Chapter 8
Violet
Walking back into work felt surreal. The bruises had faded, the stiffness mostly gone, but the nerves lingered.
Every time I slid behind the wheel—currently a rental car—I found myself checking my mirrors too often and scanning the road for that dark sedan.
I was so hypervigilant it felt like I was back to being sixteen years old, when I’d first learned how to drive.
It didn’t help that my mother had died in a car crash, and my accident had roused those memories, in both myself and Christopher. But hers hadn’t been anything suspicious, just her running a red light, driving erratically and emotionally after yet another man had treated her like shit.
She’d spent her entire adult life chasing a fairytale, wanting to be the one who tamed the bad boy, who made him soften, respect her, and turn good.
Except I’d watch each relationship play out, each and every time leaving her with nothing but heartache, including my own father who’d cheated on Andrea’s mom with my mother.
All she’d gotten out of that relationship had been me, born out of wedlock.
But that hadn’t stopped her from moving on to the next man, another user and abuser. What my mother could never bring herself to learn was if a man cheated with you, he’d cheat on you. If he hit you once, he’d hit you again.
It was a lesson she refused to acknowledge no matter how many times it happened, but it taught me that love was rarely worth the gamble.
Not when it meant handing over control and putting your trust in someone who could crush you on a whim.
It was easier, and less messy, to keep men at arm’s length, enjoy sex for a night, and walk away with my pride intact.
No messy attachments or begging for scraps of loyalty that would never come, as my mother had.
I shook off those thoughts as I parked my car and headed into the casino for my shift, glad to be back to work.
I’d already called a few days ago and told my boss what had happened, and the possibility of the driver being the customer who’d threatened me.
To their credit, they’d taken me seriously and had written up a report noting my concerns.
I headed back to the employee area and put my things into a locker.
I was already wearing my black slacks and white button up shirt with the casino logo on it, so I was ready to get to work.
All I wanted to do was deal cards and banter with customers and pretend my life wasn’t veering into some mob-movie subplot.
I turned around just as my boss, Jerry, walked into the room, concern furrowing his brows.
I flashed him a grin, because the last thing I wanted was him to worry about me. “Hey, Jerry, what’s shaking?” I said, keeping my tone light and teasing.
“Not much,” he said too seriously. “Though we do need to talk.”
My stomach clenched. I didn’t like the way that sounded, and so of course I opted for humor. “Oh, God, I knew it.” I pressed a hand to my chest in mock horror. “You found out I’m the one stealing everyone’s snacks from the break room.”
Used to my wisecracks, Jerry just rolled his eyes. “Yes, very funny Violet. Come with me.”
I followed him toward the back offices, which was never a good sign. That’s where all the serious conversations happened. “Is everything okay?” I asked, hoping like hell the higher-ups didn’t suddenly see me as an issue and decided to sideline me until things blew over.
“We’ve spoken with the head of security, and given what you told us about your suspicions, we’re not chalking this up to coincidence. The threats. The crash. It all lines up too neatly.”
It did seem likely, yet I couldn’t stop myself from questioning the theory. “Do you really think some drunk, pissed-off whale has enough nerve to follow through on a threat like that?”
“This is Vegas, Violet,” Jerry said, his tone grim as we continued down the hallway.
“People with too much money and too little self-control do stupid things every day. And considering how much this guy lost, and the threats he made, we’re not taking it lightly.
Until the police finish their inquiries, you’re going to have a personal bodyguard, on and off the floor. ”
I blinked at him, his words sinking in and going against every independent grain in my body. “Wait…at work and when I’m off the clock?”
He nodded. “Better safe than sorry.”
My shoulders stiffened. “Don’t you think that’s a little overkill?” The last thing I wanted was some stranger keeping his eyes on me at all times. At the casino while I was working, fine. But I didn’t need him following me home and invading my personal space.
“It’s not negotiable,” Jerry said sternly. “Not only are we not taking any chances with your safety, but for corporate it’s also a liability issue if a known risk isn’t properly mitigated and then something happens to you. You don’t have to like it. You just have to deal with it.”
He opened the door to his office and gestured me inside. I walked past him, mouth opening to issue an argument, but the words died in my throat and I stopped dead in my tracks, my stomach dropping like I’d just walked straight off a cliff.
Standing in my boss’ office was none other than Ford, leaning casually against the edge of Jerry’s desk, arms crossed over his broad chest, every line of his body relaxed in that infuriatingly confident way of his.
I hated how heart-stoppingly gorgeous he looked in his dark gray suit, the jacket perfectly fitted to his broad shoulders and the rest of his lean body.
That sinful mouth of his curved into the faintest smirk, and despite my best efforts, my pulse tripped all over itself.
Seriously? Out of all the bodyguards in Vegas, it had to be him?
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.
“Nice to see you too, Violet,” Ford drawled, his tone much too amused.
I turned back to Jerry. “I don’t need a babysitter,” I insisted. Especially not this one and definitely not him being a part of my life 24/7 for the foreseeable future.
“I’m not here to babysit you,” Ford cut in smoothly. “I’m here to keep you safe and alive. Big difference.”
“Fantastic,” I said, unable to keep the sarcasm out of my tone. “My very own shadow. Should I get you a matching dealer vest so you blend in?”
He dared to chuckle, and Jerry looked between the two of us with a little confusion. “You two know each other?”
“My coworker is engaged to her sister,” Ford explained.
“Ahh,” Jerry said, glancing at me. “Is this situation going to be an issue?”
Of course Jerry would ask that. My pride reared up immediately, every instinct screaming to say yes, it’s going to be a huge issue, get him out of here before I throw something at his head, or tackle him to the floor and do unspeakably filthy things to him.
But I wasn’t about to look like some diva employee who couldn’t play nice when my boss was doing the courtesy of keeping me safe.
The last thing I needed was to sound ungrateful, or worse, like I couldn’t handle myself around Ford.
If he could be professional, then so could I, right?
Besides, I wasn’t about to give Ford the satisfaction of thinking that he could rattle me so easily.
So I bit back the dozen inappropriate comments that were on the tip of my tongue, forced my tense shoulders to relax, and swallowed my pride like a jagged little pill.
“No, no problem at all,” I replied, my tone sweet enough to pass for polite, but laced with just enough bite to make Ford hear the lie underneath.
Jerry nodded once, satisfied and relieved. “Good to know there won’t be any issues.”
Outwardly, I was the picture of composure. Inwardly, though, I was a mess, a shaken cocktail of irritation, nerves, and something hotter I refused to name. Being stuck with Ford day and night wasn’t just going to test my patience, it was going to wreck my self-control.
Because sooner or later, something—me, him, or the rules we were supposed to follow—was bound to snap. And if I wasn’t careful, it wouldn’t be the threats that wrecked me…it would be Ford Perish.