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asked.
    A dark throb started inside him
and he sucked in a breath at the acute hunger threatening to tear him apart.
“Yes. Use the room next to the master bedroom. I want it done ASAP.”
    “Understood.” Philip left as
quietly as he’d entered.
    Striding to the desk, Zach
switched on his laptop and quickly located the file he sought. Scrolling
through, he found the phone number and dialled.
    The phone was answered after one
ring. “Keely Benson,” barked the no-nonsense voice.
    “Miss Benson,” he greeted,
slightly gratified that someone was answering his calls. “It’s Zachary Savage.”
    “Hey, Zach. Call me Keely. If my
red-hot poker is soon to become intimately acquainted with your delectable ass,
I think we should at least be on a first name basis, don’t you?” she snapped
icily.
    Zach’s lips twitched. She was a
pit bull when it came to protecting her friend. He definitely respected that.
But even that wouldn’t be allowed to stand in his way. Although he was prepared
to remain cordial. For now, Keely Benson may be his only immediate access to
Bethany.
    “Very well. I’m doing my best to
make sure my ass remains poker free.”
    “That’s good to know. How can I
help you?”
    “I need five minutes of your
time, if it isn’t too much to ask?”
    “Go ahead. I’m all ears,” Despite
the easy rejoinder, he heard the wariness in her voice.
    Zach gritted his teeth and forced
himself to remain calm. His first question was met with frostily negative
response. His second request brought a marginally easier reply. By the time he
made his third request, he dared to think that Keely Benson’s voice had grown
considerably less chilly.
    “You do recognize that there’s a
mildly stalkerish quality to what you plan to do, don’t you?”
    “It’s her birthday. I had in mind
quite different plans for her birthday. This contingency is all I have.”
    “Fine. But I’ll be keeping an eye
on you. If you so much as twitch in the wrong direction, your ass is mine. Are
we clear, Savage?”
    He knew the use of his surname
was deliberate. He chose to let it slide. “I’d expect nothing else. And Keely?”
    “Yep?”
    “You may not believe this right
now given the circumstances, but know that I’d rip out a vital organ before I
harm a single hair on her head.”
    Keely remained silent for several
seconds before she sighed. “Yeah, the circumstances are not swinging wildly in
your favor. But I’m holding you to that promise. I’m also hoping you’ll make
things right between you two. She’s been through enough.” The line went dead.
    He swallowed hard and jerked away
from his desk. Raking a hand through his hair, he paced to the window and back
again. But no amount of pacing could put distance between him and the knowledge
that Keely had just lumped him in with the other assholes who’d hurt Bethany in
the past. The very idea made him sick to his stomach.
    But he had hurt her. And was continuing to do so with his silence.
    I’m also hoping you’ll make things right between you two.
    Fuck.
    Striding to his desk, he snapped
up the phone again. He didn’t care that it was early and a Saturday to boot on
the West Coast. At moments like these he appreciated having a few billion
dollars attached to his name.
    His lawyer answered almost
immediately. And much to Zach’s satisfaction the man was instantly alert
despite the early hour.
    “Where are we on the Farrah
issue?” Zach bit out.
    Stanley Reed cleared his throat.
“I reached out like you asked. The family attorney thinks her father may agree,
but her mother and brother could be a problem. Especially the brother.”
    Zach’s jaw clenched hard. “He was
my brother-in-law for less than twenty-four hours and she—” he stopped
before he gave anything away. His lawyers had been given enough information to
draw up the agreement but not even they knew the whole truth. Secrets. So many
secrets threatening to tear him apart. Threatening to rip his most