Chapter 4
Chapter Four
E aston closed the door.
“How are things?” he asked his brother.
“Busy.”
Easton sat behind his desk, while Vander strode to the windows. His brother had always been intense, even as a boy.
Vander had joined the Army, and soon ended up leading a Ghost Ops team. A covert special forces team made up of the best of the best across all the special forces in the military. Their younger brother Rhys had also been Ghost Ops. They’d all fought for their country. Seen too much. Done too much.
“We have loads of work going on,” Vander said.
“That’s good.”
“Not making billions like my big brother, though.” Vander’s lips moved into a grin.
Easton rolled his eyes. “Don’t start. I cop enough smart-ass sass from my assistant.”
“Your sexy new assistant who you watch like she’s your favorite candy.”
Easton felt an instant jerk of annoyance. He didn’t need Vander noticing that Harlow was sexy.
Vander’s dark gaze was on him and his grin widened. “You got a thing for tight skirts and sexy heels?”
Easton made an annoyed noise. “No.”
“No? I suspect for you those are just icing on the sharp mind, and the fact that she’s a woman who doesn’t bend under the force of Easton Norcross.”
“Did you make time out of your busy day just to come here and give me shit?”
“No.” Vander moved over to Easton’s desk. “You asked Saxon to run a background check on Harlow.”
Easton straightened. “You found something.”
“You sure you want to wade into this?”
Easton growled.
Vander nodded. “You want to wade in. Don’t blame you.”
“Vander, get to the point.”
His brother pulled an envelope out from the inside pocket of his jacket. He dropped it on Easton’s desk.
“Her father’s in debt. Big time.”
“Shit.”
Vander sat in one of the guest chairs. “You know her dad?”
“Not personally. Charles Carlson. Local businessman.”
Vander nodded. “He had some deals go bad. He got desperate.”
Easton met Vander’s dark blue gaze. “And?”
“He got really desperate. Made some shady deals with some shady people.”
Easton clenched his teeth. “Who?”
“Antoine Armand.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck,” Vander agreed.
Armand was bad news.
“Armand has some semi-legit businesses, but he’s got his fingers in a lot of ugly spaces.”
“Not legal ones, I assume?”
“Right,” Vander said. “Drugs, laundering, prostitution.”
Easton leaned back in his chair. “Charming.”
“Carlson invested in some real estate deals. Anyway, things went bad. He took loans from Armand.”
“Shit.” And Carlson was dumping this on his daughter?
“Armand isn’t known for being generous. He has a cousin who likes to use a knife. If Carlson doesn’t pay up, he’ll end up dead with his throat slit.”
Easton leaned forward, pulse pounding. “Someone tried to snatch Harlow off the street last night.”
Vander’s face hardened. Easton’s brother detested violence against women. He’d seen some horrible things during his missions.
“That matches Armand’s MO. He usually threatens the family.”
Easton thrust a hand through his hair. “So, she’s in danger.”
“There’s more.”
Shit . Easton knew he wasn’t going to like this. He rose and looked out the windows at the Transamerica Pyramid and the city below. He was used to being in control. He liked it. Preferred it.
“This morning, Harlow transferred all her savings to her father,” Vander said. “Just over fifty thousand dollars.”
Easton closed his eyes.
He’d thrown himself into business after he’d left the Army.
He’d been driven. Needed to find purpose.
Something to keep him busy. He’d made a lot of money, and fifty thousand dollars was change to him, but he hadn’t grown up wealthy.
Ethan and Clara Norcross had been hard-working people—their dad was a retired firefighter, and their mom a dedicated homemaker.
They’d both instilled a strong work ethic into their kids, and the importance of saving money.
Easton knew just how hard Harlow would have worked to save that money.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. He wanted to chew out Charles Carlson. “He tried to buy himself some breathing room.”
Vander nodded. “Armand isn’t known for being magnanimous.”
Easton turned. “So, you do think she’s in danger?”
“It’s a strong possibility.”
“Fuck.”
“I can spread the word that she has our protection.”
Easton gave a sharp nod. “Do it.”
“How much do you think Harlow knows?” Vander asked.
“No idea. I can see her handing over her savings to her father without blinking an eye.”
“I’ll get back to the office. Make some calls.”
“Thanks, Vander.”
His brother grasped Easton’s shoulder. “We’ll take care of your girl.”
“She’s not mine.”
Vander grunted.
“She’s my employee.”
“Temporarily. It’s sticky, but not impossible to navigate. You have a big, cunning brain, bro.”
Easton smiled. “I’m pretty sure there was a compliment in there.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
Easton’s smile dissolved. “The first thing is to get her safe.”
Vander nodded. “Whatever you need, you just let me know.”
“Thanks.” It didn’t matter what they faced, the Norcross siblings stuck together.
Easton strode to the door. He needed to talk with Harlow and get some answers. “If anything else comes up, let me know.”
Vander tossed him a salute. “Will do.”
Easton opened his office door, eager to see Harlow.
Her desk was empty.
His muscles tensed.
He strode out, and saw her computer was asleep. Her desk was neat and tidy as always.
He cursed.
Then he spotted one of the other assistants nearby. “Gina, do you know where Harlow is?” Be in a meeting. Be in a meeting.
Gina froze like a deer in headlights.
Easton always worried the woman was going to have an aneurism when he talked to her.
“Um, she got a call, Mr. Norcross. She said she had to go out for a while.”
Easton fought for some control.
“I think she was meeting with her dad,” Gina said.
Easton met Vander’s gaze.
Fuck .
* * *
Harlow hurried across the street, a little out of breath.
After the quick, panicked call from her dad, she’d power walked from the Norcross building to meet him.
Her father had sounded scared.
Her mouth was dry and her pulse was jittery. She scanned Rincon Park. The waters of the Bay were choppy and gray today. They matched her mood. She barely spared the Bay Bridge a glance.
As she crossed the street, a cold wind tugged at her red coat and tried to tear her hair out of its tie.
She spotted her father at the railing, his shoulders slumped.
Swallowing, she hurried over. “Dad?”
He spun. “Harlow.” His face was drawn, gray. “Princess.” He grabbed her hand. His weren’t steady.
“Did you meet that man?” she asked. “Did you give him the money?”
Her dad nodded. “We met for lunch at Saison.”
Harlow kept her face blank. She’d forked over her life savings, and yet her father was having a fancy lunch with a criminal. “And?”
His eyes met hers. They were miserable. His fingers clenched on hers hard enough to hurt.
“He said it wasn’t enough. He said if I couldn’t pay it all, I’d pay with my life.”
“ No ,” she breathed.
“Then he got a call. I used the restroom and managed to escape.”
God. God . Her chest was so tight. This couldn’t be happening.
“And he said if I messed around, then my family wouldn’t be safe.”
The words were like a punch to Harlow’s gut. “Mom. Scarlett.”
Her father shoved his hand through his already messy hair. “I sent your mother away yesterday. A week-long yoga and spa retreat in Napa.”
Harlow blew out a breath. “And Scarlett?”
“Antoine’s reach shouldn’t extend to Los Angeles, but I’ll call her. Ask her to go away for a week.”
“Then what, Dad?” Panic felt like bony fingers closing around Harlow’s throat.
“I’m going to fix this,” her father said.
Harlow couldn’t see a solution. She couldn’t find a safe way out for all of them.
Yesterday, her life had been awesome. A job she loved, and plans to buy her own house.
Today, everything had splintered apart.
“Harlow, I need you to lay low for a few days. Let me sort this out—”
“How, Dad?” She grabbed the end of the ponytail, trying to keep the strands from blowing in her face.
His jaw tightened. “I’ll find a way.”
She turned to look at the water, her belly churning.
“Harlow?”
“I love you, Dad, but I’m so angry at you right now.” She turned to face him. “I can’t believe you’ve dragged us all into this.”
“I’m sorry.
She grabbed his arms. “You need to stay safe, as well.”
He pulled her close and hugged her.
“Well, well, well.”
The masculine, accented voice made Harlow jerk back.
Her gaze fell on the man standing nearby.
He looked about forty, and was wearing a dark-blue, woolen coat.
He had a sharp face, with pale-blue eyes, and well-cut, blond hair.
There was a faint smile on his thin lips.
Everything about him was sharp—chin, nose, his clothes.
He was flanked by two guards in suits—one burly, and one short and wiry.
“Charles, where have you been hiding this beauty?” He had a French accent.
Her father stepped in front of her. “She’s not a part of this, Armand.”
Armand . This was the guy her father was in debt to. She lifted her chin.
The man smiled at her. “She looks like she has more spirit than you, Carlson. I’m going to assume she’s your daughter and not your girlfriend. She has your eyes.”
“From what I hear,” Harlow said. “You’re a criminal and an asshole.”
Her dad made a choked noise.
Nerves winged through her, but she was sick of feeling helpless and afraid.
“I’ve never been charged with a crime,” Antoine drawled.
She rolled her eyes. “Right. You just do shady deals. Suck people into ventures that lose money. And you threatened my father and family.”
Antoine held up his gloved hands. “I’m simply a businessman, Ms. Carlson.” His voice iced over and he looked at her dad. “And when people don’t pay me my money, I get very, very unhappy.”
A shiver ran down her spine. Antoine managed a perfect combination of creepy and charming, with a dash of sleaze.
“Lovely,” she said. “I see you have a winning personality, as well.”
Antoine stepped closer. His cologne hit her and she wondered briefly how a bad guy could smell so good. He moved even closer, invading her personal space, and Harlow stiffened. She held herself still, even when she wanted to step away.
The man might smell all right, but he creeped her out.
“You are quite delicious,” he murmured. “What’s your name?”
Ew . “You’re a creep.”
“Your name?” he repeated.
His two bodyguards stepped forward. The small, wiry one swept his suit coat open and flashed her a glance of the holstered gun at his hip. Her pulse spiked. He shot her a grin that wasn’t quite…normal.
“Let me teach her a lesson, Antoine.”
“Quiet, Hugo.” Antoine raised a brow.
“Harlow,” she spat.
“Harlow. Lovely.”
“Still a creep.”
He stared at her intently for a long moment, then broke into laughter. “I like you, Harlow.”
“I’m sorry I can’t say the same.”
Something moved through the man’s eyes. He turned to her father. “I’ve come up with another way to clear your debt.”
Hope flared in her father’s eyes. Harlow clutched her handbag more tightly in her fingers.
“I’ll take your daughter, instead.”
Her father gasped.
Harlow’s mouth dropped open. “ What? You can’t buy people.”
Another sharp smile. “Sure, you can.”
“No!” her father cried.
She lifted her chin. “I am not for sale.”
“Everyone has their price.” Antoine reached out to touch her hair, but she knocked his hand away.
“I don’t know you,” she said. “And I don’t like you.”
“I could change your mind.”
“No. And believe me—” think of something to throw him off “—my boyfriend would not be happy.”
Antoine waved a hand negligently. “I don’t care about your boyfriend.” He cocked his head. “And I suspect you’d do anything for your father.”
Her heart clenched.
“No,” her father said again.
Harlow’s skin crawled at the thought of letting this man anywhere near her. In that second, she felt so incredibly alone.
“I’ll get your money, Antoine,” her father pleaded. “I just need more time.”
“I’ve already given you enough time.”
“I can—”
Antoine held up a hand, his gaze met Harlow’s. “Dinner.”
“What?” she said.
“To buy your father forty-eight hours, you’ll have dinner with me tonight.”
Oh, God.
Her father grabbed her arm. “Harlow, you don’t have to—”
“Just dinner?” she asked.
Antoine smiled. “If that’s all you want.”
“Harlow—” Her father tugged on her arm.
She nodded. “Okay.”
Antoine’s smile widened. “I’ll send you details and have a car collect you.”
“Send me the details, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Harlow,” her father said again.
“Go, Dad. I’ll call you later. I need to get back to the office.”
With one searing glance at Antoine, she strode away.
She couldn’t think and her skin felt slimy. The office was closest. Most people would’ve left for the day by now. She needed to collect her things, and get herself together.
She hoped Easton was gone. She was pretty sure he had a business dinner this evening.
She trembled, goose bumps forming on her arms and legs, and headed toward the main door on autopilot. This was all a nightmare. Dinner with a criminal. She shuddered. She’d get through it. And if it bought her dad time, it was worth it.
Although she had no idea how he could come up with the money. She wondered just how much he owed.
She swiped herself into the Norcross building.
When she reached the office level, it was thankfully empty. She strode to her desk.
Correction, it was empty, except for Easton’s office.
She heard the rumble of several male voices.
“Find her,” Easton barked.
“We’re working on it,” Vander replied.
“I’ve got Ace on it,” a third voice said. “It’d be easier if he could see her phone. He’ll be able to track her more easily.”
Harlow stepped into the doorway.
Easton leaned against his desk, with his arms crossed over his chest. His face looked like a thundercloud.
Vander and another man—a tall, handsome man with blond-brown hair stood beside him.
Saxon Buchanan was Vander’s best friend and right-hand man at Norcross Security.
He was also engaged to Easton and Vander’s sister, Gia.
“What’s going on?” Harlow asked.
The men spun fast. Easton straightened, his gaze burning into hers. “Where the hell have you been?”