Chapter 20
Amaury was fuming. He’d gotten the call at four in the afternoon while still in bed and rather occupied with a more pleasurable pursuit than dealing with problems related to Scanguards.
And being interrupted while making love to Nina always put him in a bad mood.
However, there hadn’t really been any way of not dealing with this issue, particularly since it could not only tarnish Scanguards’ reputation but also get his son Benjamin in hot water.
And there was very little he wasn’t prepared to do for his family.
When there was a knock at his office door, he barked, “Enter.”
The door opened, and Benjamin entered, before shutting the door behind him. He stopped in front of his desk, remaining standing, and Amaury didn’t offer him a seat. It was best for his son not to get the idea that he’d get out of this situation unscathed.
With a grunt, Amaury turned his computer screen so Benjamin could see it.
“The Prestons sent this security video over this afternoon. Wanna explain to me why you didn’t report this incident?”
He clicked on the playback button. Benjamin watched the screen, a guilty expression washing over his face.
Amaury had watched the video several times.
It showed the Prestons’ master bedroom where a young, dark-haired woman had entered the walk-in closet and was working on picking the lock of the safe that was located there.
The woman didn’t get to finish her task because Benjamin entered the camera’s field of vision, surprising her in the act.
At first, he’d been proud of Benjamin having intercepted a break-in.
When Benjamin hadn’t handcuffed the woman, but instead led her out of the room, he’d still been thinking that he hadn’t wanted to make a scene during the party and would cuff her later.
However, there had been no arrest recorded after the Prestons’ party, or Scanguards would have received a report of it, since the break-in had happened during their watch.
Amaury stopped the video when it had run its course. “I asked you a question.”
Benjamin cleared his throat, his stance shifting nervously.
“I handled it,” he claimed.
“Oh yeah? How? By letting her off with a warning not to do it again?” Amaury ground out. “I expected better from you. You should have handed her over to the police. But clearly, you didn’t do that, or I would know about it. So, where is this woman now?”
The door opened, and Nina, a plate laden with food in her hands, entered.
“It was all a misunderstanding. It’s not gonna happen again. I made sure of it.” Benjamin looked over his shoulder. “Oh, hi, Mom.”
Nina set the plate on a side table, then looked at the screen. Amaury had told her after the call that had interrupted them that Scanguards had received a compromising video. “Is that the security video?” She approached. “Let me see it, baby.”
Amaury clicked on the playback button. While Nina watched the video, he glared at Benjamin.
“Out with it, son,” he demanded. “Why didn’t you hand her over to the police?”
“It wasn’t necessary—” Benjamin began again.
“I know her,” Nina interrupted, then looked at Benjamin. “That’s that girl you saved. Catalina. I mean, her hair is different, and she’s wearing glasses, but that’s definitely her.”
Amaury jumped up and walked around his desk. “What girl? Nina?”
Nina turned to him. “The other day when Benjamin and I were just getting back from shopping, some jerk stole the parking spot this girl was waiting for. They had an argument, and we helped her out. But when a meter maid wanted to give Catalina a ticket, and she ran across the street to stop her, a taxi would have hit her if Benjamin hadn’t grabbed her just in time. ”
Amaury looked at his son, who looked upset. It was evident that he hadn’t wanted them to find out about this girl, and had obviously not expected Nina to recognize her.
“So, you saved her,” Amaury said. “What then?”
Benjamin pressed his lips together. “That’s all.”
Amaury tilted his head to look at his mate. Their eyes met.
I think he likes her. At least that’s what it looked like when I left them alone in his flat.
Nina’s words weren’t spoken. Rather, she sent them to him via their unique telepathic bond, one only blood-bonded couples shared as a way to communicate.
Had his son fallen for a criminal?
“Are you sleeping with her?” Amaury asked, pinning Benjamin with his eyes.
“That’s none of your business,” he spat defiantly.
“The hell it is! You know nothing about this girl, and you risk your job and reputation by letting her get away with theft!”
“She didn’t steal anything!”
“Not for lack of trying,” Amaury shot back and went toe-to-toe with his son.
“What do you expect me to tell the Prestons?” He infused a mocking tone into his voice.
“Oh, don’t worry, Mr. Preston. It’s nothing.
It’s just a girl who’s wrapped my son around her little finger. I’ve got it under control!”
Amaury grunted. He felt his fangs itching to descend. “You’re breaking every single rule in the book! I taught you better.”
Benjamin narrowed his eyes. “Like you never broke any rules for Mom!”
Amaury growled. “Don’t you dare!”
“Oh, please!” Benjamin continued. “I’m no different from you. Everything I am, I am because of you. I inherited every character trait from you. So don’t look so surprised when I don’t behave like one of your meek little minions.”
The words enraged him. Perhaps because they were true.
They were cut from the same cloth. But it was hard to look at Benjamin and see his own reflection cast back at him.
And because Benjamin was just like him, he knew there was no use arguing with him now.
It would lead to nothing, or worse, to words being spoken that they couldn’t take back.
“This isn’t over,” Amaury said.
Benjamin turned on his heel and left the office. When the door shut behind him, he felt Nina’s hand on his forearm.
“What are you planning?” she asked.
“Why do you think I’m planning something?” he deflected.
Nina shook her head, smiling at him. “Baby, I know you better than you know yourself. You never give in so easily.”
She put her arms around him and rubbed her enticing body against him. He slid his hands onto her ass and held her tightly.
“And you think I can’t see through what you’re doing right now, chérie? Seducing me so I won’t look into who this girl is and what she really wants from our son?”
Nina pouted. “But we got interrupted earlier.”
She was right, but just this once, he wouldn’t let her distract him. He had to make sure that his son wasn’t taken in by a hardened criminal who would lead him onto the wrong path. He had to protect his family no matter what. And Nina would help him.
“Tell me what else you know about Catalina.”
“Baby, really? Can’t you let him deal with this his way?”
“No. Not this time. I think neither you nor Benjamin realize that if the Prestons want to give us trouble, they will file charges not only against Catalina, but also against Benjamin. We have to get ahead of this.”
“I hate it when you’re playing the boss card,” she sighed.
Knowing that he’d won, he dipped his head. “How about you get to play the boss later? You can even tie me up.”
He sank his lips to her neck and licked over her soft skin. Beneath it, he could feel her pulse drum against his lips, calling to him like a siren called to a sailor. When he heard Nina moan softly, he knew that she wouldn’t mount another protest.
“As much as I would like to drink from you right now, I need to take care of this first.” He pulled his head back to look into her eyes.
“Tease,” she murmured. “It’s not fair when you look at me like that.”
“Ditto.” He winked at her. “Now, tell me what else you know about her. What kind of car did she drive?”