Page 40 of Drake Eternal

One less thing to worry about. Now, I could enjoy the next couple of days with my family before heading out to Kenya. If Kyle’s security head could find out who might have been following me — if anyone had — maybe we’d know more about the risks we faced.

I went out the front before going to the living room to sit with my father and Elaine for a while before bed. Sure enough, down the street, was a dark SUV parked under a streetlight. On the dash? A red coffee mug.

I smiled to myself and closed the front door, feeling much safer now. I wouldn’t tell my father or Elaine.

I didn’t want them to worry.

Of course, it was then that I worried about maybe my father and Elaine being a target. Why wouldn’t someone try to hurt them or abduct them for ransom?

It was Drake’s money they would be after, and they could use anyone in the family as bait. I’d have to call Kyle and ask if we could put a permanent detail on my family.

It would be costly, but if I was married to Drake, anyone in my family could be a potential target. I knew Drake wouldn’t mind, once I told him about what happened.

That night, I went to sleep and for the first time in a few days, I felt safe, knowing there was someone outside watching.

The next morning, I woke to the sound of Sophie speaking with Elaine in the kitchen. The beach house was large, but the main living room and kitchen was below the bedrooms and the sound of them speaking, with Sophie’s high squeaky voice filled with enthusiasm, I couldn’t help but hear it even at the top of the stairs. I smiled to myself and got up and had a quick shower so I could start the day. When I got downstairs, they were playing in the sand at the base of the property, and so I sat on the deck with my father, who was busy reading the morning newspaper.

“I want to get permanent security for you and Elaine,” I said, sipping my first cup of coffee.

“Security?” He frowned. “What brought that on?”

I told him about the strange man I thought I’d seen, and we discussed the matter for a while.

“I don’t want Drake paying for security,” he said, his voice sounding tired.

“It’s only because you’d be a target because of Drake so it’s only fair that Drake would pay.”

I could tell my father didn’t like the idea of someone paying for him for anything. He was so used to being independent.

“I can afford it,” he said with a shrug.

“It’s not that you can or can’t afford it,” I said, insistent. “It’s that it would only be because of Drake. It’s only fair that he pays for it.”

He said nothing, but I could tell he didn’t like the idea. I reached over and squeezed his hand affectionately.

“Let me talk to Drake and see what he thinks. Maybe I’m overreacting, but it wouldn’t hurt to at least entertain the idea. We can speak with Kyle and if he thinks there’s a reason to have permanent security, you should just agree. It would make me feel a lot better…”

He glanced at me, and I made a sad face.

“Oh, all right,” he finally said, giving me a reluctant smile. “I’ll speak with this Kyle fellow and see what he says. But remember, he’s likely going to recommend that I get a security detail because it’s his bread and butter.”

“Then talk to Drake,” I added.

My father didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he sighed. “If Drake thinks I should have security, I’ll agree. But I want to share the cost.”

I shook my head and smiled. “You are so stubborn…”

He laughed. “Must be where you got it from, right?”

I nodded and turned to look out at the beach where Sophie and Elaine were sitting, digging in the sand.

I had a couple of days before we left New York for Nairobi.

I was going to do my best to enjoy them. I’d call Drake later and speak with him about Kyle and my concerns and get my father to talk with him as well. Maybe then, with Drake’s advice, my father would feel better about the security detail.

I would tell Drake about Page One at that point, so that he wasn’t blindsided about it in case he ever read the news. Not that I thought he would, but I wanted to be open and honest with Drake about everything.

I sighed and sipped my coffee, determined to put all the drama behind me so I could enjoy the rest of my stay without stress.

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