Colters' Gift (Colters' Legacy #5)(57)

When Liam glanced back at Lauren, she was staring at him, her eyes filled with love and gratitude. Warmth traveled through his body as surely as if she were in his arms.

She sent the same expression of love in Noah’s direction, and Liam saw that his friend was just as affected as Liam had been.

“My wife has a very good point,” Ethan said, speaking up for the first time. “What’s important here is what we do to ensure Lauren’s safety. Seth? Do you have ideas, son?”

Dillon scowled. “Other than making a trip to New York City and ensuring the ass**le takes a fall down a long flight of stairs. Twice?”

Michael smothered a smile. Liam had to cover his own smile when Holly Colter nodded her agreement vigorously.

“Our first step has to be to decide on a meeting place and conditions,” Noah said.

“I agree,” Seth said.

“We make contact, but we have to make it clear we call the shots,” Liam interjected. “That includes the meeting place but we also have to be prepared that the D.A. may not follow our set of rules, so we have to be in place well ahead of him, monitor his arrival and not put Lauren in front of him until we’ve determined it’s safe to do so.”

Adam nodded at that.

“And we need to decide who goes,” Seth said as he surveyed the room.

“I’m going,” Max said flatly.

“No, you aren’t,” Ryan Colter said just as flatly.

Everyone turned in surprise that the older man had shut him down so quickly.

“Why the hell not?” Max demanded. “Lauren is my sister. I’m not going to sit here while someone else is charged with protecting her.”

Liam remained quiet as he waited for Ryan to speak again. He’d been about to tell Max there was no way in hell he was going, when Ryan had beat him to it.

“You’re too much of a hothead and you’re too pissed off,” Ryan said. “That’s the very last thing we need in an already volatile situation.”

Seth nodded his agreement. “At the risk of pissing you off, man, I agree with Dad.”

Noah stepped in, his tone placating. “We don’t want any possible way to trace Lauren back here. You’re a visible guy, Mr. Wilder. The very last thing you want is to bring trouble back to where your family lives. If they can connect Lauren to you, they’ll find her through you.”

Max looked as though he’d been ready to argue, but he conceded to Noah’s logic.

“You’re right,” he said in a low voice. “The very last thing I want is to put her in further danger or for anything to threaten the rest of my family.”

“Dillon and I will go,” Seth said. “Michael stays here with Lily. At least one of the dads will need to stay as well. I don’t want any of the women to be alone.”

Liam and Noah both nodded at that.

“They’ll want to put her in protective custody,” Adam said in a grim voice.

Lauren looked up in alarm.

Adam cast an apologetic look in her direction. “I’m not trying to scare you, sweetheart. The fact of the matter is, you’re a key witness, and this case has far-reaching implications and involves some very high-profile people. They’re going to want to keep you close and put you in the witness protection program until you testify.”

“Noah? Liam?” Lauren asked in a shaky voice.

“We’ve considered that possibility,” Noah said soothingly. “We’re only going to allow you to do this if it’s on our terms. We want certain things in writing or the D.A. doesn’t get to talk to you. Period. It might get our asses thrown in jail, but you’ll be on your way back here with Seth and the others where you’ll be protected.”

Her face went white and her eyes widened in alarm.

“It won’t happen, baby,” Liam said calmly. “We’ll work it out. Trust us.”

She sucked in her breath and slowly relaxed.

“We’ll need use of your jet, Mr. Wilder,” Noah said. “We don’t want a paper trail, anything with Lauren’s name on it. We don’t want her showing ID, using a credit card. Nothing. We’re going to alter her appearance for her meeting with the D.A. so that if something does go wrong, they won’t have an accurate description of her.”

“We were unable to locate any photographs of Joel Knight and Lauren together,” Liam interjected. “Nor could we find any people who knew of Lauren. The only people who are likely to know what she looks like are Joel Knight and the people who worked closest with him. One of the women who worked for him ID’d Lauren, but she’s dead now.”

“He kept me isolated,” Lauren said in a low voice. “We didn’t make many public appearances together and it was always very low key. And I was expected to be the consummate companion. Well dressed, perfectly submissive. In other words a pretty ornament to compliment him. He tried to keep me separate from his ‘business’ and anyone associated with it. I was basically a plaything he pulled out when it was convenient.”

The bitterness and self-loathing in her voice ate at Liam. He wanted nothing more than for her to be able to forget the bastard ever existed. They were in for a rough road in the next months. Hell, this thing could stretch out for years.

“I brought up the witness protection issue because I wanted to advise you to keep her close,” Adam broke in. “Don’t let them separate you. Make sure that if that’s what has to happen, you’re able to stay with her.” He glanced at Holly as he spoke, pain darkening his eyes. “My wife was once in the same position, and she stayed away from me and my brothers to protect us. That separation was hell for us. If you love her, then make damn sure she stays with you.”