Page 38 of Rekindling Desire

“Sinclair is the only company to market propanolol?” I asked. “Anywhere?”

“There is a small private lab in the Chicago area working on a similar formula.” Dani shrugged her shoulders. “The entire operation is shielded. It’s difficult to learn too much about it.”

I scrunched my nose. “That’s odd, isn’t it?”

Dani continued, “From what I’ve learned, the lab is totally funded by endowments. Until they take their formula to the FDA, they can keep it under wraps. There is one…” She let her words fade away.

“One what?” Damien asked.

“I read a paper written years ago by a Dr. Laurel Carlson. It was fantastic. And then she left the university where she worked and last I could find is employed by a large not-for-profit in Chicago. The center’s main objective is helping victims of sex trafficking.” She sighed. “A population that could definitely benefit from the camouflaging of memories. It’s just odd. I can’t find where the private lab and the Sparrow Center are connected, but it makes me wonder.”

“I recall that name—Carlson,” Damien said. “She used to be at a university here in Indy. Things got out of control. I think her partner was killed.” He inhaled. “That’s another story. For now, are we worried about competition from this Chicago-based lab?”

Dani shook her head. “We’re much further ahead in our development, or I think we are.”

Damien shook his head. “Fuck, Dani, don’t put another damn concern on my plate. It’s overflowing.”

Dani laid her hands on the table. “Okay, we went down a bunny trail. The point is that if our drug is prescribed, many of the psychiatric drugs become unnecessary. Moon wants to stop us. And according to your friend Van, Dwain Walsh is working with Darius. Why?”

Damien replied, “Shit, at this point, I think they want to burn Sinclair to the ground. We won’t let Darius play with our ball, so he wants to take it away from all of us.” Damien turned to me. “And no on the Niles thing unless he works with you. I want you close.” He looked at his watch. “Speaking of wanting you both close, our three o’clock appointments will be here soon. Did you have a chance to look over the résumés?”

Bodyguards.

“We’ve been preoccupied,” I said. “I’m not fighting you on this. But what are we talking…? Driving with us to work. Being here at Sinclair Corporate. Going out to dinner with us. Sleeping in the next room.” I tilted my head. “If it includes all of the above, we need to convince Duchess to move to your house. We’d be too cozy in my condo.”

“Let’s hear them out.”

Damien

Two women and two men.

I’d read through their qualifications. There was no doubt that they were all competent. It was Leo Conner’s advice that I thought about as Ella and Dani spoke to each candidate. As the interviews progressed, I gave Ella’s earlier question more thought.

Having Leo’s team protecting my parents at the hospital was an easier assignment for the reason that my parents were stationary. Ella and Dani weren’t. They were active, social people who were essentially vulnerable twelve to sixteen hours a day.

After the final bodyguard candidate left my office, I turned to the two women I wanted to protect. “Thoughts?”

Dani exhaled and turned to Ella. “I can imagine myself working exceptionally well with Eli.”

Ella laughed. “I bet you can.”

“Maybe then we can have the orgasm talk.”

I lifted my hand. “Whoa. This isn’t a dating service.” I turned to Ella. “And by the way, you’re choosing a woman.”

Ella laughed again. “I never remember you being insecure?”

“I’m not.”

Dani shook her head. “I’m fried.” She stood. “As you know, having a bodyguard isn’t my idea. I need to get to my office.” She patted my clavicle. “This is your baby, big brother. I could work with any of them. I’ll humor you for a time. But if any of them cramp my style, I’m out.”

“What style is that…dinner at home, a bath, and falling asleep with your Kindle?”

“Don’t knock it.”

My sister was right. This togetherness had gone on long enough. “I’ll call you.”

Ella waited until the office door closed before she stood and brushed the front of her gray slacks. “I should go to my new office. I’ve barely seen it, and today was supposed to be my first day working on the campaign.”

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