Chapter 4
brADY
Elizabeth is doing her best to give off an unworried vibe, but the fisted hand under her leg, and the tense muscles at the corners of her mouth give away her stress.
Frankly, I’d be more concerned if she didn’t seem worried. Still, I’m watching her every movement. The tiniest nuance can be an excellent indicator of someone’s guilt or innocence, and one amazing night doesn’t mean I know this woman.
Even if it feels like I do.
When the 911 call plays, Elizabeth’s lips part, and a tiny puff of air escapes at the distinctive sound of heavy breathing coming from the recording as the dispatcher picks up.
Her face crumples. The vulnerability she’s been working so hard to hide is on full display. It takes everything in me to stay where I am as we listen to the panicked, desperate woman on the phone.
I can’t go to her. Can’t give her the hug she looks like she so desperately needs. She’s a client, and I can’t blur those lines on the basis of a memory.
It’s not as if she’d welcome comfort from me, anyway.
Which raises another question. Why is she so hostile?
“Are you okay?” Luke asks gently when the playback ends.
Elizabeth is visibly shaking, but Luke’s words appear to sink in, because an impervious mask slips over her features.
She swipes angrily at the tears slipping down her cheeks. “I just didn’t remember it that way.”
A dull ache throbs behind my sternum. I tell myself it’s only empathy. The same thing I’d feel for any client…
Luke clears his throat. “We can request additional forensics today. I know people who can put a rush on it.”
“I’ll reach out to my contacts and see if anyone has heard anything,” I offer.
Luke and I look at each other, giving Elizabeth the minute she needs to steady her breathing and bring herself back under control.
When she regains her composure, I wait a beat, and then ask, “Do you and your ex have any common enemies? Someone looking to hurt you both?”
Elizabeth blinks. Her mouth opens, then closes again. She licks her lips, hesitation flashing in her eyes before she nods slowly. “Some of Keith’s affairs were with our married clients. High-profile ones. But that was years ago. I haven’t spoken to Keith in years.”
Luke scribbles something. “No contact is good. It—”
“He’s been calling me,” she says, cutting him off.
That gets our attention.
“Calling?” I ask.
Elizabeth doesn’t hesitate this time. Either she’s decided I’m not the enemy or she’s getting used to my presence.
“I didn’t recognize the number at first, so I didn’t answer. He left some messages. The first one said he needed to talk to me. That it was important.”
“Did you call back?”
She shoots me a glare. “No. I deleted the rest of the messages, too. Whatever he wanted to say, I didn’t care. Our divorce wasn’t amicable.”
“Damn.” Luke exhales.
I rub my jaw. “The carrier could still have them in their cloud storage. I might be able to recover the voicemails.” My gaze slides to Elizabeth. She looks exhausted. “I think that’s enough to get us started.”
She reaches for her purse. “I need to get to the office.”
“Did you bring a car?” I smile, bracing for what I know will be her reaction.
Her delicate brows bunch together. “No?”
“Great.” I push away from the desk. “I’ll drive.”
She stares at me, then Luke, and finally back to me, her jaw clenched.
“No, thank you.”
“Seems silly to take two cars when we’re going to the same place.” My smile remains in place, but I know she hears the steel underneath when her eyes flash.
“I’m not hiring you.”
“You don’t have to.” I jerk a thumb at Luke. “He already did.”
“No.”
I lift my eyebrows. “No… what? No, you don’t want me to drive, or no, you want to pay me yourself.”
Her breath hisses out like an angry cat, and my cock perks up with interest. I much prefer this version of Elizabeth to the broken woman a few minutes ago.
“I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“Yes, you do.” Luke’s voice is firm.
Elizabeth’s expression turns mutinous, and suddenly I’m done playing.
“Someone not only accessed your security system, they had the skills to cause a neighborhood blackout. For whatever reason, this person or persons think you have something they want. This isn’t a garden-variety crime of opportunity, sweetheart.
This was a well-planned, well-executed operation that has so far resulted in one dead body. Do you want to add to that count?”
“And you think having him by my side is the answer?” She keeps her gaze on Luke.
“Yes.”
Elizabeth is rigid in her chair, but her foot is tapping frenetically on the rug beneath her chair, giving her away.
“I’m not doing it.” Her voice is flat. “I have work. I have clients. I can’t afford that kind of disruption. It will look bad, and I can’t afford any more negative press. My clients won’t want to be associated with this.” Frustration clearly simmers under the surface of her words.
“He can assign someone discreet. Elite Security has a variety of people. No one will even know they’re there if you don’t point them out.”
“No.” The word explodes from my mouth, and they both turn to stare at me. “I’ll handle her detail.”
It makes no sense, but the idea of putting her safety in anyone else’s hands, even my own highly effective team, feels wrong.
I will protect her.
“I’m already up to speed, and it will take time to read someone else in.
” I try to keep my tone level. “Half of your clients probably have security details themselves. You represent a lot of rich and famous people. Maybe it will up your street cred.” I wink because I know it will infuriate her.
And if she’s angry, she’s not thinking about being scared.
Elizabeth shakes her head, attention fully on me as if Luke isn’t in the room. It’s a miracle I don’t burst into flames at the glare she aims at me.
I like it way too much.
However, I also see the fragility in her eyes, and sympathy fills my chest.
None of this is easy for her.
“I’ll behave. I promise.”
Her eyes flicker as if she’s trying to read a hidden message in my words, one that I’m absolutely sending. But I know she’s not ready to discuss our past yet.
“I really am a professional, and I’m the best at what I do.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Luke glance between us, his eyebrows inching higher, like he’s trying to figure out how this turned into a two-person standoff.
“Until they put me in handcuffs, I’m still in control of my life.”
My gut clenches at the thought of her in a holding cell, but before I can analyze my bizarre reaction, she’s on her feet grabbing her bag.
Luke sighs. “We’ll need to speak again… preferably today.
Remember—no statements. No casual conversation about what’s happened, and absolutely do not discuss your ex-husband with anyone.
Especially the police. If any law enforcement shows up, direct them to me and keep your mouth shut. Let me handle everything.”
A muscle quivers in her jaw, and I get the feeling she’s swallowing some kind of snarky response. “Understood.”
Without another word, she stalks toward the door, heels clicking sharp and fast across the floor.
My eyes, traitorous bastards that they are, drift down the length of her.
Those long legs and luscious hips swaying beneath her pencil skirt. Fuck.
I drag my gaze back and find Luke watching me, one eyebrow arched high.
“Want to tell me what the deal is with you two?”
“Nope.”
I push away from his desk and follow her, ignoring the “Clients are off-limits” shout Luke sends after me.
The elevator doors are just about to close when I slide in beside her.
“You might as well let me drive you,” I say casually, pressing the button for the garage. “I’m just going to follow you, anyway.”
Elizabeth doesn’t answer. Her gaze is fixed resolutely on the stainless-steel panel. But when the doors slide open on the parking garage level, she walks with me toward my car without a word.
The ride passes in silence with Elizabeth staring straight ahead like I’m not even there. I let her sulk in silence. Hell, it’s probably the best-case scenario for now. If she starts yelling again, I’ll be too distracted watching the way her mouth moves to offer logical rebuttals.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. She isn’t even my type. I like fun women. Women who are happy to have a good time. Not sharp-edged shrews who make me smile with their smart mouths.
Though to be fair, the woman I met four years ago wasn’t like this.
Her strength and intelligence are the same, but there’s something about Elizabeth now that feels jagged.
Like the broken pieces she showed me that night somehow shattered further, leaving behind razor sharp shards she uses to protect herself.
This Elizabeth is cold and closed off. The very thing she feared becoming—of losing herself completely.
I know because she told me. Secrets between strangers. Right before she melted in my arms.
“Be inconspicuous. This is a trial run only. I’ll decide at the end of the day if you’re necessary,” she says, as I pull into a parking space close to the entrance of her traditional four-story brick office building.
“No problem.” I hit the lock button as she reaches for the door handle.
She gapes at me. “What are you doing?”
“There are certain… protocols.” I have a feeling the word rules isn’t one she’d appreciate. “If I’m to keep you safe, you have to do what I say… when it comes to safety.”
She lifts her brows and gives her head a little shake, as if to say, ‘Get on with it.’ I bite back a grin.
“You never get out of the car unless I’m standing at your door. The second the door closes, you lock it. I’ll unlock my door when I get there. The windows stay up.”
She rolls her eyes at me.
“If we are walking, you stay on my left side and within hand’s reach.”
She laughs. “You’ve watched too many movies.”
I turn, letting her see the seriousness on my face. “This isn’t a joke, sweetheart. This is real, and I’ve seen a lot of nasty shit. I can keep you safe as long as you don’t do anything stupid.”