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Xander's POV:

There was a long pause between us, half of which was me working to shift my own focus from the previous topic to this next one, and the other was filled with me trying to decide whether or not I'd heard him correctly.

Frustration shifted into confusion, leaving me blinking at him through furrowed brows.

"Dad... after Khloe?" I needed elaboration.

He looked to his left then his right, nostrils flaring to ensure that only he and I were witnessing this conversation.

"He had one of the slaves doing his dirty work. I caught him last night breaking into my room with the master key since I wasn't supposed to be here." he stopped for a moment, going through the details in his head, "With the intent of knocking her out and taking her to dad. I caught him and hid him away on the southern side rooms and did some questioning."

My brows finally rose from the severity, at the uncharacteristic edge in his voice.

"He was the one that drugged her back then as well. Also courtesy of our father." He finished, crossing his arms and grabbing tight to his biceps.

I could nearly smell his trepidation. Sense the fear lurking just outside of his body.

Very few things scared Nico in this world, but this...

It was understandable, which just made it all that much more unnerving.

"Why?" I questioned.

His jaw tensed, giving me the answer I already knew, but didn't think he would say.

They were all about wanting Nico married, and if they somehow caught wind that he and Khloe were together... That could complicate things.

Drugging? Attempted kidnapping? These weren't things I'd think my parents were the type to try these things.

What could they wish to accomplish by getting their hands on her? Was it for information? For a solid answer as to what was happening between them?

If that was their plan then how were they planning on getting that information out of her...?

These attempts felt almost malicious, but my brain couldn't even fathom my parents using violence or fear to get what they wanted.

It was a possibility though... That much was becoming clear.

Their son loving a human- sons.

Shit...

"I don't know," His voice lacked the push to even make it sound convincing, "Not even dads slave could answer that one. Whatever it is he's making sure it stays between only him."

Him... Was mom in on this as well?

This didn't feel like their style. Could they really have changed this much during the time we've been gone?

I almost wanted to tell him that I'd figured what was going on. That I could help.

But something else was gnawing at me telling me not to. It was busy worrying about what would happen if Doe were in this situation and urging me now more than ever to keep our relationship hidden.

My marriage wasn't nearly as important as his was, and this was now one of the many reasons that I was grateful for my lack of limelight.

I could help in other ways.

"He didn't say anything about Doe, and I admittedly didn't ask in the heat of the moment," I noted and appreciated the apologetic tone, "I kept with her when I could before you got back, and if she wasn't with me, she was paired up with Khloe. I didn't want either of them alone just in case."

Except on her walk here it would seem, though it wouldn't surprise me if she just up and left without saying anything to anyone.

"Thank you," My words were sincere nonetheless.

Having Nico look out for her in my absence warmed a part of me that I wasn't expecting, even though I knew that I'd do the same for Khloe.

Especially now.

"I'll return the favor whenever needed." I offered. It was a place to start in terms of help.

He gave me a wary nod, rubbing the bottom of his chin.

"I appreciate that. I'll keep you updated on what I figure out. I still have a few words for that slave. I just wanted you to know in case..." He drifted off, adding with a quiet sigh, "And I need to get to reading through your trip here soon-"

"Focus on what you need to do," I cut in, "Those transcripts aren't going anywhere and the trip was an overall success." I eased.

Maybe right now wasn't the best time to start insisting that he visit with me sometime soon.

"Thank you for that, again," he started, "I kind of handed it off to you on a whim, but now I don't want to think about what would have happened if I wasn't here last night."

"It all worked out, but let me know if you do need anything from me."

Nico rarely asked for help. It was one of his few faults, but this topic... the thoughts of where it stemmed from or where it could lead was something I wanted to be included in.

In the back of my mind I had hoped that maybe my parents would be the ones to change Doe... but these actions weren't ones of parents who wanted to cooperate it seemed.

He didn't answer in words, just a slow incline of his head while his eyes drifted to the sides in thought.

It was silent for a long moment. One where I could feel some lingering tension pull back as we both had a moment to just breathe.

"So, what was that all about?" He finally asked, nodding his head to where I'd thrown the sorry excuse of a human into the wall.

I blew out a curt breath.

"I'm gonna start the process of getting a full staff reset for this floor. Everyone except Lily and Marcus needs to go."

He didn't dispute, be still just stared, given that my answer wasn't the one he was looking for.

"These ones don't know how to keep their hands off of our girls. That one decided to get touchy and coerce her into sleeping with him."

His grimace hardened into a firm glare, glancing to where the boy had staggered off to as if he wanted to get a few hits in himself.

"I'll sign off on whatever you need. You can take the interviews alone if I can't find the time with all that's going on. I trust your judgment."

I silently celebrated his last comment.

"You should get back to her," I mentioned. I could still catch his stress around us, and knew just how much of an effect she had on him.

"Yeah, I think I will. We'll talk at dinner."

With that, he made his leave and I entered my room.

Doe stood from the edge of my bed and made a hasty move toward me.

With what was going on, I should warn her. Just to be safe.

"Doe I need to tell you-" My words died with a grunt as she ran into me, arms locking around my back and face pressing fully into my chest.

She squeezed me hard, leading me into a slowly rising relaxation now that she was here against me.

The sound of her quick and full inhale through her nose against my shirt pulled my lips into a smile.

The words she spoke to me last night before I left played again in my mind, sliding a hand across her back and into her hair.

"Can it wait?" She asked, turning up to face me while slowly standing up onto her toes.

There was an ache in her voice. One from multiple targets if I had to guess.

I wanted to press and ask for more from her incident with him, but I listened to her first.

Hands rose around to grab my shoulders and used it to pull herself up into a gentle kiss.

I held her there, firm. The lingering scent of him despite her efforts to wash it off only made me hold her tighter.

So warm and soft. The perfect delayed 'Welcome home. I missed you.'

I smiled at the mental sound of those words with her voice, bringing a hand up to cup her cheek.

It held her there for a few extra seconds before I spoke.

"I suppose. What for?"

A hardened determination crossed her face, one hand flying out to point at the bed.

"I need you to get in that bed, let me rub your back and tell me how your damn trip was," She spoke it like it was a demand, "It's been pushed back long enough."

I nearly laughed at the desperate and almost guilty tone.

She must still feel bad for not mentioning it during my little visit.

Not that I minded, my focus was also very much somewhere else.

And I did tell her we'd catch up on what I couldn't do then once I got home...

Yeah, it can wait. Right now, I needed her.

To calm down, to level my head, to remind myself that even if just for right now, things were okay.

"Let's get on it then."