Page 10 of Seducing Hope (The Hope Legacy)

He nods once.

Chewing my lip and continuing my rendition of Def Leppard to lock down my emotions, I roll my head to ease the knots in my neck and shoulders then gulp half my bottle of water, wiping my lips on the back of my hand. “So what’s the plan?”

Aaden and Uncle Charlie share a look and switch their focus to me. I immediately get an uneasy feeling. Aaden explains, “Your grandfather is merging with a company on the East Coast. He’s employed Reinheart and Hunter to oversee the negotiations. You’ll be one of Waterford Industries’ representatives here in Seattle. Your grandfather will oversee the East Coast. You’re expected to attend major meetings, negotiations, and any social events pertaining to the merger.”

Like I said, a small but well-funded department of my grandfather’s company provides the SIP with many of its weapons and invests heavily in weapons research on our behalf. So he knows about the SIP and what we do.

I stare at my uncle. “You can’t be serious. I know nothing about mergers or legal stuff. I was an arts student, about as far away from business as you can get.” He adopts a patient expression, preparing to indulge me in my rant. “Send Aaden or Joan—they’re excellent strategists and will be able to keep up with the legal lingo!”

Aaden gives me a reassuring smile and pushes his dark hair back behind his ears. “Don’t worry, I’m coming as your advisor. I won’t let you make a fool of yourself. Well, not too much, anyway.”

“You’re the only one who can read his aura, Natia. We need to know definitively what he is, and you can sense his power signature—further clues to his origins. Duncan will be on hand if needed, and Zee’s coming as your personal bodyguard,” Uncle Charlie adds. Zee meets my eyes with identical horror. Appears he wasn’t in on the plan either. Zee opens his mouth to argue, but Uncle Charlie puts his hand up, his classic signal for it’s a done deal, don’t bother arguing. Zee huffs in defeat.

Uncle Charlie squeezes my shoulder. “If we change the plan, we’ll need a different cover story, given that Aaden and Joan aren’t the grandchildren of Matthew Waterford. This would take time we haven’t got, and given this cover contains elements of truth, it’s more believable.”

I shrug his hand off my shoulder and stare at his stern blue eyes, just a shade lighter than my own but crinkled in the corners with laughter long forgotten.

My voice is quiet, meant only for him. “I thought you valued my opinion and input… but clearly, I’m mistaken. Youknowwhat going back to the life of high and mighty society will cost me, who I might bump into. People betrayed me—that life is dead to me. I’ll do it because my commanding officer is telling me to. But as your niece, I’m disappointed and hurt you didn’t talk to me about this.”

He grinds his teeth, offering no apology. Stubbornness is a Waterford family trait.

“It’s unlikely you’ll see him, Natia.”

“Who?” Aaden asks.

I sigh. My past is exactly that—mypast, and it should stay buried. But in the interest of full disclosure, my team should know.

“We will be entering the world of Seattle’s elite, privileged assholes. Which includes my ex-fiancé, Dalton Miller.”

Zee leans forward, his gaze boring into mine. “What happened?”

“We had fundamental differences in relationship philosophy.”

Zee tilts his head, studying my no doubt tight features. “That shit. I’ll knock him into next week and out of our path if we meet him.”

Rubbing my forehead, a deep breath expands my lungs. Working with secret government agents means working with exceptionally perceptive people. Duncan gives my back a soothing rub as Uncle Charlie and Aaden describe the rest of the plan. We will be moving to my grandfather’s penthouse apartment in Seattle tonight. My grandfather insisted Reinheart oversee the merger himself. He agreed. Our first meeting is at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

“When was the last time you visited your house?” Aaden asks me.

“Two days ago. I’m on top of my visits.”

We each have homes we frequent at least twice a week. Mine is a guest house I’ve commandeered on my grandfather’s estate. The rest of the time, we stay at HQ.

The SIP is located below a legitimate security firm, Crown Security Inc., which doubles as our cover identity. From the outside, the building resembles a typical business unit. The ground floor has a reception desk and various offices, while the lower level houses the SIP. It holds the command, medical, gym, and training rooms. The lowest floor is the living quarters.

“Natia?” I hear the hesitancy in Uncle Charlie’s voice and meet his eyes in challenge.

“Charlie?” I reply, ice coating my tone. He winces. When he doesn’t say anything further, I stand and head to my bedroom. I’m halfway through the living and kitchen area when Aaden catches up with me and grabs my hand, forcing me to stop.

“Natia… it needed to be on a need-to-know basis while we formulated a plan,” he pleads.

I glance at Joan and Jack, who are leaning against the pool table with cues in their hands, not bothering to be discreet as they eavesdrop.

I stare at the floor. “Did it really, Aaden?”

Aaden’s tall frame looms over me. I’m the smallest and, at twenty-five, the metaphorical baby of the team. All of the men are over six foot, and even Uncle Charlie is six-foot-one. I wonder if that’s a prerequisite for joining?

Aaden squeezes my hand, and I meet his gaze. Even though I’m mad, my heart softens. His intelligent, steel gray eyes are filled with worry. “Natia, please… You know it has to be like this sometimes.”

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