Page 45 of Keeping Astrid

Saying it out loud didn’t make him feel any better about it. He didn’t like the idea of someone else from Alliez watching over Astrid.

How had this happened? Why couldn’t he have met Astrid in different circumstances, like the night at the bar? He could’ve gone up to her and struck up a conversation. With everything in him, he didn’t doubt that this was where they would’ve ended up—together.

“I don’t like either of those outcomes,” she murmured. “I wouldn’t feel safe with anyone other than you. I mean, yes, Angel was on set for one day, but that didn’t bother me because I knew that in a few hours I’d be back with you again.”

“It’s not something I would want to happen either, but I think we need to prepare for this possible outcome. I mean, either way, I may be taken off your protection detail.”

Astrid shifted so she was facing him. He reached down and took her hand, needing to have that connection with her.

“What if I tell Ox that I don’t want anyone other than you? I’m the client I should be able to have who I want protecting me.”

Growler considered this angle; it was one he hadn’t given much thought to. “I don’t know. It’s possible.”

“Would it be better if we went to the office instead of you making a call?” Astrid suggested. “You know, present a united front.”

The idea appealed, but Growler would much rather have Astrid far away should Ox rake him over the coals for sleeping with a client. He was sure that wasn’t the type of reputation Alliez and Ox were hoping to have.

Although…

“What? You just look like you’ve found gold,” Astrid asked.

“The two guys who started Alliez in New York fell in love and married the women they were protecting.” A smidgeon of worry lifted from Growler’s shoulders. “There’s no way I’ll be fired. It would be a contradictory action.”

“That is good news, but…” Astrid hesitated. “What if Ox doesn’t agree with that? What if he has different policies than the New York office?”

Growler tapped the steering wheel with his free hand, his momentary relief dissipated. “Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t recall anything in the contract I signed. Then again, I didn’t read it too closely. I trusted Ox not to have anything insidious in it.”

“Here’s hoping.”

For the rest of the drive home, they kept conversation to lighter subjects. Growler kept with his original plan of driving Astrid home. As much as the idea of them rocking up to the offices as a couple appealed, Growler didn’t want to chance that it could backfire on them. He decided that he would go and see Ox in person and not have this conversation over the phone.

His boss deserved that courtesy from him.

Growler smiled at Yolanda as he walked into Alliez’s office. Astrid was ensconced safely at her place.

With the new system in place, he could access the camera feed from the Alliez app on his phone. If the worst happened and Astrid got into trouble, there were panic buttons around the place. Plus, Cass had also left a pendant that Astrid could wear which allowed her to press the stone in the middle to transmit a silent signal to all Alliez operatives that she needed help.

It had taken some convincing, but Astrid had agreed to wear it.

The pendant also had a tracking device in it. Growler kept that bit of information to himself.

So much for being honest with her all the time.

When the time was right, he’d let Astrid know—which could be the moment he got home from this meeting.

Growler stopped by his desk and picked up the sheaf of papers on his desk. He flicked through them, noting that they were the schematics of Astrid’s house and where the cameras had been fitted. He knew all of this information, as it was in the app, but he appreciated having hard copies of the plans as well.

“Did you enjoy your break away?”

Growler looked up to find Ox leaning against the partition dividing his and Angel’s desks. There was nothing in the way Ox stood to suggest he was annoyed with Growler and his question was an innocent enquiry. One that co-workers would ask each other.

“It was good to catch up with the guys. Astrid needed a break from everything, and I think it helped her lose a little of the stress she’d been living with.”

Ox nodded. “I’ve got an update for you on the tattoo that was on the victim and the guy chasing you. Wanna come in my office so we can discuss it?”

When had this new information come in? Had it come in while he’d been commuting to the office? It was possible, but Growler’s instincts were telling him that it wasn’t.

A feeling of dread pooled low in his stomach. Was Astrid in even more danger now?

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