Billionaire's Accidental Wife
Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Chelsea dreaded letting go of Christie and Peter, but Dave's solemn expression as he completed his call to his partner left little doubt that they were still in danger. "Come on," Dave replied, as he walked over to get them. "We can't stay any longer." It's best if we get started."

"Return to Paris?"

"There isn't time for that now. It'll be daylight in a few hours. The police might be on the way. We are good at night, but travelling after the two men outside is risky." She grinned wistfully, but the dangers he was taking for her tonight were not amusing for all of them right now. And she could tell from the tone of his speech that his desire to move on was not just motivated by his duty. His concern was more profound. "Do you believe Hermano is still alive?"

Dave's square jaw pulsed with a tendon. "If he isn't dead yet, I promise you I won't stop until he is." But first, I need to make sure you and your family are safe. My buddy is preparing for someone to meet us in a safe location. We'll be able to stay there for as long as we need to."

Christie took a step forward, her little kid grabbing her hand, as Chelsea and Dave spoke.

Dave cast a glance up at the youngster, who was peering up at him with suspicion. He knelt to his level and delicately rested his hand on the child's shoulder. "You were brave to keep your mother secure here until we arrived. Excellent work, Peter."

Chelsea's heart swelled as she saw the small boy's terror fade away as a result of Dave's kind care for him.

"How long do we have to stay away?" Christie inquired, cautiously. As he stood up, Dave's gaze met Chelsea's. She knew what that weighty stare meant. The two assassins who'd turned up tonight hadn't succeeded because of him, but it was virtually certain that there were more behind them. Chelsea's apartment, where she lived for a year, may never be safe again. But it hadn't been genuinely safe in months. Not since Hermano walked into their lives.

Chelsea met Christie's eyes while softly combing her fingers through her tiny nephew's dark hair. "We'll figure it all out afterwards. Right now, we must do as Dave directs." "Of course, yes." Can I get a couple of items for Peter before we leave? I swear I'll hurry."

Chelsea looked down at her golden gown and bare feet as Dave nodded. "I'm guessing you don't have anything in your closet that would fit me?"

Christie gave a nice smile. "You might look in your own closet, sis. I kept your room exactly as it was on the day you were abducted by the bastard, hoping that you might return one day." Chelsea's throat tightened as she thought about the compassion of that gesture-the sisterly affection. "I appreciate it." She drew Christie in for a quick embrace before Dave led them all out of the panic room and

back into the empty flat to prepare to leave. Chelsea appeared a few minutes later, dressed in dark pants, sneakers, and a red T-shirt. Christie threw a small bag holding Peter's favourite blanket, toys, and various other things over her shoulder. Dave took the bag from her and led the way outside.

"We have to abandon the Ferrari," he murmured, turning away from the two-seater sports car. "There isn't enough room in there, but we also don't want to call attention to ourselves." I don't like the thought of taking Hermano's men's vehicle, but I can abandon it once we arrive in the adjacent town in case someone is looking for it."

"I have a pickup out back," Christie explained. She indicated the parking lot behind the building. "It's not fast, but it will get us there." And it's obvious enough that it won't attract any attention along the way." Dave paused for a bit before shrugging. "This sounds preferable to our other possibilities." They climbed into the rusted-out old Toyota Hilux pickup truck, Chelsea wedged between Dave, Christie, and Peter on the short bench seat.

As they drove off into the fading light, it was hard to overlook the heat of Dave's thigh pressing against hers. Chelsea knew a fulfilling feeling of security-that had escaped her for so long she hadn't remembered what it was like to feel safe and protected. Being this close to him again, her senses were overwhelmed with his warmth, strength, and scent.

Long before Catherine's accidental marriage to Richmond, she had a crush on her best friend's younger brother, and despite having a dozen flings around her, she never imagined hooking up with him while they were both drunk would change their relationship from friendship to someone who deeply cared for each other. But what bothered her was that since Catherine and Shawn's wedding, Dave had ignored her immensely, as if she didn't exist.

She hadn't realised how much she desired that sensation until now. Along with him, Christie and Peter must have felt a sense of security as well. They'd both passed out a few minutes into the drive.

No doubt the late hour and the anxiety of everything they'd gone through tonight had fatigued them, but Chelsea knew their calm breathing had a lot to do with the man who'd undoubtedly saved their lives. In the dim light of the ancient truck's dashboard, Chelsea cast a peek at Dave. His gaze was locked on the road ahead, one hand-stretched over the steering wheel's top. He appeared to be deep in concentration until the weight of her stare caught his attention. He looked at her, and while she was mortified to have been caught staring at him, she couldn't pretend she hadn't.

"Thank you for assisting them," she added softly. "Thank you for assisting us all evening."

He gave a small shake of his head. "There's no need to thank me, Chelsea. I would do anything for you. Don't you know that?”

No, she didn't know that. For all she knew, she'd meant absolutely nothing to him. Not even a year ago. Certainly not after all this time. "Why did you ignore me, Dave? Why did you leave the wedding and never come back? Was it because of something I did?"

"No." His answer came swiftly, his brows furrowing in a scowl. "Christ, no. You didn't do anything at all. I did it to protect you."

"Protect me?" A sick feeling opened up in the pit of her stomach. "From where?"

His silent stare was confirmation enough. "Tell me," she prompted. "From where?" "From someone like Hermano, from my... um... job... from my activities."

"What? I don't get it." "I will tell you soon enough, but not now."

She sighed. He glanced back at the road. "I'm only looking out for your best interests, Chelsea." "Are you saying you pushed me away? No... Surely you would not. Are you saying you didn't want us together, so bloody ignore me when I needed you most?".

Anger clawed up the back of her throat. She could hardly stand the thought of what his interference had caused her. To think she'd cried over him."Tell me!" She whispered.

He gave her a sober look. "I care... I want you safe. I wanted to make sure you found a man who could provide for you and give you all the things you deserved in life. I am not the sort... I do not deserve you. I have my issues. Trouble has followed me everywhere since Catherine's abduction since I built my company." She was dumbfounded. "Are you seriously that fucked up?" He nodded. "I want you safe." Her response scoff was brittle."Look how that turned out."

"I couldn't have known how things would end up, Hermano was one of my outside missions. Your involvement was never in the plan. But I just can't leave you there. Can I? I will do everything to keep you safe, Catherine will kill me." he gently assured her. "But I wish I had known. I wish my intelligence had been on Hermano months ago, so I could've killed the bastard before he had the chance to lay a hand on you." "It could've been worse," she admitted quietly. "I endured his temper sometimes, but at least I avoided his lust."

When Dave glanced at her, there was surprise in his gaze and more than a little relief. "You mean, he never-"

"Never," she said. "I told him I would only last as long as I was never touched by him or any of his men. "After I made him wealthy with my beauty and infiltrated his enemies, he apparently decided that collecting his money was more fun than abusing me." He smirked. "Clever girl. Except for one thing."

"Fortunately, Hermano never doubted me. I think he might've eventually, but he had other women to satisfy his needs."

She dearly hoped Dave had been successful, because if Hermano were alive to get his hands on her now, his punishment would be beyond brutal.

Dave's mouth flattened into a grim line. "I never should've left you." I decided to make. I was wrong. I didn't understand that until after I was gone." He reached over and stroked her cheek. "I should've come back for you, Chelsea. I'm sorry I wasn't there." She surrendered to his caress, feeling nothing but gratitude. And a love that went far deeper than that. Far deeper than her desire to be so close to him, his reassuring touch lingering on her face.

"You're here now," she whispered, softly kissing the centre of his palm. His eyes flashed with amber light as her lips touched his flesh. She merely meant to make a grateful and caring connection, but she felt a thrill of awareness as well.

Her chest clenched, and she felt heat travel across her breasts and lick down to her core. Oh, she still cared for him.

She wanted him.

Her mind was flooded with images of stolen kisses and sweet hugs. She'd only had one night with Dave, nude in each other's arms, but she'd treasured it ever since. Nothing she felt for him had been reduced by the cruelties of time or fate. On the contrary, it just intensified the urge. It had simply made her realise how deeply she had felt his absence all along. And how relieved she was to be reunited with him. Even though she feared in the back of her mind that fate wasn't quite done with them yet.

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