against his heart every night since that awful phone call.
But then, when he hugged her close, she relaxed. He could feel her coming alive again, transforming from a cold, petrified creature to something warm and human in his arms. “Don’t panic,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”
And then the knock came.
Samir hadn’t seen Daniel through the tinted windows of that ridiculous car, but from the sound his fists made against the front door, he was a big fucker. Then came his voice, smug and almost gleeful in its cruelty, a threat creeping through each word on tiger-soft paws.
“Laura. I know you’re in there.”
Samir pulled back a little, looking down at the woman in his arms. He came face to face with the last thing he’d expected: not terrified tears, but icy determination.
“Laura!” More banging, even louder this time. “Open the fucking door. I have shit to do, you know.”
“With me,” Samir whispered, his hands sliding into her hair, his eyes catching hers. “You’re with me. You’re okay.”
She nodded, lips pressed into a fine line.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said. “Tell me what you want to do.”
“I’m thinking about Ruth.”
“Ruth?”
She gave him a shaking half-smile. “If Ruth were here, she’d go out there and tell him to fuck off.”
He traced the slight curve of that smile with his thumb, clinging to it, letting it stave off his worry. “Yeah? So what are we gonna do?”
The smile widened. “We’re gonna go out there and tell him to fuck off.”
It was only when Samir opened the door that Laura remembered she was still in her pyjamas. She hadn’t brushed her hair, and she kind of needed the loo—again—and Samir wasn’t even wearing a shirt. But it was too late to worry about that, wasn’t it? Because now the door was open, and Samir was pushing Daniel back, back, back, giving Laura room…
And now she was outside, in the open, two metres away from her worst fucking nightmare, with Samir standing between them. She hovered in the doorway, her eyes on Samir’s broad back instead of the man opposite him. Her husband. Daniel.
God, she was going to kill Hayley. How could her sister do this?
“Who the fuck are you?” Daniel was demanding, his voice deeper than usual. He always did that around men who intimidated him. Which meant that Samir intimidated him.
Good.
“I’m Samir Bianchi. Who the fuck are you?” She watched as Samir’s already broad shoulders seemed to grow wider, as he crossed his arms and settled into his stance like a bodyguard or something.
He would protect her. She’d known that, logically, but suddenly the reality of it filled her up and set her free. She could do this. Daniel couldn’t bully her into silence or threaten her into submission because the greatest power he had over her wouldn’t work anymore. His physical strength was officially contained.
And without it, what was he, really?
Cunning; that’s what. She remembered, her heart sinking like a stone, when he spoke again, his voice softer now. Hesitant, almost hurt, but brave. “I’m Daniel Burne,” he said. And then she saw him, saw his face as he searched her out over Samir’s shoulder. And he really did look like an innocent man coming to a terrible realisation. “I’m—I’m Laura’s husband.” His voice cracked a little on that last word. “Laura? Honey? What’s going on?”
She swallowed. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?” His face sagged, hopeless and wan. “Baby—”
“Don’t talk to her,” Samir said. He didn’t sound uncertain. He didn’t sound confused. He didn’t even sound defensive.
He sounded bored.
Because Samir, she suddenly remembered, knew that a person could seem honest with every word and breath and beat of their heart, and still be a fucking liar.
She almost fainted with pure relief.
“Listen,” Daniel was saying, in his trying so hard to be reasonable tone. “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t know what’s going on here, but this is my wife. She’s having my baby! You can’t stop me talking to her.”
Samir gave a weary sigh. “Laura, love?”
Her reply was calm and even, thank God. “Yes?”
“Do you want him to talk to you?”
She swallowed. “No.”
Samir shrugged. “Well, there it is.” Then he called to her again. “Do you have something to say to him?”
“I do.” She came closer, but not too close. Samir was smart enough not to take his eyes off Daniel for a second, but she didn’t want to complicate things by putting herself in range of his cruel hands. She moved until she could meet her husband’s eyes, twin jewels