Page 9 of Locked Down

“What?”Davis’s eyes narrowed once again and his mouth was a thin slash across his face. It was obvious not many people spoke frankly to the Senator, and they sure as hell didn’t challenge him.

“Look under your desk,”Ryker repeated slowly and with the same matter-of-fact tone.

Davis was fighting what looked like an internal battle. Did he kick Ryker out or do what he asked? Ryker waited to see which way he’d go.

Davis pushed his chair back and looked under his desk. It took him a few seconds but he pulled a small box out from beneath the center drawer. Duct tape dangled from the surface.“What the hell is this?”Davis snarled.

“Open it.”

Davis pulled the lid off the box and unfolded the piece of paper inside. He showed it to Ryker.“Boom?Seriously? What is this? Some kind of sick joke?”He jabbed a button on the phone.“Joyce, get Floyd in here right now.”

Not two seconds later, the door opened, and Armstrong hurried in, brows raised as if in question. Davis clutched the box in his clenched fist and shook it toward the man.

“Explain yourself,”he said to Ryker.

Ryker kept his expression placid, although the urge to crow was strong.“Senator Davis. It’s very serious. I placed that box under your desk around five-forty-five a.m. this morning. Your building’s security is laughable. No one tried to stop me from entering, in fact, they pretty much ignored my presence as a potential intruder. Once in, I had free rein. Not one single member of your security team was here. No one questioned me. I can guarantee no one watched the security footage either. In short, Senator, if someone wanted you dead, you would be dead right now. You may believe your niece was overreacting, but you have some serious issues with your security.”

An ugly shade of red flushed into Davis’s cheeks.

Armstrong blustered,“This is ridiculous?—”

Ryker held up his hand, cutting the man off, but staying focused on Davis.“And in case you think it’s just your office that is unsecured, I put one of those boxes in both your SUV and under your desk in your home. Ask your security detail to verify if you want. I’ll wait.”He leaned back in the chair and eyed the man silently.

It was important to not be smug, just matter of fact. That Davis could work with. Smugness would be too much for him and his ego. He would send Ryker packing and Archer would be angry. Breaking into Davis’s house had been child’s play. He’d taken the opportunity to snoop around a bit, but nothing came of it. He needed more time which he would have when Davis hired him.

Davis grabbed his phone and told his assistant to have his security check his home and SUV for the boxes. They sat in silence for about ten minutes before the phone rang again and the person on the other end confirmed what Ryker had said. He could tell by the color Davis’s face turned.

“Sterling,”Davis said, then paused and drummed his fingers on his desk,“I’m not sure if I should kick you out of my office and have words with Archer, or say thank you.”His brows were knitted together, and the grinding of his teeth was audible.

“Senator, I did this as an exercise to demonstrate your vulnerabilities. Cal Wallingford asked for my help. This has nothing to do with the Society or Archer Gray. I have no agenda here but to offer my assistance. Your niece was correct. You do need better security.”He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to emphasize that she’d been right, but he wanted to make sure Davis acknowledged it in some form or another. The way he’d dismissed her earlier had gotten under Ryker’s skin.

“I would be very happy to work with you but if you prefer another company, I can provide recommendations as well.”That was a gamble. He had to at least offer another option if the whole idea that he wasn’t in it to bash Davis’s ego was going to work.

Davis stared at him for a long minute. Finally, he nodded once.“I guess it’s a case of the devil you know,”Davis grumbled.“Since you’ve obviously shown there are a few weaknesses in my security, I am willin’ to give you a try. Three months. I will notify my security team. See Joyce to get you organized. She’ll provide whatever you need. It’s Thursday. You can start Monday.”

Ryker stood.“I’ll start now, sir. Some things need to happen immediately.”He took his phone out and a few keystrokes later he said,“My contract is in your inbox.”

Davis glared at him but said,“Fine. See Joyce.”

He offered his hand, and the two men shook again.“I will see your assistant and then check in with your current security.”

Davis nodded but he was already looking at his computer screen. Ryker had been dismissed. It took everything he had not to call the man out for his rude behavior. He hated being treated as less than an equal. That was one good thing about Archer. He didn’t let Society members mistreat his staff. Inside the Society walls, Davis would never get away with this crap. But out here, he got to do what he wanted. It rankled Ryker. Too many years in the military answering to people who knew less than he did had left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He nodded to Floyd Armstrong who glared at him and then left the office. Joyce wasn’t at her desk, so he headed to the building’s security office. He bullied them into giving him credentials and doing his picture ID on the spot. Then he reviewed the system with the head of building security, John Price, who just happened to be in. He pointed out some of the issues that needed to be fixed and discussed having security take a couple of extra tours of Austin Davis’s offices every night.

Ryker rode the elevator back up to Davis’s office. He needed to discuss modifications with Davis’s current security team, which, he knew from experience, was not going to be pleasant. No doubt they would be upset that he’d been brought in. He hated the inevitable power struggle he was heading. Couldn’t be helped, though. He was going to be making suggestions and Davis’s current team would fight him on everything and then eventually implement the majority of his suggestions. A colossal waste of time but this wasn’t his first rodeo with this type of situation.

Add in the pressure of Archer’s clear demand that he make this gig work. He sighed as he watched the numbers on the elevator’s display screen.

The elevator doors opened, and Ryker was face-to-face with Invicta and another woman with her hair in a ponytail. He gave the women a nod and stepped around them. Invicta’s soft hazel eyes followed his every move. He glanced back over his shoulder at her and gave her a subtle second nod. Relief flashed across her face before she disappeared into the elevator.

His gut tightened. She was happy he was there but if she knew his real job, she’d be less happy. Not much he could do about that. Not his concern.

He came to a halt in front of Joyce’s desk. She was on her phone and barely acknowledged him with a nod. Her blond-from-a-bottle hair was cut in a severe bob that sawed against her jaw when she spoke. Her skin was pale and although he figured she used all kinds of different creams on it, it looked dry. Her eyes were cold and her thin lips were covered in a bright pink lipstick that matched her bright pink suit. She was brittle-looking to him, but she probably passed as fashionable to those in the know.

She hung up.“Mr. Sterling. Mr. Davis says to get you sorted.”She pulled out her bottom desk drawer.“These are the forms that you’ll need to fill out. They cover medical, dental?—”

“There’s been a miscommunication. Mr. Davis has hired my company as a consultant, not me as an employee. I will bill him appropriately and it will be handled between our accounting offices. All this is unnecessary.”He was pretty sure he heard her teeth click together.

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