Ildaria stared at her with confusion. “I do not understand. He knows he is my life mate and still refuses. You can’t use thatto convince him to agree.”
“Yes, I can,” she assured her, and then grinned and said, “Because I know something about him very few people do.”
“What is that?” Ildaria asked with curiosity.
“As a child, Joshua hated to share his toys,” she announced, her eyes dancing with glee, and then, her tone turning triumphant,she added, “And he is no better at it as an adult.”
Ildaria still didn’t see how this was going to help them with the matter, but before she could say as much, the woman withblack and fuchsia hair appeared in the bedroom door.
“Hello, Mirabeau, dear,” Mrs. Guiscard greeted her, still smiling widely. “Are the men getting restless?”
“No,” Mirabeau said, and then grimaced and said, “Well, yes, but that’s not why I came to fetch you.” Taking a breath, sheshifted her gaze to Ildaria and said, “Lucian just called. He wants us to bring you to the Enforcer house.”
“Me?” Ildaria asked with surprise, wondering what she’d done wrong now.
“Is Villaverde there?” Mrs. Guiscard asked, her hand tightening around Ildaria’s.
Ildaria turned on her sharply, noting the sudden steel in the woman’s expression.
“Yes,” Mirabeau said grim-faced. “Apparently, his plane landed shortly after yours. Lucian and Scotty have talked to him and now they want Ildaria there.”
“Why?” G.G.’s mother asked sharply.
Mirabeau shook her head. “We don’t know. He just called Tiny and told him that we were to bring her there. When Tiny got offthe phone and told us what Lucian had said, Mr. Guiscard, Robert,” she specified since both Robert and G.G. were Mr. Guiscard,“He called Lucian back, but all he could get out of him was that he and Scotty had spoken to Villaverde, but now they needIldaria there.”
“Juan’s convinced them to execute me,” Ildaria said, sure that was the only reason they’d want her there.
“Of course, he hasn’t,” Mrs. Guiscard said at once. “An immortal cannot be executed for biting off another immortal’s bits.Especially when defending themselves against rape. If anything, he should be punished for his behavior.”
Ildaria turned on her with dismay. “You know about that?”
Mary patted her hand, sympathetically. “Joshua had to tell Robert everything so that he could convince Scotty to help himhelp you, and of course he told me.”
“Oh. Si,” she muttered and wondered that the woman still welcomed her as G.G.’s life mate.
“What happened was not your fault,” Mary said firmly, pulling her into a hug. “I am proud to have such a brave girl as mydaughter-in-law.”
Ildaria blinked at those words. She and G.G. had not talked about marrying.
“Perhaps not, but he is definitely planning on it, as he should be,” Mary said with a small smile as she pulled back to meet her gaze. “And I will not let anyone execute my future daughter. Besides, there is nothing to execute you for. Villaverde was the one at fault for what happened.”
“But he is the head of the South American Council,” Ildaria reminded her. “A powerful man. While I am just a peasant. Theywill not punish him,” she predicted bitterly.
“You are not a peasant,” Mary exclaimed with outrage. “And as the head of the Council, Villaverde should be above reproach.In fact, I do not know how someone like that could have gained the position of head of the Council. The other Council memberswould not put up with a leader who rapes children and forces their poorer people out of their homes.”
“And yet he does, and they do not protest,” Ildaria assured her.
“Yes, well, not for long if Lucian and Scotty have any say in it, I assure you. They’ll call a summit of Council leaders tohave him removed if necessary. And if they don’t, Robert will,” Mrs. Guiscard said firmly. She held Ildaria’s gaze for a minute,and then frowned. “You don’t believe me, but it’s true.”
“I believe you believe that,” Ildaria said solemnly.
“I guess that will have to do for now,” Mary said with a faint smile, and then sighed and shook her head. “I suppose we mightas well go and see what the men want, get this business over with so you can relax and know you’re safe.”
Releasing her hands, Mrs. Guiscard started toward Mirabeau, leaving her to follow, but Ildaria hesitated. She didn’t want to go. She had no desire to be anywhere near Juan Villaverde. However, one look at Mirabeau’s face told her that the woman would drag her there if necessary. She would carry out Lucian’s orders.
Sighing in resignation, Ildaria followed G.G.’s mother to the door, very aware of the way Mirabeau took up position at herside as they walked down the hall.
G.G., Robert, and Tiny were all waiting in the living room when they came out. Ildaria paused just inside the doorway whenshe saw that G.G. was wearing his T-shirt again. The T-shirt she’d stripped off and left lying on the bathroom floor. “Howdid you—?”
“I brought it out to him while you were showering,” G.G.’s mother explained, apparently reading her thoughts.
“Oh.” Ildaria smiled at her faintly and then glanced around with surprise when someone took her arm. It was G.G. He’d crossedthe room to her and his hand was warm through her blouse, causing a slight tingle, but not the crazy passion that it had earlierwhen he’d touched her, she noted with confusion.
“Touching through clothing mutes the effects of the nanos,” Mirabeau said helpfully. “But try to avoid bare skin to skin contact.At least, until you’re alone. And that includes hand holding unless one of you is wearing gloves.”
“Good to know. Thanks,” G.G. said, but his gaze was on Ildaria and full of concern. She wasn’t at all surprised when he asked, “Are
