Deadly Infatuation

Chapter 37

Max

After an hour of back and forth talking on the phone with one of my distribution sites, sorting out a missing delivery, I'm finally able to leave the office and head over to my parents' house. I can't wait to sink back a cold beer, have Lily by my side, and catch up with my family. It's exactly what I need after this troublesome day.

As I drive down the familiar roads in my repaired McLaren Spider, my mind can't help but wander to the tense phone call I had with Detective Danes earlier as he informed me he's had to suspend all monitoring of Sarah because of the tightening of budgets. Despite my heated protests, telling him they were making a big mistake in doing this, it didn't make any difference and as of now Sarah is free to roam around Oregon with law enforcement nowhere near. To protect Lily, I informed Johnson as soon as I found out, telling him to be extra vigilant in case Sarah showed up at the shop. I'm not sure if she would as she'd be breaking her restraining order, which would cause her going back to jail and she knows I have Johnson watching over Lily, so the risk to get to her would be too great. But then again, the things Sarah has done these past few weeks have taken me by surprise and the last conversation I had with her told me she wasn't done with Lily.

I've decided to not tell Lily about this yet, though I know I'll have to tell her at some point. For tonight, I just want Lily to focus on having fun and catching up with her friends. She's already nervous telling Paige about our relationship and I don't want to add any more stress to her day.

I make quick work of the roads as the rush hour has passed and pull into my parent's estate, leaving my car next to Lily's. Grabbing the bottle of champagne from the passenger seat, I walk up to the house, stopping to talk to Johnson for an update.

"There's been no sign of Sarah all day and I've been doing regular sweeps around the house."

"Good."

"I'm afraid some of your family have been curious as to my presence," Johnson adds gruffly. "Miss Hail informed them I'm here on your orders because of a break in at her home."

"Shit," I mutter. I hadn't even stopped to think what my family would make of Lily having Johnson with her.

I finish my conversation with Johnson and then continue my journey up the house and open the front door. Laughter erupts from inside, which I'm happy to hear, and I quietly enter the house and close the door behind me. As I walk along the corridor, I bump into Taylor and she smiles widely and hugs me. "I thought I heard a car. I wanted to give you a heads up before you see everyone that Paige is asking many questions."

"I've heard. What does she know so far?"

"Not much. Lily has dodged most of her questioning, but she's on edge. I'm guessing that you're going to tell Paige about you two today?"

I frown when I hear what Lily has had to deal with in my absence. "We are."

"I'm sure Paige will be cool with it. Maybe not with the part about Sarah being involved and hurting Lily, but she'd be crazy not to root for you and Lily being a couple."

"Let's hope so. Are they all in the living room?"

"Yeah. I just need to go to the toilet, but promise me you won't say anything until I'm back?"

"No promises. You'll have to be quick."

On my response, she makes a beeline for the toilet at the other end of the corridor and I head for the living room where I see my family and Lily chilling on the couches talking. My heart soars from seeing her having fun with my sister as they look at photo prints. Lily spots me before the rest of my family does and blushes a beautiful pink. I give her a quick wink, then walk into the room and clear my throat. "Hey guys," I call out loudly as I place the champagne on a side table against the wall.