Page 9 of Redemption

She had moved on, if her file was anything to go by.

No children. Never married. I assumed that was because Sloan was focused on her career. But who the hell knew.

Even if I hadn’t skimmed the file, I knew from Greer that Sloan was in a relationship. And wasn’t that a fucking punch to the gut. Maybe I was the only one who was stuck in the past.

“Is your past going to be a problem?”

Not a fucking clue.

I didn’t want to think it would be. I was a professional, but it was a fucking sailboat. With Sloan. For two months.

Vaughn leaned back, and I got the feeling he was reading between the lines. Finally, he said, “Maybe you can use your previous…acquaintance to establish trust with the principal.”

I barked out a laugh. He didn’t know what I’d done. I was pretty sure Sloan would never forgive me, let alone trust me.

“Come on, Blackjack.” He frowned. “It can’t be that bad.”

It’s worse.

I thought back to that night. The night I’d left, even though it had nearly killed me. And then again, at my sister’s wedding and the way Sloan had looked at me. With more coldness than I’d thought she could ever possess.

But now that I knew the threats were directed at Sloan, anger surged in my veins. I would hunt the fucker down and make them pay.

“Why’s she being threatened? Who are her enemies?” I skimmed through the notes, trying to understand the assessment. “It doesn’t make any sense. People have always loved Sloan.”

“You’re only proving my point. You’re perfect for this assignment.” He leaned forward. “We’re still trying to figure that out. Maybe you could get her to talk.”

“Pretty sure I’m the last person she’ll want to talk to,” I said, mostly to myself.

“I suggest you find a way to make it work if you want that promotion.” He stood, and I followed suit.

I was determined not to fail. “I won’t let you down.” Or Nate.

Or Sloan. I gripped the file.

I wondered if Graham knew about this. I wondered if he was okay with it. I’d encountered him a few times over the past year, but he never acted like he recognized me, even though I was positive he knew exactly who I was.

Vaughn clapped a hand on my shoulder, guiding me to the door. “I know you won’t. The Crawford and Mackenzie families give Hudson a ton of business, both as clients themselves and in referrals. They may not always like us or what we have to say, but our job is to keep them safe.” He gave my shoulder a squeeze before releasing me.

“Of course.” He wasn’t saying anything I didn’t already know.

“Good. Wrap up with the Crawfords then take a few days to prepare for your trip. The principal will arrive in New York on the twenty-sixth. You can meet at the Huxley Grand since the Crawfords and their team will be traveling there for Emerson’s work engagement.”

“Great,” I said, swallowing past the lump in my throat. Their team. As in the one I’d no longer be part of. “Thank you again for the opportunity. I’ll get to work on logistics.”

“Call if you need anything.”

I nodded, but my mind was still trying to catch up. I was leaving the Crawfords—potentially for good. Taking a two-month sailing trip with Sloan to some of the places we’d always dreamed of.

Regardless of the weather forecast, I had a feeling the voyage would be anything but smooth.

CHAPTER THREE

“Auntie Sloan!” Brooklyn ran at me, and I dropped my bags and smiled despite my jet lag.

I’d landed in New York earlier in the day and had been ferried to the Huxley Grand by a guy named Zeke, who went by the call sign Disco—one of the members of my temporary security team. I’d slept some on the flight, but it had been fitful. I was too preoccupied with all the things I needed to wrap up at work to truly rest.

Jasper was going to keep an eye on the London office in my absence. Between him and my executive assistant, Halle, I had faith that everything would run smoothly.

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