Page 14 of The Reluctant Wife

"What?" She blinks.

"Give me your phone."

She must be more shaken than normal, for she digs it out of her purse, unlocks it, and hands it to me without hesitation. I slide the protective cover off, disable the built-in tracking app on it, then slip a bug between the cover and the phone.

"You have me under surveillance," she says in a resigned voice.

"You don’t sound surprised."

She shrugs. "I often wondered why the previous team didn’t insist on it, but hey, I figured I could enjoy my freedom for a little longer."

It’s my turn to be taken aback. "So, you’re not going to fight this?"

She looks at me with resignation. “Would it make any difference if I did?”

I shake my head.

“That’s what I thought.” She looks away. "Anyway, thanks for leveling with me." Her voice is remote.

But underneath, I hear the note of frustration and fear. For all her bravado, she’s concerned about the threat, but she’s trying not to show it.

It makes me want to reassure her. And take care of her. A fierce sense of protection overwhelms me, and I don’t question it. She’s my asset. It's my job to ensure she feels safe.

"Nothing will happen to you as long as I’m your bodyguard,” I promise.

"Thought you preferred protective detail?"

I hear the chuckle in her voice and I'm glad it’s helped lighten her mood, even if it’s only temporary.

"I do. But in this case, bodyguard fits the role I’ve adopted for you, as long as I’m leading your security detail. The rest is semantics.”

She nods. "I understand why my father trusts you… You’re quite thorough."

"Experience. I've been in too many situations where going that extra mile with safety measures has made the difference between life and death.”

She shivers. "You can be quite grim, you know that?"

"Best to be grim now if it means it’ll help to ward off danger. If we keep things tight and have enough visible security around you, it will, hopefully, put off those behind this threat."

“You think whoever is behind it poses a real risk?”

I choose my words carefully. “Until my team and I track down and neutralize those behind it, we have to assume whoever is behind the threat wants to hurt you in some way.”

"And you want it to seem difficult for them to get away with anything.” She turns to me. Her features are composed. “You’re hoping this will serve as a deterrent.”

"I intend to ensure that it’s almost impossible for them to get to you, but every protocol has a gap that, try as one might, cannot be plugged. Which is why additional precautions like this"—I hand the phone over to her—"work, even if the phone is switched off. Wherever you are, we can track you."

"Thanks." Our fingers brush, and she draws in a sharp breath.

Heat shoots up my arm, and I pull it back. This woman’s dangerous. I need to ensure there is no other opportunity for us to be in such proximity.

"We’re here." The driver’s voice emerges from the intercom set in the partition. Like a fucking coward, I use the excuse to push my door open and slowly walk around to grip the handle on her side. I glance around, ensuring the team who have piled outof the cars in front and behind us have formed a cordon around us.

I wait a few minutes, scanning the area, until I think she’s righted her appearance. Then I open her door.

8

Aurelia

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