Part 2The Savior Swap

I had my security team blast our arrival on social media, complete with geotags at the family estate. The message was clear: I brought a man back, too.

I parked the car and tapped the passenger door. "We're here, Silas." He clinked and clattered, getting tangled in his elaborate outfit and the seatbelt. "Sloane, I'm stuck," he whined. "There's just... so much stuff." "I told you to put the necklaces in your carry-on." I sighed and leaned over to help untangle him. "Sloane Hayes! What the hell are you doing?"

I looked up. Julian Thorne, just arriving, was stalking toward us, his face thunderous. I pulled Silas free. "I'm unbuckling my passenger."

From an outside perspective, I suppose it looked intimate. My body halfway in the car, his face inches from mine. "He doesn't have hands?" Julian snapped. Silas visibly flinched, shrinking back. "Sloane, please don't fight with... with him... because of me. It's my fault. I shouldn't have worn all the jewelry you gave me. I just... I loved it so much, I couldn't bear to pack it away." He looked at Julian, his eyes brimming with tears. "Sir, please don't misunderstand. I'm... I'm nobody to her."

I watched Julian's jaw clench. "Silas isn't nobody," I said, my voice sharp. "He saved my life. I owe him." Silas tugged my sleeve, whispering just loud enough for Julian to hear. "Sloane, don't. What if he gets the wrong idea? He'll be angry." "No, he won't," I said coolly. "He'll understand." The one-two punch left Julian speechless.