Dane

They were in the car before she started asking questions. He was surprised: Surprised he'd been able to distract her when she first woke. Surprised she didn't start asking while she was doing her make-up, or dressing. And not even when they walked out of the Penthouse to the elevator down to the parking level where the cars waited.

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It wasn't until they were in the back and he'd put the barrier up between them and the driver and switched over to sit next to her in the forward facings seat. Then she put her hand on her arm and looked at him with those big blue eyes.

"Why are we going into the office?"

He looked at her hand on his suit jacket and how small it looked. "Because we need to get a lot of people involved, so we need space. And frankly, I want as many sets of eyes on you as possible today. Every day. I know we have spies, but I'm certain they're few and far between. If we have lots of loyal people watching over you our chances are better of… nothing happening."

She took a deep breath and squeezed his arm. "Dane, you know if anything happens, it's not your fault right?"

He snorted. "Yeah, sure."

"I'm serious."

He met her eyes then, his jaw a tense square underlining the seriousness of his expression. "Tell me, Lila, before you met me, had you ever had to fear for your life?"

"Yes."

He blinked. "I mean on a daily basis. In normal circumstances. Just… having to wonder if, at any moment, you might be hurt."

"Yes. I have."

He frowned. "When? Why?"

"My father was Richard Farris, remember?" she said seriously. "People hated him, Dane. Like, burning, homicidal hatred."

Dane stared at her. "You've never talked about what it was like when—"

"You've never asked."

"I'm asking now."

She raised her eyebrows. "When we have all of three minutes before we're surrounded by a dozen people and an ongoing operation. How about you ask me at time when I can actually explain it to you."

He stared for a second, then took her hand and held it. "I'm sorry I didn't ask before."

"You're forgiven. But only just. I… I don't really like talking about it, to be honest."

He nodded, still staring at her hand, now in his, and looking even smaller for it. "Just tell me this: Did any of the crazies around your dad ever target you?"

"Yes," she said, quietly, but firmly. "There were many, many people in the State of Pennsylvania that believed he'd stolen their futures. Some of them were… unbalanced in their minds."

Her hand got colder in his and he swallowed. How was it possible he'd never asked?

He knew how. He'd been so fucking consumed with his own shit, he'd forgotten she even had any to shovel of her own. "So, that's how you learned the manage the media?"

"From when I was fourteen years old. See, Dane, you aren't the only one who got dealt a sucky hand. I'm not saying it's the same. I don't have to worry about my own father trying to kill me—or you. But, yeah, I do know how it feels to be looking over your shoulder, and never quite sure what might come at you out of the shadows. So, cut the bullshit. Why do you want us in the office this weekend?"

They were at the last set of lights before they'd pull into the building. If he wanted to put her off, he could, because she'd accept it. Because she didn't want to fight any more than he did today. But… she was his wife. She was his world. He had to start letting her in.

"I've worried for a long time that there's someone close to me who's in my dad's pocket," he said quietly, slowly, checking that the driver couldn't hear him. "I knew whoever it was we were managing them because certain things didn't get leaked. But… I want to keep everyone out of the Penthouse now. For real. That's going to be our space. I'm putting Josh on lead for the home monitor because I know he's okay. No more working there. No more people coming and going. I'm having John sweep the place for bugs and devices while we're here today. He's got all the gadgets."

"You think someone's been recording… in the Penthouse?" she hissed, obviously thinking about their night last night.

He shrugged. "I don't think so. But we can't rule it out. And even if no one got a recorder in there, we can't be sure there isn't some other kind of monitoring. I actually think it's clear—we sweep a few times a year and we haven't found anything for over a year. But I also think this is exactly the kind of event that would…motivate my father."

"Over a year—you mean you did find things before?"

They pulled into the garage and the car got darker as they disappeared into the concrete and fluorescent lighting. Dane sighed and met her eyes, which were wide with fear now. Exactly why he hadn't told her before.

"Over a year ago," he said firmly. "And we got rid of the staff member we were pretty sure was responsible. I've been a lot pickier about who I let in there since. But like I said… after today there will be no one except a few specific people that I know are loyal. That's going to be our safe space. Okay?"

She was frowning at their hands, but she nodded. "So, only working at the office from now on. Anything else?"

"Can you… can we wait to announce the wedding, just until I've got all the documents and all the legal stuff sorted out? I don't want any legal challenges on it or the press causing any problems."

She gave him a skeptical look. "How long's that going to take?"

"I've already got people working on it."

She stared for a minute, but he didn't waver, so she sighed. "Okay, whatever. If you want to risk letting some seasoned journalist try to seduce me because he doesn't know I'm married, that's on you, I guess," she sniffed.

Sighing with relief, he pulled her in and kissed her. "I'm going to have several shirts and dresses made for you that say "P.O.D.D – Do Not Fuck With Me. Please wear at least one every day."

"What is PODD?"

"Property of Dane Daniels."

She snorted. "Make sure they're in flattering colors."

"Noted," he said and kissed her again. "And please, Lila… use the damned car. Every day. For everything. We have so many checks and tracks on these vehicles, even if someone hijacked it, we could find you minutes. Please… please… for the sake of my health… always use the cars?"

"I will. You should have written that into the vows," she grumbled.

He couldn't stop the smile that crept up on his face at that. Couldn't believe the things she'd said… was it really just twelve hours ago?

"Thank you," he said, and he wasn't just talking about her promise to use the cars.

She kissed him longer than the moment needed, so he knew she wasn't either. "I love you," she whispered as the car came to a stop.

"I love you, too," he said. Then pushed the door open and got out. And he didn't let go of her hand even when they got into the elevator.

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Happy March Madness!!!

To celebrate the completion of Volume 1 of Dane and Delilah's story, and the opening of Volume 2, there's a whole new chunk of chapters for privilege readers. Check out the Author Note below to learn how you can read up to 25 chapters in advance of their normal release!