Page 15 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

“How the fuck did this get out?” Samuel raged. “I’ve kept all details of that meeting secret and now some fucker is emailing me as if they plan to attend?”

“When did this come through?” Anders demanded.

“About a minute before I called for you,” Samuel replied. He paused to place a hand on his wife’s shoulder and squeeze, then he continued pacing. “What the fuck kind of security leak is this?”

My attention slid to Kitty, and the strongest urge to comfort her rose within my chest. The guilt I carried about the night we spent together faded upon seeing her look so distressed as she comforted her mother, and there was nothing I could do to ease her.

Not right now.

“We treat this like all the others,” Anders decided. “One of your buddies must have talked or let slip about the meeting. I know my team, and this is not on our end, but I will double-check everyone just to be on the safe side.”

“This is ridiculous,” Samuel snapped. “I’ve half a mind to take us all to the Alps for Christmas and have these meetings via video link.”

“You can’t!” Kitty spoke up. “Not with the Yuletide Ball coming, and we always spend Christmas at home.”

“You can’t seriously still think the ball is a good idea when threats this graphic are coming through,” Anders snapped.

Something snapped inside me, sending a strange, hot sensation rushing through my chest and limbs. The way Anders spoke to her made me want to shove my fist into his face over and over until he couldn’t speak to her ever again. Out of the corner of my eye, Kitty’s lower lips wobbled slightly before she pressed them together and jutted her chin upward.

“The ball is important,” she said in a tight voice. “To me and Mom. So do your damn job and make it work.”

“This is more important,” Anders said, and his attention shifted to the mayor, looking for support. “We have to take these threats seriously. That attack in the grocery store is only the beginning?—”

“That man was desperate,” Kitty cut in loudly. “And I don’t blame him because what’s happening to his life because of us is terrible. So I won’t stand by and let these pathetic emails take anything more from this town. We need this ball. I need it, andMom needs it. It’s Christmas, and running away is just giving in.”

“I agree,” I said quietly, and all attention snapped to me.

“You do?” Samuel asked. He looked at me, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of my old friend from before he took on the weight of mayor and all the monetary temptations that came with it.

“I do. Kitty is right. Changing anything just shows these assholes that they have power. We have to show them that you are not afraid. So, the Gala stays. I know some people I can call to beef up security.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Anders ground out, and a vein swelled on his temple. “I have that under control.”

“Are you sure?” I snorted, more than happy to make him uncomfortable after he had spoken to Kitty like she was beneath him. “Because back in the kitchen, you made it sound like you couldn’t cope.”

“I’ll handle it,” Anders snapped louder. He took a deep breath that raised his shoulders, then turned back to the mayor. “Sir, don’t worry. We will investigate this threat, and I will ensure you have double the security at your meeting. And the Gala won’t be a problem.”

“Damn right,” Kitty murmured. She flashed me a quick smile and then continued to comfort her mother. Anders muttered something under his breath and then left the room with Samuel hot on his tail, so I took up a post by the door and watched over Kitty and her mother until they were ready to end dinner.

Being a shadow was second nature, but it had become infinitely more fun now that Kitty was sneaking me smiles. I just needed to get her alone so we could talk about our night together before the guilt over crossing a line ate me up. And I needed to make sure she was okay. These threats were getting more serious, and I refused to let anything harm her.

“Rook?” Kitty pulled me from my thoughts as she headed toward me after helping her mother to bed.

“Kitty.”

“Do you think we could…”

Her words faltered as an alarm suddenly blared from my phone. I glanced down, and my eyes widened as a red alert flashed across the screen.

“What’s wrong?” Kitty asked, leaning onto my arm to glance at my phone.

“Something’s triggered the perimeter security,” I explained quickly.

“We have that?”

“Yes, I set it up when I arrived.” Taking her arm, I hurriedly escorted Kitty to her room.

“Wait, what does that mean?”

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