised he was pissed she hadn’t called him. Dane could be a hot head when it came to his family, which was why it surprised him the other day when he’d been so calm about things.

“I’m heading over to Marco’s to watch the house and ensure my nephew is safe. Tell Lizzie not to worry. I won’t let anyone touch her son.”

Smithy heard the steel in the other man’s voice and recognised it for what it was. A promise that nobody would get past him and get to Mateo. “Will do.”

“Smithy?”

“Yes?”

“You keep her safe, or Rhea Winslow will be the least of your worries.”

The threat made him tense slightly before he buried it down. “I’d die before I let anyone harm a hair on her head ever again.”

“Good. Glad we’re clear.”

Smithy hung up, not trusting himself to speak and certainly not trusting himself to look at Lizzie and see her reaction to his words.

“Get your stuff, and I’ll check the house is secure before we head to Fortis.”

He turned to walk away but felt a gentle hand on his arm. Just the slightest touch even through the fabric of his shirt sent electricity skating up his neck.

“Ty?” He turned towards her seeing the conflicting emotions in her eyes before he dropped his gaze to her hand on his arm. “Thank you for coming.”

He nodded not trusting himself to speak, in case he spewed out everything he felt—like how much he regretted not staying years ago, how he wished Mateo was their son, that he’d been the one waiting for her when she walked down the aisle instead of Marco. But he knew it was too soon. She needed to trust his words and to do that he needed to back it all up with actions and show her he was changing, that she was safe with him.

He dipped his head, wanting nothing more than to take her mouth in a kiss that would leave them both wanting more but now wasn’t the time. “You’re welcome.”

* * *

“I don’t give a flyingfuck, Lizzie isn’t doing this.” Smithy was trying to rein in his temper as the men around him suggested Lizzie meet with Nazareli.

“We’ll have sights on her the entire time.”

Kanan leaned back in his chair, an emotionless expression on his face. It was easy to forget how dangerous the ex-spy was considering he was married to Roz, but then it took a certain kind of man to handle a woman like her. Lizzie wasn’t Roz though, and the thought of anything happening to her made him want to puke.