Page 145 of Wicked Lord

Hot tears filled my eyes. I blinked quickly to keep them from spilling over. How was this man, this whole family so different from mine? My father had sold me off to the highest bidder without any regard for me at all.

“Thank you,” I finally murmured. “That’s so kind and unbelievably generous of you.”

“You’re going to be a Vanderhart, Lorelei, and that’s how we treat family.” The sincerity in his warm gaze had my throat constricting again.

Then that damned guilt reared up. The engagement wasn’t real… I wasn’tactuallygoing to marry Axel or become a Vanderhart. It didn’t feel right to lie after everything he’d done for me.

“Um, about that?—”

He lifted his hand. “I understand that everything is a bit unsettled right now, but I also know my son, Lorelei. In case it warrants repeating, Axel is in jail.For you.” He paused, drawing in a breath. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I’m only pointing out that you don’t do that for someone unless it’s quite serious.”

The realization was startling, slamming into me like a tidal wave. Which was ridiculous. I should have been able to piece it together myself. I knew Axel loved me, but Conrad was right, hereallyloved me. After the shitty way I’d been treated by men most of my life, I’d refused, been terrified, to see all the signs that were clearly there.

“Now, are you ready to go home?”

I huffed out a breath of defeat. A shower and a quick nap did sound like heaven after the night I’d had. “Okay, but you promise to tell me if anything comes up?”

He lifted a hand, palm up, and his lips curved into a reassuring smile. “I swear it.”

Nodding, I allowed him to lead me across the street to his car.

Thunderous pounding at my door jerked me from a fitful sleep. My weary lids snapped open, and a muffled groan slid out.

Oh, shit, Axel! Had I missed something? I leapt out of bed as angry shouts echoed in the hall just outside my dorm.

It wasn’t Axel, but I definitely recognized some of those voices.

I whipped the door open to find my new security guard attempting to restrain Killian while Gage and Slate watched, eyes glittering in amusement.

“Sorry to bother you, Miss Battenberg,” the guard rasped out as he tried and failed to pin Killian to the wall.

The unhinged guy shouted curses, kicking and punching at the guard.

“It’s okay, Murphy. You can let him go. He’s not going to hurt me.”

“You sure about that?”

Axel’s best friend looked like a snarling beast, fury carved into his expression as he spat out a string of curses.

“Yeah, he’s fine.”

Shaking his head, Murphy released Killian and returned to his spot by the door. “If you change your mind, I’ll be right here.”

“Asshole.” Killian stalked by the burly man in all black.

“Don’t be a dick,” I hissed. “Axel sent him to keep me safe.”

Gage and Slate exchanged a bemused glance as they followed me into my room. Killian trailed a few steps behind, shooting glares at the guard before slamming the door. My room suddenly felt so much smaller with all three of them filling the space.

I sank onto my bed and motioned for the others to fill in the small futon and desk chair. I didn’t think Killian would actually hurt me, but that didn’t mean I needed him on my bed either.

“So what are you guys doing here?” I huffed out.

“Sigma Delta is a shitstorm with news of Axel’s arrest,” Gage answered. “We figured we’d come to you to get the whole story.”

“We already know Vaughn had something to do with landing Ax in jail,” Killian growled. “I just need confirmation so we can bury his ass.”

“What kind of confirmation?” I slid to the edge of the mattress.