9. Damien
Damien
W e were hardly in a private office. Instead, it was a small consultation room off a larger waiting room on the sixth floor of the hospital.
“We found him in the emergency room,” Leo Conner said. A tall, thin man, he was the lead on the security team I’d authorized to watch over my parents. “I’d already spoken with the hospital security.” He shook his head. “It wasn’t difficult to get Mr. Sinclair out of the building—just noisy. He could have made it easier on himself.”
Everything the man said coincided with what Ella shared earlier—the story she’d heard from Pastor Abrams. The information I didn’t know was what I would ask next. “Where is he now?”
Leo slowly shook his head. “Sir, my team was hired to keep Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair away from your parents, not to monitor their movement.”
“Did you hear him or his wife say anything that could be construed as threatening?”
“They were both pissed. I didn’t give their words that much consideration. People like to rant. It’s not unusual in our line of work. It’s mostly bluster.”
That wasn’t the answer I wanted.
Leo continued, “I have two other members of my team besides myself on this job. If you want more, say the word.”
This wasn’t the location that worried me. The pastor’s story had gotten to Ella. I could hear the change in her tone. She tried to sound strong, but damn, marrying me wasn’t supposed to come along with the threat of violence. The more I thought about the possibility, the more I knew that if Darius or Amber did anything to harm or frighten Ella, it would be the last damn thing they ever did.
“I want to hire more people,” I said, “not for here. You have a good team. Mom said you met with her.”
It wasn’t a question, but Leo nodded with a ‘yes, sir.’
“My wife” —damn that sounded good— “my sister, and I are flying back to Indiana, where we live.”
“I read your parents were from northern Indianapolis.”
A smile threatened my gruff exterior. “A man who does his homework. I like that. Now, if there is even an inkling that my brother and sister-in-law may pull something to retaliate, I want Ella and Dani to have around-the-clock bodyguards.”
“Our company can provide that kind of security, but I need to warn you, it’s expensive.”
“Find me four of your best men or women. I want them in my office in Indianapolis tomorrow afternoon. I’ll interview them and decide on the best two.”
“If I may,” he said. “I’ve worked as a personal bodyguard on multiple different assignments. I’m certain you know what you’re looking for, but the assignments that work the best and have the best results are the ones where the client is involved in the hire. Your wife and sister must feel comfortable with this person, or they won’t work well together. And working together is what keeps people safe. Full disclosure of location at all times. It’s when someone decides they can sneak away for an hour or two that everything goes to hell.”
Sneak away.
Yeah, I could see both Ella and Dani trying to pull that shit.
“I guess that means I need to tell them what’s happening.”
“How long do you anticipate needing these bodyguards?” Leo asked.
“Open-ended. Get me the particulars, and tomorrow we’ll interview.”
“Yes, sir.”
I added, “If you have any further encounters with Darius or Amber Sinclair, I want to be notified immediately.” The executive board was scheduled to meet tomorrow at nine. “I have every reason to believe they’ll be in Indianapolis tomorrow. After that, I don’t know. Unfortunately, my brother has the means to travel when and where he wants.”
Spoiled fucking rich kid with hurt feelings and a wife willing to fan the flames.
“Do you still want us working the hospital?”
I nodded. “Yes. My mother deserves the peace of knowing you’re here.”
“Very well, sir.”
Ella peered through the narrow window within the door before turning away.
Standing, I offered Leo my hand. “Thank you for taking care of my parents. I’ll look forward to hearing from you about tomorrow. Send the bios on the four prospective bodyguards by tonight.”
Leo nodded as we shook hands.
Opening the door, Leo stepped out as I scanned the larger waiting room. Clusters of people sat here and there. Mom wasn’t here. She was in Dad’s room, undoubtedly watching his monitors and learning everything she never wanted to know about cardiac recovery.
To my right, down the hallway, I turned to see Ella and Dani coming my direction.
“Any news?” I asked as they came to a stop.
“No,” Dani said. “Mom promised she’d call or text.”
“Let’s head back to Indy.”
Ella offered a slight grin as she reached for my arm. “Do you want to talk to your mom again?”
“No. She knows we’ll fly back down if needed.”
Dani lowered her voice. “Thanks for the security, Damien. Mom won’t say it, but she feels better knowing Dad won’t get upsetting visitors.”
“Yeah, she said it to me. I told her if Dad gets pissed, tell him I did it.”
“It’s what I’ve always done,” my sister said with a laugh.
Securing Ella’s hand in mine, I asked, “I want to know what you’re thinking. I can see the wheels turning.”
Ella shook her head. “There are too many things to pin down one or two. I was thinking about my new campaign. I’d jumped in with both feet, and now I haven’t thought about it since we left the Shermans’ house.” She grinned. “I’m hoping the boss at my new office will accept my excuse. I’ve had a crazy weekend.”
“I hear he is a real dick.”
“Oh,” she said, “he can be.”
Dani chimed in, “He sounds like someone I know.”
Getting to the plane and into the air was uneventful. I spent most of our flight going through the information Johnathon had provided. I had the numbers to back up my appeal to the executive board. Gloria may have thought blindsiding me during my father’s medical crisis was to her advantage, but truth be told, I had the possibility of a coup in my head for the last five- plus years. I never imagined it would involve Amber Wilmott or marrying Ella.
Darius didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of taking over Sinclair Pharmaceuticals. The numbers didn’t lie. Since launching propanolol, our net earnings were higher than ever in our history. Under my leadership, we’ve put more money into research and development while still maintaining our market share of our tried-and-true formulas. Even without the addendum, Darius would be hard-pressed to make a case for his reinstatement as CEO.
As we drew nearer to Indianapolis and while Dani was on a call, I convinced Ella to accompany me to the back bedroom.
Though she came willingly, once the door shut, she placed a fist on her hip. “I’m not being fucked with your sister out there.”
It wasn’t what I’d planned. Nevertheless, I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. Step by step, I made my way to my wife. Still wearing the off-white sundress with her hair high on her head, she was breathtakingly stunning. Add her little declaration of limitations and I was growing harder by the second.
“Damien,” she said, keeping her blue stare on me.
“I can compromise. A blow job.”
“What? No.”
Cupping her cheeks, I brought my lips to hers. When our kiss ended, I tipped my forehead to hers. “I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be.” Her hands came to my chest. “You have too many things to worry about. I’m fine.”
Not exactly a glowing declaration from a recently married woman.
I took her hands in mine. “I wanted to talk to you about something first before we tell Dani.”
“That sounds serious.” Ella sat on the edge of the bed. “Don’t ask me to make any life-altering decisions. This weekend has turned my mind to goo. You see, I left Friday morning to go on an unexpected business trip, and now I’m returning a married woman.” She looked down at the gold band.
“You’ve seemed quieter since you told me what Pastor Abrams said about Darius and Amber.”
With her lips together, Ella nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it, but Damien, don’t worry. I am fine.”
I took the seat at her side and reached for her hands, covering them with one of mine. “I love you, Ella. I have. I never stopped. We don’t know our future, but I can promise you, they will not hurt you or anyone I care about.”
“If they were mad about being asked to leave the hospital, imagine how they’ll react tomorrow when we prove that we’re married. Their game will be over. You won, Damien. I don’t know Amber well. Hell, I don’t know Darius that well, but I can’t believe that they’ll walk away and admit defeat. They married with your dad in critical condition.” She shrugged. “We did too.”
“You’re probably right about them not going quietly.”
“What will that mean?” She swallowed. “I don’t want to think about what they could do.”
“Nothing,” I said adamantly. “There is nothing they can do. At the hospital, I spoke with Leo Conner. He’s the head of the security team I hired. He works for a much larger company. Tomorrow, four prospective bodyguards are coming to my office. I want you to be there.”
Her forehead furrowed. “Bodyguards? For you?”
“No, for you and for Dani.”
Ella hopped from the bed and paced back and forth. “A bodyguard. No. That’s crazy. I’m just me. I’m not a celebrity or someone who needs a bodyguard.”
Following her to my feet, I reached for her shoulders, stopping her movement. “Who you are is Mrs. Gabriella Sinclair, only the most important person in my life. I have five months to prove to you that we belong together. Allowing my brother or his crazy wife to get near you isn’t an option. Leo recommended that you and Dani be involved in the hire. He said that it’s important for the bodyguard and the client to work well together.”
She lowered her chin and sighed. “I don’t want this.”
I kissed her hair. “It won’t be forever. I need your help.”
Slowly she lifted her chin and met my gaze. “My help, with what?”
“How you just reacted…Dani will be ten times more against this. I need to do this. I need to know the two of you are safe. Help me convince my sister she needs a bodyguard.”
“That’s not fair. You’re asking me to convince her of something I myself don’t want.”
I lifted her chin. “But you’ll do it because I want it.”
“Marriage is supposed to be fifty-fifty. I’m feeling a little cheated on that percentage.”
“You’re right. I owe you. I’m willing to pay my debt in full. To do that, you need to be safe. Say you’ll help me.”
“Is it too late to ask Pastor Abrams to tear up the license?”
“Way too late,” I said. “You’re mine. I’m not letting you go.”