Page 34 of Imminent Danger

Tank’s fist tightened in irritation. He didn’t have time for this. “I’m busy, Marshall.” He kept walking, ignoring Marshall’s request and heading straight for Joey’s office.

“I know you are, which is why I need you to stop and talk to me.” Marshall was nothing if not persistent.

“What is it?” Tank didn’t bother trying to soften his words. Marshall could handle it, and he knew Tank as well as anyone on the team. He also didn’t stop walking.

“Tomorrow’s meeting with Collins.”

Tank bit back a groan. “I know. I haven’t–”

“It’s cool, man. Jackson told me about the family you brought in. The woman and her daughter? It’s your housekeeper, right?”

Tank nodded, unsure how to respond. How had Jackson even known? The answer came to him almost as quickly as the question. Miranda had mentioned it to Jackson. It was like working at a dang hair salon for the way gossip and info spread through this place.

“Let me help you out. I’ll take point on the meeting with Collins. I can call in Ryder and Will. That’ll free you up to handle whatever is going on with your girls, right?”

Tank stuttered at the casual reference to Kaylie and Cecelia as his girls, but he had to admit he didn’t hate it. He slowed to a stop as they came to an alcove just outside the door to Joey’s office.

A hint of the tension in his shoulders eased. “That would be amazing. Are you sure?”

Marshall gave him an easy smile. He and his brother both had a charming, charismatic way about them. Although Jackson usually used his powers to score a date, whereas Marshall was far more selective. “Of course. You’d do the same for me.”

Tank nodded his agreement at the statement. He’d lay down life and limb for anyone on this team without question. “I owe you one.”

That responsibility off his plate for now, he stepped into Joey’s office as Marshall headed back the way they’d come from. Joey sat in the central chair like the captain of a starship. The large, dim room was lit with a dozen computer screens.

“Paul Moreno,” he said. No time for small talk, and no need for niceties here. “Where is he right now?”

“What happened?” Joey turned in her chair. Her long blond curls were pulled back behind some sort of headband or scarf. Her expression was serious and full of concern.

“That prick came after Kaylie. Or sent his dogs anyway.” Tank was seething once again at the thought of the attack.

“Okay, calm down. They’re okay, right?”

“They were inside my house.” He slammed a fist onto the desk, immediately grateful that whoever had picked out the furniture for BTS had splurged for quality that wouldn’t crumble under his angry outburst. “I need you to find him, because I’m going to end this for her, once and for all.”

Joey grinned. It was a little creepy how much she lit up when anyone talked about taking out criminals. Or rich guys. And especially when it was both at the same time. “Heck yes. I’m all for taking down the bad guys. I’m on it, Tank.”

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

It was far too easy for Kaylie to settle in at Black Tower. The bed felt like heaven compared to the mattress in her trailer. Fresh groceries filled the small kitchen, and somehow, all of Lia’s favorite snacks showed up the same night they arrived.

Anthony checked on them often, but it was clear he was busy with whatever other work was happening around the security firm. Miranda offered a comforting presence, and she seemed to anticipate every need or want Kaylie and Lia had. It was almost eerie.

They also met Joey, a sassy and confident member of the team who became Lia's unexpected playmate, their laughter echoing through the hallways as Joey pushed Lia on an office chair, narrowly beating Jackson pushing Anthony in a similar chair while complaining about Anthony’s giant size slowing them down.

Yet, despite the warmth of their new companions, Kaylie couldn't shake the feeling of being a burden. She felt like an intruder in a close-knit community that had existed long before she arrived.

Anthony had a family here, replacing the one he’d left behind in the Chicago mob. She still couldn’t believe how their experiences were surprisingly similar. The difference was that, while she had willingly entered the dangerous orbit of the Moreno family, Anthony had been an innocent pawn in his father’s game.

The next evening after Lia fell asleep, Anthony tugged her toward a stairwell in the heart of the Black Tower headquarters, leading her up two flights and through a heavy metal door. They stood on the rooftop, the cityscape stretching out before them.

She felt his eyes on her, while her own were drawn to the glittering tapestry of city lights in the distance. The sprawling urban landscape seemed to pulse with a life of its own, each flickering light representing a story, a struggle, and a triumph. The distant sounds of the city center, a symphony of car horns and distant chatter, echoed against the concrete walls of Black Tower. In that moment, the weight of the world seemed to rest on her shoulders, and a deep sigh escaped her lips as she grappled with the conflicting emotions she carried.

"What's wrong, fiamella?" Anthony's voice broke through the silence. His hand found hers, fingers intertwining, offering an anchor in the sea of uncertainty she felt overwhelming her. She turned to him, the reflection of the city lights dancing in his eyes.

"I just never imagined my life taking this turn," she admitted, her voice a soft murmur. "Running from the Moreno family. A daughter I’d do anything to protect. You.” She added the last word softly. “I hate that I’m dragging you back into a fight with the same kind of people you escaped once before.”

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