Princess in Lingerie (Lingerie 12)

“You shoot them in the face,” he said seriously. “But that’s not gonna happen. The walls are fourteen feet high, and the front gate has surveillance.”

“An alarm system isn’t going to stop someone like Egor. He’ll just snatch me before the cops arrive. We’re out in the middle of nowhere. It’ll take at least twenty minutes before help arrives.”

“Which is why I asked my father to keep an eye on you.”

That wasn’t good enough. “He’s not you.”

He sighed and set his bag on the floor. “I don’t know what to tell you. I have to go.”

I didn’t want to be difficult, but the idea of him being gone was terrifying. He was my savior, and without him I was helpless.

“You cut a tracker out of your ankle, sweetheart. Even though I was in the house, you managed to get my alarm code and take one of my cars. You actually jumped out of my car when I first got you. You aren’t the kind of woman that scares easy.”

“That was when I had nothing to lose, Carter. Now that I have everything, the game has changed. The only time I’ve ever been safe in my life is when I’ve been with you. Now that you’re leaving…it’s like the rug is being pulled from underneath me.”

He dropped his confident gaze and released a quiet sigh. “I have to head to work. I’m the owner and face of this company.”

“I understand that.”

“I’m going to have to go to work often.”

“I know…”

“So this is something you’re going to have to get used to.”

“What if I stayed with Griffin and Vanessa again?” Griffin seemed like a powerful man whom no one would cross.

“I don’t want to bother them, Mia. The only option we have is if you stayed with my parents, but I’m sure—”

“I would do that.”

Surprise entered his gaze. “You want to stay with my parents?”

“Your father knows the truth, so he’ll understand why I’m nervous. He seems strong and smart. I know he lives close to your uncle and cousin. Staying there sounds a lot better than staying here alone.”

“You’re serious.”

“Yes.” I wouldn’t be able to sleep at all here, not until Carter walked through the door again.

“Well, I’m sure they would be fine with it. I’m just surprised you would want to stay with them for two nights.”

“They were lovely people, Carter.”

“I know that,” he said. “But you hardly know them.”

“Your dad showed me what kind of man he is. I trust him.”

Carter rubbed the back of his neck as he considered it. He sighed then lowered his hand. “Alright. Pack your stuff.”

I wasn’t sure what Carter’s parents said over the phone, but they must have agreed because he dropped me off on his way to the airport. Like a gentleman, he carried my bag to the door and greeted his parents. “Thanks for letting Mia stay with you for a few days. The house is too big for one person.”

“It’s no problem at all.” His father smiled at me before giving me a one-armed hug. “We’ve got a lot of space, and we love to fill it with people.”

“You’re always welcome here,” his mother said. “Let me take your bag. We’ll have a few guest bedrooms upstairs.”

The place was two stories. It wasn’t as big as Carter’s place, but it was still a palace by my standards. They had a few acres of land, a private vineyard, and a pool out back. Their home was decorated with luxury items, from custom paintings to Italian-crafted furniture. “That’s very generous. Thank you.”

Carter pulled up his sleeve to look at his watch. “I’ve gotta catch my flight. Love you guys.” He turned to me, about to kiss me right in front of his parents. He quickly hid his intention, giving me an awkward pat on the shoulder. “I’ll pick you up on the way home. See you later.”

“Bye.” I wished I could hug him before he went, tell him it meant a lot to me that he’d left me in good hands. But since I would always be the maid in front of his family, I kept up my indifference and said goodbye with a quick wave.

When Carter left, his mother took me upstairs to the guest bedroom. It was large for a visitor, having a private bathroom. She set my bag down on the big armchair in front of the fireplace. “Let me know if you need anything. Cane goes to work in the morning, so I usually sit by the pool or read. Maybe we could have lunch?”

“Yeah, that sounds nice. Thank you for letting me stay here. The room is beautiful.” It was just as nice as the one I had at Carter’s place, the room I never slept in. I sat on the edge of the bed and felt the Italian sheets under my fingertips.