Page 28 of Redemption

“Good. Now show me that Hudson didn’t make a mistake in hiring you.”

“Yes, sir.” His entire demeanor changed. He climbed into the driver’s seat, and I joined him in the front, grateful Sloan already had the privacy screen raised. I planned to use the time to review a few things with Levi. But more than that, I needed some fucking space.

Being with Sloan, inhaling her scent, it was fucking with my head.

And as we drove across town, I realized that maybe I’d been short with Levi. But if he couldn’t handle it, he didn’t deserve to be here.

Levi pulled into the VIP entrance of the Huxley Grand Miami. As soon as Sloan exited the car, the staff fawned over her. Nate and his family had always been treated with respect at the Huxley properties, but Sloan was treated like royalty. She was their queen.

Not that it surprised me. She’d always had a way with people. A kindness. A charisma that was different even from Nate’s magnetism. When Sloan was with you, she made you feel as if you were the only person who mattered.

But seeing her in a professional setting was enlightening. Hell, if anything, it made me respect her even more. You could tell a lot about a person from the way they treated their employees. And Sloan treated everyone with kindness and respect, both cleaning staff and manager alike.

As difficult as it was to tear my eyes away from Sloan, I forced my attention to Levi. “You good here?”

“I’ve got it covered, Blackjack.” He tossed me the keys to the Escalade. After our conversation on the ride over, I had more confidence in his ability to protect Sloan. At least for a short time. When assisted by hotel security.

“I’m going to do a sweep of the suite and then head to the marina. I should be back by eighteen hundred, but contact me if anything comes up. And I do mean anything.”

He scanned the entrances and exits, monitoring everyone who came in or left. “I already checked the suite, but staff would’ve delivered the luggage, so that’s a good idea.”

I could remember being young and cocky like him. He had some growing to do, but he had potential too.

I went up to the penthouse, conducting a thorough sweep of the suite before I was finally satisfied. Then I drove to the marina, eager to see the boat in person. I parked and went through the gate. The lack of security measures was disappointing, though not entirely surprising. At least Levi had been keeping an eye on things, providing an escort for the staff who’d stocked the boat with food and other supplies in preparation for our trip.

The marina was a hub of activity as charters returned from an adventure or prepared for a sunset cruise. I quickly found Sloan’s boat, a gorgeous sailboat named Athena. I’d wondered at the name before, and seeing it now, I was even more curious. Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and war.

I didn’t remember Sloan being a huge fan of Greek mythology. At least, not enough to name her boat for it. And yet, this boat was named Athena. Interesting.

I did an external survey of the boat, checking safety supplies and the integrity of the hull and sails. Once I was satisfied, I headed below deck. Everything had already been cleared by a local boat mechanic. Before that, it had been sailed here by a crew from the Hartwell Agency. Their crew certified that the vessel was in perfect condition, so that gave me some peace of mind.

The boat was nice. More than nice, actually. It wasn’t brand-new, but it wasn’t that old either. I could definitely think of worse places to spend the next two months, even if I struggled to imagine being so close to Sloan after all this time.

The main living space was high enough that I didn’t have to hunch my six-foot-two frame. Most of it was clad in warm wood tones or creams, and there were multiple places to sit. The kitchen was small but well-appointed. And the storage was ample and cleverly done—allowing access from multiple points.

I double-checked that the satellite phone was where it belonged, the red lights to preserve night vision were working, as was the radar system. We had a set of paper charts, personal locator beacons, first aid kit.

The main cabin, where Sloan would sleep, was cozy. The bed was covered in pale blues and fluffy whites. I had a brief vision of her lying on the bed, her hair splayed over the pillow as I peeled a swimsuit from her body.

I groaned and headed for the guest room. That was never going to happen.

The guest quarters were smaller than the main, with part of the roof sloping low over the foot of the bed. It was a good thing I wasn’t claustrophobic because the size of the room was more suited to someone Brooklyn’s height.

I smiled, wondering what Brooklyn and the rest of the Crawford family were up to. She’d insisted on throwing me a going-away party, and I loved her for it. After protecting them for a year and being so intimately involved in their lives, I missed them. I missed hearing about Brooklyn’s day as she chatted with Emerson in the back seat on the way home from school. And it was strange not knowing what they were doing and if they were okay.

Yes, they were my clients. But over the past year, they’d become more like family. Especially since the addition of Emerson.

I knew they were in good hands. I wouldn’t have recommended my replacement if she weren’t up to the task. And my reluctance to say goodbye was probably an indication that it was past time to move on. I’d become too attached.

My phone rang, Vaughn’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hey, Vaughn. What’s up?”

“Just checking in before you head out. Everything look good?”

“Yep.” I glanced around the boat once more. “Supplies are on board. Levi delivered the package from Hudson, so thanks.”

“Good.” He hesitated, which was unlike him. “Look, uh, I’m sure this goes without saying, but these circumstances are unique.”

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