Page 2 of Noel
And now I know why I’m here.
Connor lifts his gaze and says my name with that calm, level tone that walks the line between command and apology.
“Noel.I’ve got a personal favor to ask.”
And just like that, my week’s officially fucked.
“Personal favor?”I repeat, already bracing myself.“Since when does the son-in-law of Josef Aziz make social calls during business hours?”
He smirks because he knows exactly how I feel aboutfavors.
“Since one of my wife’s closest friends started getting threats,” he says, sliding a thin case file across the desk.
I don’t touch it yet.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
He steeples his fingers.
“Her name is Holly Winters.Thirty-one years old.Single.Event planner.She’s handling theDrew’s House Holiday Gala—our biggest charity event of the year.The guest list’s a who’s who of Manhattan elite, and the press has been all over it.”
“And?”
“And someone’s been sending Holly messages.Leaving notes.Following her home.She’s scared, but she doesn’t want to cancel the event—hell, I don’t want her to cancel the event because that will make my wife nuts.”
“What does this have to do with me?”I can’t help but ask.
“I want you on her until we figure out who’s behind it.”
“You wantmeon her?”I echo, because of course.
Connor’s lips twitch.
“She’s good people.Smart.Works hard.My wife says she’s got a heart the size of the damn Rockefeller tree.You’ll get along.”
“Doubtful,” I mutter.
He chuckles, because he knows I mean it.
“This isn’t a babysitting gig, Kane,” he continues, his voice turning serious.
“Yeah?Cause it sounds like it,” I mumble.
“Look, whoever’s doing this knows her schedule, knows where she’ll be.It’s personal.We’ve already swept her apartment once.Nothing obvious.But the messages are escalating.He’s broken into her car.Her office.”
“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but Sigma doesn’t exactly handle stuff like this.I mean, when I signed on it was a different pitch than babysitting some party planner,” I grumble.
Connor raises an eyebrow, and he ignores me.Which, I suppose, is better than him punching me in the face like he did to Ego last time that idiot complained about an assignment for Drew’s House.
Connor used to work at Sigma, but he spends most of his time now running security for his wife’s non-profit and its many locations.
He also handles rescue missions for at risk teens, but no one is supposed to know about that.
“You’ll shadow her,” he says, his tone flat, “secure the venues, and keep her alive.Discreetly.”
“Discreetly,” I repeat, flipping open the file.I know when I’m beat, besides this assignment is right up my alley.
