Page 100 of Trust My Bodyguard

When the voice on the other end came on, nothing mattered but justice.

“Yeah?” Luke Ross. He sounded as I remembered. Gruff, impatient, arrogant.

“It’s me. Ivy.”

“How did you get this number?” He couldn’t even pretend to care about my well-being even though we hadn’t spoken in months.

Whatever shred of sympathy I had left shriveled and died. “The same way I know how you took Iris’s money.” I clenched my teeth for the next part, but it had to be said. I had to make it believable. “She’s still a spineless crybaby. I can see the shit you and Mom had to put up with. And fuck, it sucks.”

“What do you want?”

“My share of the money, of course. Now that I’m stuck babysitting your little star girl, I want my cut.”

Luke laughs. “What do you think this is? A fucking family fund?” His tone turns cutting. “Get lost, Ivy.”

“Oh, I’m gonna get lost. I’m gonna get lost all the way to the cops if you don’t give me what I want.”

He was silent for a long minute.

“What’s it gonna be,Dad? Wanna share? Or do you want the police to take everything?”

He sighed. “Fine.”

“Good. I’ll text you a time and location. You better be there or it’s over for you.”

I cut the call and slumped into the chair. Hands tapped my back, telling me I did good work. But I felt like shit.

“It’ll certainly draw him out. It’s always been about the money for him, so this will bring him out of his hole,” Brody assured me.

I looked for the man who was worried sick drawing my father out would harm me, but he was gone, replaced by one who wore steely determination as a second skin.

A part of me misses that side of Brody. I know I pushed him to accept my terms, but I still want to know he cares enough to be anxious about me.

And it’s been a week of not knowing.

After the night we had dinner together, things have been different. We moved so well together that we broke our getting-along meter. Now, it’s awkward glances and staccato sentences between us. Even when we were fighting, it was never this uncertain.

I find him deep in conversation with Nick. A frown lines his forehead, and his eyes are fixed on his friend and colleague, focused on what he’s saying.

I can’t tear my eyes away. Despite the shaky aftermath, the night we shared lives rent-free in my head and plays over and over. The intensity, the depth. It was all real.

Having him unsure around me, unable to have a proper conversation or anything, really feels like torture. Maybe that’s why I’m pumped for today. That’s why I look forward to meeting my dad. It’ll give me something to do apart from stare at Brody and wish he’d tell me what’s on his mind.

As if noticing me, his eyes slice to mine. They hold for a few beats before he looks away again.

I drop my gaze and my shoulders. Focus on Luke. Focus on what he has done. Focus on catching him.

“You good?” A hand touches my shoulder.

The deep voice and the warm touch work into my system, breaking my mantra. I lift my gaze to Brody’s. I hope I don’t look like I feel. Longing warring to come out and wrap around him.

“Yeah, I’m good.” My voice manages to sound firm and assured.

“Good.” He taps my shoulder and moves to the head of the table. “Everyone, listen up.”

Zane looks up from his computer as Nick and Sera turn from where they’re working on a contraption between them.

“In an hour, we’ll be trapping Luke Ross. I want all of us to be sharp and focused. He’s a dangerous man and his daughters have been a prime target.”

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