Page 116 of Implode

I run a hand through my hair. “I’m over this. I want to fire every person on the payroll and start from scratch. That’s how angry I am. Shit…”

“What?”

“Brenna never went through the full interview process, and I may have gotten sloppy hiring her. I figured she was on a trial basis so I didn’t have to worry about committing to someone permanent. But what if I cut too many corners and hired someone who was nefarious?”

Pacing along the pathway, Collins sighs. “You’d have your motive if she was with your disgruntled employee. Eugene is pissed he lost the job, so he uses Brenna to get closer to you and Claire as a way to provide him with information.”

“Maybe all this time, Brenna has been inching closer to Claire. Plus, getting me fired up could put me at risk of making rash decisions based on my fears.” The fastest way to get to me is through those I love. And I’m madly in love with Claire.

“It’s all theory though,” Collins reminds me, as if it’s an afterthought. “There’s still Kevin and Leo, the two former guards who accosted Claire, to consider.”

“Yeah, but they are followers. I don’t see them orchestrating any of this nonsense.”

I rub a hand at my forehead. I have a migraine forming as I frantically try to figure out how to keep my girl from being caught in the collateral war being waged as revenge against me. Targeting her just made things go from bad to catastrophic, because I will bury any person who tries to do her harm.

But what if Brenna is caught in the middle of a love triangle between Eugene and Dan? And how does that all play out?

Sure, firing them all would make it harder to access the building without a badge. However, I need to understand why someone is hell-bent on destroying everything I care about.

“Nothing touches Claire,” I say flatly. “Without going into details, she is the most important priority in my life right now. She and my family. Hell, sheismy family.”

“Whatever you need, consider it done.”

“I’m tired of shutting Tyler out. Get ahold of him and tell him to get to HH to provide on-site surveillance around the clock until I can get there. Hopefully for a weekend, everything is calm on that front.”

I turn on my phone and find Asher’s name in my list of contacts.

Nic: There’s a crisis here and it is affecting my entire life. I need help.

Asher: Must be important if you are asking

Nic: It is

Asher: I’ll book the first flight I can get

Nic: Appreciate this, man. I owe you

Relief rushes over me as I know I will soon have fresh eyes, in person, looking over this whole mess with me. Asher and I have a history, and he is someone I trust like a brother. With Graham and Angie soon taking their honeymoon, I need to have extra men on deck if I’m going to figure out what is happening seemingly right under my nose.

I’m about to text Asher a quick summary of the new events when I hear the sound of panting coming from up ahead. I turn and find Penny running toward me, panic evident on her face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, holding her elbows as I seek information. “Is it Claire? Where is she?”

“She is freaking out. She just got a horrible text from an unknown caller.”

“Fuck. Where is she?”

“She’s with her friend Blake.”

I jog up to where guests are still gathered outside, Collins and Penny not far behind. I scan the crowd until I spot Claire. Weaving around clusters of people, I reach her and hug her to me.

“Let me see your phone, baby.”

She hands it over with trembling fingers, and when I pull open the text chain, I want to smash something. It is a photo of her, rather than a text. I look at Claire who appears to be leaving Portland General.

“When was this taken?” I ask, trying to put the pieces together.

“Just a few days ago. I was at the hospital because I fell and started to bleed.” Her words come out as a whisper so those around us do not hear her announcement that she is pregnant. “I’m okay though.”

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