Page 31 of Provoke You

“Are you surprised?”

“No. You’re right. Of course, there’s a safe house.”

Chase gave me a look of pity that I only half understood. Did he feel sorry for all his clients? “Ms. LeBlanc, if there’s anything you’d like to have on hand, let me know.”

“Nice. You guys are like a full-service-bodyguard shop.”

Matt handed Chase a couple of manila folders. Chase flipped through them and then handed them back. “That’s doable.”

While I spent my days training to make the perfect sugar rose, these guys were out who-knew where learning skills normal people never had to use in their lifetime. What drove Matt to sign up for something like that? Why did he leave?

“So how far is Old Ben’s house from the airport? Maybe he can join us for dinner?” I was nervous about what Old Ben would have to say, but I figured a nice meal might lessen whatever bad news he had for me.

“Dinner is at twenty-hundred in the safe house. Until we scout the area, we can’t approach the subject.” Chase blurted out our plan as if he’d memorized it months ago, which ticked me off because it would have been nice to have seen the itinerary beforehand.

“The subject is an old friend. More than that, he’s family.” I turned to Matt. “I feel like the occasion calls for less-marine, more-civilian tactics. Why can’t I just go over to his place? Or he can come to ours, and we can chat.”

“We already have a plan in place. Chase and Kitt will scout the area first, and then we make contact.”

I took a deep calming breath. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate your efforts, but it would’ve been nice to have been included in the plan.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I really think it’s best if you stay out of it.”

“Do you really think Old Ben would be okay with a bunch of special ops muscle showing up at his doorstep. If he’s already nervous about being in his own home, he’s going to run when you show up.”

Chase met Matt’s gaze. After a quick nod to me, he went back to the cockpit.

“Did last night not scare the shit out of you?”

“You know it did.”

“Okay. It scared me too. I would very much like for you not to die on my watch.” He reached across and squeezed my fingers. “Until forensics come back, we need to operate under the assumption that the kitchen incident was an actual attempt on your life.”

“It just doesn’t make sense to me. Why would anyone want to hurt me?” Half a million followers didn’t exactly make me a celebrity. People got a kick out of my antics, but that was about it. Matt shifted his weight in his seat. Great. More things he didn’t think I could handle. “Tell me what you know. All of it.”

To my surprise, he relaxed and said okay. “I had my brother Derek look into the enterprise your dad is doing this global venture with. Seems there have been instances where their dealings have been shady at best. He couldn’t tell me anything concrete because he had no proof. Just his gut feeling. He told me to stay away from them. If I had been working for your dad months ago, I would have advised him against this deal.”

“You told me Dad knew what he was doing. That it was a good deal.”

“You made a good case for the opposite. I decided to reach out to my brother this morning. He has a knack for this sort of thing. He’s made billions for himself following his gut.”

“He owns this plane?”

“No. The plane is mine, but it’s because of him. He manages my money.”

For the first time since Jennifer put him on this mission to hell, Matt appeared forthcoming, and I would even say he was starting to trust me. “So you think Dad went to bed with the wrong guys, and that’s why he wants me out of the picture?”

He pressed his lips together before he finally spoke his mind. “The question I have is, did he want you out of the way so he can conduct business without the drama? Or is he afraid for your life?”

“Well, it’s nice to know he still cares.” I sat back on my seat, feeling exhausted. I knew what I had to do and why we were here, but I was really struggling to wrap my head around the idea that Dad would do something to hurt me, intentionally or unintentionally.

“Let me do this my way. If Ben runs, then we’ll try your way.”

I nodded because I had no other argument for him, but there was no “if” in this scenario. Old Ben would take off as soon as Chase and Kitt started asking questions.

“What is my way exactly?”

A half smile pulled on his lips. “I thought you could show up at his home. His real home. And see.”

“Serve me up as bait?” I had the sense I was becoming a bad influence on him. I liked it. “That does sound like something I would do.”

When was the last time Old Ben’s housekeeper, Mrs. Turner, saw me? Would she recognize me? I would really love to see her again. She was always so kind to me and a good friend to Grans.

“Only if you’re up for it.”

“I’m up for it.”

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