CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
JOSH
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Maybe I’ll fuck him too.
Over my dead body. Or rather, Ryder’s. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to touch Cassy, but her words still caused an explosive reaction I wasn’t expecting.
One that has no place in my world.
After sipping angrily on a coffee—not recommended, I burned myself twice—I greet Ryder when he walks into the kitchen.
“Morning sunshine,” he says, then nods at Cassy, who follows him in and gives him a forced smile. “Did I miss something important?”
“Nope,” we both say, and he glances between us.
“Let’s get started.” I say, rinsing my mug and then putting it in the dishwasher. I realize I may look more at home than I should, but it’s too late now.
Cassy spoons her muesli into her mouth almost robotically as she listens to me hand over to Ryder.
“Got it.” Ryder says. “So to the salon and then home. Anything else I should know?”
Cassy shakes her head but refuses to look at me. I fucking hate it. She has no idea how difficult it is for me to walk away today. That’s on purpose. I can’t tell her how I’m feeling about her because there’s nothing I can follow up with.
I can’t have a woman in my life.
I won’t.
She deserves someone who will give her everything and more. I’m not that man. The fact I’ve lowered my guard and let her in says a lot more about Cassy than it does about me.
Or maybe a part of me wanted a taste of what it would be like, knowing I had an out. There was always going to be an expiration date to this relationship. Once Miller is behind bars, I can walk away.
Which makes me a coward.
And an asshole.
But it does change the very intense need to be the man protecting her until the very end.
I turn my back on Ryder and face her. “Be good.”
Cassy nods, and I resist the urge to stride across the space between us and kiss her goodbye.
Fuck.
I should never have let it get this far.
Last night when I slid inside her, I felt it. That feeling men talk about when it's more than fucking. While my brain was screaming run, my body wasn’t listening. My heart... well yeah, I wasn’t listening to that either.
I draw in a breath, focusing back on the job. I can handle that stuff.
“This should all be over in a few days. We anticipate Isaac will arrive in California today or tomorrow. If law enforcement doesn’t grab him, I’ll make sure my team does,” I say to Cassy.
“I’ll also ensure you have the best protection for your awards night.
Do what Ryder tells you today, and I’ll see you in the morning. ”
“Thank you,” Cassy replies with a bit more of a smile than a minute ago.
I know this is important to her and now it’s important to me. Damn it.
I reach for my bag and walk out to the foyer. Ry and Cassy follow me. Opening the front door, I spot two of the armed BHS employees in their black fatigues.
She’s safe.
I turn, and Ryder is standing beside Cassy. She’s so tiny beside him. I falter, but before I can move, he speaks.
“I’ve got this.”
Jesus.
My resistance is clear as day to everyone and that’s not the kind of message I want to send to my team. They have no idea what this woman means to me, and I don’t want them to think I lack confidence in their ability.
The fact is, I don’t think anyone is qualified to protect her but me.
Fuck it.
“Yup. You do.” I glance at Cassy as she sips her coffee like she couldn’t give a fuck.
I know differently.
“Give Ryder your phone.” I growl.
“Jesus, Josh. Go. Please.” Cassy says, then huffs as she turns and walks away.
Ryder lifts a brow as he watches her go. “I assume she doesn’t like mornings.”
“No. She doesn’t like me.”
At least not this morning.
I DROP MY bag on the floor behind my desk while Penny reads out all my messages.
“Good to have you back, Josh,” she says.
Yeah, yeah.
“Yup, thanks.” I plop down into my seat.
“The bank called and wants you to sign those documents. Also, Mr. Secret wants to meet with you next week.”
Mr. Secret is the name that all three of us—Penny, Aidan, and I—use in reference to our most important client. His identity can never be revealed, nor his location.
In fact, Penny doesn’t actually know any of those details, but she does know his voice.
I glance up in surprise when her words sink in. “He’s coming to L.A.?”
“He didn’t say.” She shrugs. “I guess you need to call him.”
The great thing about Penny is she thinks we’re all a bunch of cowboys and Indians.
She refers to us as you boys like we are street thugs just messing around.
I’m not even sure if she’s truly aware that we deal with some of the most dangerous people in the world.
The most dangerous situations in the world.
Let me clarify. She does. But I suppose she chooses not to acknowledge it.
It works. I never worry about her leaking any secrets. Frankly, she’s more interested in her grandkids and their swimming lessons.
Of which we all have to feign interest when she shows us photos.
Fine, they are cute, but if she could keep it to a Monday morning or something. Not every second day.
“I’ll call him,” I say, logging into my laptop and expecting her to walk out. When she doesn’t, I glance up again.
“How’s Cassy doing? She’s a nice young woman,” Penny says, then lets out a small chuckle. “All the boys have quite the crush.”
I almost crush my mouse with my fist.
“They better fucking not.” I growl before I can stop myself.
“I thought so,” Penny chuckles and walks away.
“What?” I call out.
“Nothing,” she says over her back.
“Penny!” I shout. “Get back here.”
She pops her head back through the door. I wasn’t expecting her to obey me.
Shit.
Cassy is still a distraction, even when she’s not beside me. Cassy...finally the clogs of my brain start turning and I remember what I need to do.
“Get the team together for a meeting in the operations room.”
“When?” she asks.
“Thirty minutes. I want everyone in there. No excuses. Cancel meetings. Cancel lunches. Everyone.”
“Silly me. I thought you’d be nicer when you started getting laid regularly,” Penny mumbles as she walks out.
The fuck?
I shake my head and turn back to my laptop.
I need to brief the team for the operation tomorrow night when Cassy attends the awards evening in downtown L.A. Normally, we’d have a lot more notice, so we’ll be working overtime to prepare.
AN HOUR LATER, I’m standing in front of around thirty of my employees, most of them in Black Hawke polos and jeans or long black shorts. Boots and sneakers scuffle on the floor as they find seats.
There are a mix of office, tech, and military employees, so a handful of them are armed. And there are no less than forty tattoos of one kind or another.
Not your usual office meeting.
“No muffins again, I see,” Cole says.
“Gotta watch your weight, dude,” Asher, a former Army Ranger quips.
“Pure muscle, baby,” Cole replies, lifting his shirt and patting his six-pack.
“Put it away.” I laugh.
I nod to Penny so we can get started before these lunatics can start bantering and we’re here all day. She clicks a button that lowers the screen.
Next, the camera turns on and displays a map of downtown Los Angeles. She zooms into the Dufort Hotel—the venue where Cassy will be attending the Salon of the Year Award ceremony.
I know the owners of the Dufort Hotel chain, so I phoned Daniel Dufort before the meeting. He didn’t answer. The busy bastard. So I tried one of his brothers.
“Fletcher Dufort.”
“Fletcher. Josh Hawke,” I replied.
There was silence before he spoke again. “I’m not sure whether to get my will up to date or ask what the honor is.”
I grinned.
“Always keep your will up to date, Fletcher,” I said darkly to rattle him, because why wouldn’t I. He’s a billionaire and could do with the excitement in his stupidly rich life. “No one is trying to kill you today, but if they do, I’ll let you know.”
“Very kind of you. I think. So, what can I do for you then?” he asked.
“I need a favor.” I got straight to the point.
More silence.
“Are you fucking with me?”
All three of the Dufort brothers are influential and powerful businessmen. They aren’t warriors, but they’re big guys that demand respect when they step in to a room.
I’m not fucking with him. I do need his help. Or at least his team in Los Angeles.
“Not today.” I laughed. “Tomorrow, one of my clients”—a.k.a. the woman I can’t stop thinking of despite only seeing her two hours ago—“is attending an event at the Dufort Hotel in Los Angeles. I need unrestricted access in the next few hours.”
“Politician?” Fletcher asked.
“You know I can’t share that.”
“No. But I need to understand the risk to my employees and update my security team on site.”
Fair call.
“Daughter of a celebrity. Cassy Cartwright,” I said.
It’s all over the news, so he’ll know who I’m talking about.
“The one with the stalker who has escaped prison,” Fletcher said, catching on as I knew he would.
“Correct. I can’t talk her out of attending and it's likely he’ll be in the California area today or tomorrow.”
“Jesus, Hawke, can’t you stop her?”
I could.
But I won’t.
“My team won’t let him get near the hotel or her. But I need access in the next few hours to hook up my tech team and have it swept for explosives, etc.”
“Fuck, okay.” Fletcher cursed. “Give me an hour, then go ahead and send your teams in. I’ll ring our security guys now.”
I respected his quick decision-making. Some people get ruffled about this sort of thing, but it’s in everyone’s best interest for us to scope the place to ensure it’s safe.
For Cassy.
For the Dufort staff and guests.
I narrow my eyes, thinking.
“Your contract is with Barrett Security, correct?” I asked.
“Correct.” Fletcher replied.
I smiled. “Tell Mack I said hello when you talk to him.”
I’m going to steal their business. Maybe not this week, but one day. I want Mack working in my team and pissing him off will get his attention. Who knows, his new little family might like to return to Los Angeles.
It’s unlikely.
But I’m not a man who gives up easily.
Connor won’t be happy, but that’s business.