Page 14 of Control

“So, what are you going to do now that you’ve been told you can’t?”

“Take a few days to recover from this surgery, be glad I get a walking boot, and pray that when I return to work in a couple of days, I’ll be able to convince Dale that he’s making the wrong choice.”

“And if he doesn’t change his mind?”

Alana hesitated a moment, defiance swirling in her eyes. “Then I’m going to have to do it on my own after hours.”

Well, it seemed that I’d now have to be involved. No way could I sit back and do nothing with her prepared to take on something like this.

I reached into my pocket, pulled out my wallet, and slid out a business card. Standing, I stepped close to the bed and held it out to Alana. Part of me did it because it was just in my nature—I didn’t get into my profession for no reason. But there was another part of me that led me to pulling out that card. I was intrigued by this woman’s sense of loyalty to the cause, to her need to find the truth. That was something, now more than ever, that I could absolutely get behind. Truth and honesty.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“That’s my card. I work for a company called Harper Security Ops. Given what you do, it’s likely you’ve heard the name.” She gave me a slight nod in return, a hint of disbelief in her expression. “I work as part of the bodyguard and private security unit, but I have access to resources and private investigators within the company. If there’s anything I can do to help you find out what happened to your friend and get to the bottom of the Sanders case, I’d be more than happy.”

She licked her lips, her eyes roaming over my face as she gripped the card tightly in her hand. “Thank you, Ty. I… I really appreciate that.”

“Of course.”

“So, you’re a bodyguard?”

I laughed, sat back down, and confirmed, “I am.”

“How cool. Have you worked for anyone especially famous?”

My lips twitched. “Ever hear of the band My Violent Heart?”

Alana’s eyes widened in shock, her lips parting slightly. “No way.”

I dipped my chin. “I actually work with Killian Scott’s brother.”

“He’s a bodyguard, too?”

I laughed again. “No, Nixon is part of our kidnap and ransom team.”

Shaking her head, the disbelief still evident, she murmured, “What a small world.”

For the next little while, I stayed in Alana’s hospital room with her, regaling her with tales of moments working with the band. I hadn’t intended to stay as long as I did, but I was laughing. And considering how my night had been last night and the devastation I’d woken up feeling this morning, I thought that was a great place to be.

I was having such a good time, I wound up staying long enough to meet Alana’s parents. When they walked into theroom, confusion and a touch of hesitancy washed over their faces.

Fortunately, Alana didn’t make them wait. “Hey, Mom. Dad. I’d like you to meet someone.”

Her mother’s eyes widened in surprise. I didn’t know what she thought Alana was going to say, but she was certainly in a state of shock.

Alana hesitated a moment before she shared, “This is Ty Weaver. He’s the guy who was there with me when I got into the accident yesterday. He made sure the ambulance was called, and he didn’t leave until they loaded me up. Ty, these are my parents, Sherry and Norman Wolf.”

“Oh, my God,” Mrs. Wolf cried, making her way toward me and taking one of my hands in both of hers. “Thank you so much for staying there with her and making sure she wasn’t alone.”

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Wolf. I’m glad I was there at just the right time.”

“I wish I would have known you were going to be here. I would have brought you a gift of thanks. Oh, I know, you can stay and eat. I made Alana’s favorite. It’s my creamy chicken, spinach, mushroom, and tortellini soup.”

“I appreciate the offer, but that’s for Alana,” I said.

“Nonsense. There’s plenty here. I made extra for her to have at home with her once she leaves here, but I can make more later. Please have some. It’s the least we can do to thank you for what you did for her.”

I slid my eyes to the side and looked at Alana. She was smiling at me helplessly and shrugged her shoulders. “She’ll be upset for weeks if you don’t let her thank you in her own way.”

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