Page 28 of Corbin
The security guy she’d argued with called out, “Don’t leave yet, Ms. Givenchy.”
Chapter 5
Eirene steeled herself to once again face Brody, that blasted security guy. She’d almost gotten out of this mess clean. She never name-dropped, especially using Leszek’s, but she’d hoped mentioning her trustee, who supported the police in many ways, would untangle her more quickly.
That had worked.
Now, the new lead on Beckham’s security team, who supposedly worked for her, ruined a perfect escape.
Gritting her teeth, she turned around and gave him a snooty expression she saved for those she considered nasty media hacks. She could not tolerate a snob, but pretending to be one came in handy sometimes.
Fortunately, most of the media treated her with respect and not as a dressed-up mongrel, but a few would take advantage of her at an inopportune moment.
Striding back to him, she spoke first. “Listen, Brody, I have a tight schedule, and this situation is not helping. I assume you’re taking Archie’s place as the head of my team, so what do you need?”
Just as worked up as her, Brody spoke in a deep but low voice. “This wasnoaccident. Someone sent a tower of metal scaffolding falling over on him.”
Her heart climbed up her throat, threatening to strangle her.
If she showed any weakness right now, she’d get pinned with this accident ...ifit was an accident. She seriously doubted it given the two questionable deaths on her security team already in the past two weeks. Having humans stuck protecting her and ending up killed or harmed made her sick to her stomach.
This was not the time to appear as a weak female. She had to show quiet confidence even if it did come across as disinterested.
Keeping her arms loose at her sides, she countered, “If that is the case, why are you wasting time telling me what you should be telling the police?”
Brody countered, “I will share everything I know with them. I’m only saying you shouldn’t leave until we know who did this to Archie. Don’t you care?”
What a brutal question. Too many days of stress and anguish had her on edge. She snapped, “Of course, I care, which is why I was getting out of the way so law enforcement could do their job. It’s a distraction when I’m here under these circumstances. I know it and so do they.”
She hated to play the snotty celebrity, but she had more lives at stake than those present.
Another member of Brody’s team standing twenty feet away called him over.
Her heart ached. She’d been having nightmares about these human men dying when she, a wolf shifter, had not been around to protectthem. As soon as she heard about the one dying in a car wreck, she visited the location hours after the accident had happened and smelled a shifter scent.
That scent had never been reported or investigated.
And people wondered why she allowed only humans on her security team. Shifters couldn’t be trusted, especially male shifters, plus she sometimes had to jockey around the truth.
One shifter had stalked her recently, and others had lied to her when she’d been at her lowest emotional point for six months following her father’s death.
Even the first wolf shifter who had wanted to be her friend in high school vanished without a word two weeks before graduating.
Earlier in the day of that same night, he’d left a note asking her to meet him.
She sniffed deeply. Had she smelled a familiar scent in here or was that her silly heart trying to bring Corbin back again?
Why would he be here of all places?
Brody stormed back over and pushed a new button for her. “The media will be rabid once this gets out.”
Giving an intentional glance to the group of officers over on the right side of the stage, she lowered her voice. “Your team has been incredibly accident-prone, which gives me no sense of safety. I think you should take some time to ensure everyone is qualified to do this.” She cringed at how cold that sounded, but she’d be happy if the three men still on her team refused to guard her.
Of course, Beckham would only send more warm bodies.
Brody pulled his head back, looking appalled.
Before he could mutter another damning word, she pressed her only advantage. “What is the point of having your bunch here to supposedly protect me when you can’t keep your own people safe? You accuse me of not caring, but I just told the police officer to take his time investigating despite the deadline we’re all on. What else do you want me to do? Why would you insinuate otherwise? Are you trying to tank my career with your insulting comments?” She took a step forward, her anger pushing him back to maintain space. She’d done her best to keep them as far from her as possible for their safety. “All you have to do is stand around and look important until the police complete their investigation. Think you can manage that while I’m gone?”
