Page 127 of The Price of Forever

“I don’t need your shit,” I told him.

“Yeah, well, just trying to help. Pretty sure that’s why you keep me around.”

“I’m trying to get smart.” My gaze drifted across the coffee shop, landing on Jordan, mid-laugh with a client. The sight of her sparkling made a smile come to my face. “I plan to step down soon. But that won’t solve everything. Her brothers made it clear that any funny business with their sister would terminate my contract. So I have to figure out how to handle that.”

“And then what?” he challenged. “Get married? Go have kids?”

“Also things I need to figure out.”

He laughed. “Okay. I gotta go.”

“Love you,” I said in my sweetest voice. Trojan hung up grumbling while I cackled to myself. I did love that fucker—a lot.

I busied myself with some administrative tasks while I awaited the hoped-for phone call. I reached out to Chico, got him set up for Jordan’s protection today, then got ahold of Liam to set up his first assignments. He’d start with basic stuff, just to test the waters, like accompanying Cora to her former residence to pick up some personal items, and a planned outing with Willow and Mercedes.

Within a couple of hours, I got a text from Trojan. Federico would talk to me on my secure line in the Fairchild building at noon. I checked my watch—an hour to go.

Once Chico was on site and I’d briefed him about the plan, I caught Jordan’s attention on my way out. She looked a little sad to see me go, but she waved brightly regardless. I took the subway to the Fairchild charity headquarters building, where my office was located. Except I was the only one to enjoy the oddities of the day on this leg of my trip, which involved an old man with too many tiny birds in a cage, and a group of strangers who discovered a bottle of wine underneath their seat and decided to open it and share it straight from the bottle—all before noon. The next item on my to-do list was to find another personal driver to add to the roster—but that was after things were settled with Jordan’s ongoing protection.

My heart wanted to remain her close protection officer, out of fear that something would happen while I wasn’t there, like what happened with Olivia. But I wanted to grow my business, too. Like I’d planned since before I’d ever met her.

What if she kept living with you? Then you guys could stay together. Placate the brothers. Grow the business.

But we’d be together in secret, and that wasn’t sustainable either.

All I could think about was the brothers’ warning to me when Jordan first moved in. The way I’d promised them that I’d never engaged in inappropriate contact with any of my clients or their siblings, and never intended to. All of that had flown out the window. Damian had promised to end my contract if any funny business emerged—well I was certain Jordan and I were in the midst of the funniest business possible right now.

I couldn’t imagine the conversation where I admitted to Axel and Damian I’d been fucking their little sister for weeks. Didn’t even want to imagine it. They hadn’t been in touch for years, but I knew that didn’t exempt them from feeling that brotherly protective urge. They’d dedicated an entire business—and an entire building—to Jordan and Kaylee. I absolutely believed they’d fire me and beat my ass into the ground if they found out the man they’d hired to protect her ended up fucking her. Even if she’d asked—no, begged—for it.

And worse yet, I wouldn’t think they were wrong if they beat my ass to the ground.

I deserved it. I knew better. And I was battling this shame every step of the way.

But then what happens when you go all the way? Fall in love? Ask her to marry you?

I couldn’t see past that inevitable tangle. I’d never gotten a future with Olivia—what made me think I’d have one with Jordan?

I was fucking terrified of what Jordan represented—to my heart, to my future, to my stability. I wanted to end things as much as I wanted to run off into the sunset with her and get married.

Inside the office building, I got to work preparing for Federico’s call. At noon on the dot, the landline rang. I picked it up and tucked it under my shoulder.

“This is Seven,” I said.

“Trojan said you needed some intel.” Federico’s voice was heavy, immediately serious. I imagined he was like this all the time, even during Christmas parties. But the FBI and Homeland Security guys were a different breed. Not always in a good way, but at least Federico had Trojan to vouch for him.

“I do.” I gave him a detailed rundown of the situation involving Eli—the history with the brothers, the current charges, and the things that Eli admitted in our presence that had the potential to upend the case.

Federico let out a low hum once I finished explaining the situation. He took a deep breath. “I know that man personally.”

I blinked. “Eli?”

“I met him and his family once during a covert mission. It was linked to a political campaign that I was staking out. He is very well connected, but it’s mostly due to his parents. On his own, I don’t think he could pull this off. If what you’re alleging is true, he’s likely acting alongside someone.”

Alleging. I appreciated his neutrality.

“It’s becoming more and more apparent that he has a pretty far-reaching network.” I paused, thinking back to the odd introduction that happened during the party between Jordan and someone named Allan. “He was hunted down by a man named Allan during the house party. He seemed important.”

Federico paused, and I heard the clacking of keys through the phone. A moment later he offered, “Allan Margulis?”

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