Page 60 of Critical Mass
“I told you what happened.” A tremor entered her voice. “These men came out of nowhere. If Timothy hadn’t been there?—”
She broke off, wrapping her arms around herself. It was time to use emotion in order to stop her father from asking too many questions. She didn’t want to get caught in her lies.
Instead, she covered her mouth with her hand as if fighting off a sob.
“I can hire security for you,” her father rushed. “Professional protection. The best in the business.”
“No.” The word came out sharper than she intended. She softened her tone. “I mean, I appreciate that, but I feel safe with Timothy. He already proved he can protect me. And I—I trust him.”
The lie tasted bitter on her tongue.
Her father’s expression tightened. “What about when he works?”
“He said he can work from home, and he doesn’t have any trips lined up for the immediate future.”
Her dad sighed. “Natalie, you barely know this man.”
“I know him well enough. And after last night, I need him close. Please, Dad. Don’t make this harder than it already is. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with strange men following me around and hovering.”
She watched him wage an internal battle—the protective father versus the pragmatic businessman.
Finally, he sighed. “Fine. But I want to have dinner with both of you. Tonight. I need to know more about this man you’re trusting with your safety.”
Natalie’s stomach clenched, but she nodded. “Of course. That makes sense.”
Her father moved to the window, looking out over the river. “There’s something you need to understand. In my line of work, I’ve made enemies. People who would use you to get to me.”
Her breath caught. “What kind of enemies?”
“Business rivals. Competitors who don’t like how Ravenscroft International operates.” He turned to face her. “I’ve always tried to keep you separate from that side of things. But after last night, I think you need to know the truth.”
“And what’s that?”
“The truth is that being my daughter makes you a target.”
“Are you saying those men came after me because of you?” She didn’t have to fake the emotion in her voice now. Her fear and confusion was genuine.
“I don’t know that for certain. But it’s possible.” His expression was grim. “Which is why I need you to be careful. Very careful. And why I need to know everything about this Timothy Shaw.”
Natalie nodded slowly, processing the new information. Her father had just admitted he had enemies dangerous enough to kidnap his daughter.
But were they business rivals—or something far more sinister? Was her dad trying to explain away the attack without revealing his connection to Sigma?
“I’ll be careful,” she promised. “And you’ll like Timothy. I know you will.”
Her father’s expression suggested he doubted that very much. “We’ll see. Dinner tonight. Seven o’clock. My house.”
“We’ll be there.”
As Natalie left his office, her mind was already racing.
She needed to process what she’d just heard. Needed to decide whether to trust what her dad said. And she needed to update Hudson and see what he thought about the conversation.
But when she stepped into the hallway and saw him waiting—Timothy Shaw, the concerned boyfriend—Natalie had no idea if anything he said could be trusted either.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
