Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
The pizza Colton had wolfed down in the mobile Tech Ops center twenty minutes ago roiled in his stomach as he stood at the back of the ballroom in yet another high-end hotel.
Everything was set for Riley’s big night. The night of her family’s charitable ball, the one she’d put so much time and effort into planning over the past year.
Another visual scan of the room verified all law enforcement and Petersen personnel were at their assigned positions.
Male and female operatives stood around the room, no one the wiser to the firepower hidden beneath their tuxes and formal gowns.
He nodded at John, also in a tux and posing as a “guest.”
“The Hudsons are en route to Tech Ops,” one of the officers assigned to valet duty said in his earpiece.
“All of them?”
“Three cars so far. Cooper and Paxton are bringing the principal in now.”
“Copy.”
He made his way out of the ballroom and across the wide hall to the conference room where they’d set up their base of operations.
Two Petersen cyber techs manned the room, watching various monitors covering the entrance, the lobby, the ballroom, and the kitchen.
The entire Hudson family had been told they were to go there first for briefing.
As he moved across the wide hall, he caught sight of Riley walking between Nowell in front of her to her left, Trevor behind her to her right. Standard protocol he should’ve followed himself instead of getting too close.
They disappeared into the conference room, and he followed.
“Good evening, everybody.”
When she turned and sent him a tentative smile, his chest tightened. Breathtaking in her bright pink, strapless ball gown, with a wrap slung over her arms, she’d left her hair down to cascade over her shoulders. Just the way he preferred it.
Drew stepped forward and offered his hand. “Colton. This is quite the operation you have here.”
He pulled his attention from the vision she made to shake her father’s hand.
“Yes, sir. We just incorporated a few more things into your usual security for this event. Piper and another female operative are here tonight, so Riley will be accompanied even in the lounge. She won’t be alone for a second. ”
Her smile widened. “I hope you supplied some dance partners for me, then, because I plan on dancing till dawn.”
He couldn’t help it when the corner of his mouth twitched a little. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem. The gentlemen will be standing in line to dance with the belle of the ball. As long as we know who they all are.”
She laughed, lighting up those emerald eyes.
It took a concerted effort to pull his attention from her to address them all.
“We have no idea if he’ll show or not. But if he should, we’re ready.
” He pointed to several composites on the wall.
“If Everett is our man, he may look like any of these or none of them. So just be vigilant. If anyone appears to be acting suspiciously, we want to know about it. You’ll know who we are because we’re all wearing yellow roses on our lapels. Any questions?”
The Hudsons looked at each other before shaking their heads.
“Okay, then. Have a wonderful evening.”
The family and their security detail made their way out of the room, Riley’s guys hanging back as she walked up to Colton.
“You look very nice tonight, Mr. Blankenship.”
“As do you. Beautiful as always.”
Her smile did that funny thing in his chest, as it had from that first day. “Thank you.”
He looked around for a moment before addressing Nowell. “Why don’t you guys go on into the ballroom? I need to speak with Riley for a minute. I’ll walk her over myself.”
“Yes, sir,” Nowell answered before leaving with Paul and Trevor.
Uncertainty clouded the previous light in her eyes. “Something wrong?”
Smiling, he scratched his temple. “I … well, I was hoping to see you before everything got started tonight.”
“Why’s that?”
“Oh, wait.” He reached back and under his jacket to the small box attached to his belt. “I forgot this was on.”
“What’s on?”
“My mic. Okay, now we’re alone.”
Her forehead furrowed. “So, why did you need to see me?”
“I have something for you. A belated Christmas gift, I guess you could say.”
Her jaw dropped. “Really?”
“I hope you don’t mind. I saw this and it just seemed like you. It’s nothing big.”
“Maybe I should be the judge of that.”
He pulled a small box out of his inside pocket and held it out to her. “Merry Christmas. A week late.”
At the time, he hadn’t been sure of the wisdom in buying her a gift. But during their midnight phone call a few days before, they’d built a bridge, of sorts. As if they could possibly reclaim the friendship he’d left in tatters with his clumsy exit.
After tearing the paper from the box, she opened it, and her eyes widened at the diamond heart-shaped pendant on a delicate gold chain sitting inside. “This is stunning.”
“It’s pretty modest compared to some of your other pieces, but I thought it looked like you. Elegant but not flashy. And you’re full of heart, so it seemed appropriate.”
“I love it. Thank you. May I wear it tonight?”
He was taken aback. His small gift with her spectacular ball gown? “Sure. If you’d like to.”
She removed it from the box and held it out for him to clasp around her neck. His skin tingled as his hands moved under her hair. This was the closest they’d been in weeks, and the power of it hadn’t diminished since that night.
“There you go.”
She turned back, taking the pendant in her fingers and staring down at it. “I do love it, Cole. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Now, I guess we should go so you can start greeting your guests.”
“In a minute. I … uh … have something for you too. I brought it tonight, but I wasn’t sure I’d have a chance to give it to you.”
She opened her tiny, hot pink, beaded handbag and took out a small package, much like the one he’d given her. He removed the paper and opened the box to reveal two square gold cuff links with CB engraved in cursive on each.
“Wow. These are great. Thank you.”
While he replaced the cuff links he’d donned earlier, she told him Paul had received cuff links in the likeness of steering wheels, Nowell sported a tiepin in the shape of a bicycle—his favorite hobby—and Trevor wore a lapel pin resembling a miniature purple heart.
“For taking a bullet for me and all,” she said with a shrug.
Her smile disappeared as panic filled her eyes. “I don’t want anybody taking a bullet for me tonight, Cole. Not my guys, not any of John’s guys. Not you.”
The urge to pull her into his arms was strong, but he settled for taking her hand. “This place is locked down tight. We won’t let him anywhere near you if he should show. I promise you that.”
The trust that replaced the fear almost undid him, and he would do everything in his power to prove himself worthy of it.