Page 15 of A Seductive Beauty
I text Brody as Mikayla is now demanding to be let out of the compound. I swore I would protect her, and I won’t allow anything to happen to her. The attack at the pit was meant for her. I drag my hands through my hair, and I can still feel Fiona’s small hands wrapped around my neck.
Me: Bring them to me.
Brody: Okay.
I watch as they come up the back staircase from the lower driveway. Mikayla tries to push past Wesley when they reach the top, but he keeps her back.
"We'd like to know where Fiona is. Why our other security guard hasn't been shown here? And finally, why were we brought here?" Wesley demands.
"Come in and I'll answer your questions." I turn and head back into my home. "Drinks?"
"Water," they both say.
I grab them glasses and fill them with water, but I need something stronger. I can still taste Fiona on my lips, and if I’m not careful, I’ll be going to her soon. I pull out the Jameson and a tumbler, then pour myself a couple fingers. I swallow it back, feeling the slight burn and dulling of my nerves, then I turn back around to them. I’m going to need to numb myself for this conversation because I know what Mikayla’s most upset about. I slide their glasses to them and pour myself another two fingers of whiskey. I swirl my glass, waiting for her to bombard me with questions.
When she doesn’t ask me right away, I slip my jacket off and place it on the back of a chair in the dining room.
"Where is Fiona?" She finally asks. Just hearing her name out loud causes my body to spasm, and I grip the chair tightly over my jacket, my knuckles cracking.
I can’t answer her question because at this very moment I don’t know. So I stall by getting comfortable. I unbutton my sleeves and roll them up. They’ll see my tattoos I usually keep covered around business associates, but right now I don’t care. Securities International has checked me out; they know who I really am and what I do. I pull my blue tie loose and unbutton the top button of my shirt. I feel like my suit is constricting me. My body is hyperaware of everything and in need of only one person right now.
I take another large swig of whiskey. My phone dings, alerting me that the side door was opened. I turn as Shane enters, my body locking up. He nods at me, and I know he did as I asked.
"She's safe," I say without turning back toward them. "For now," I barely whisper. I know Sir would use her against me if he found out.
"What do you mean for now?" Mikayla jumps up from the chair at the bar.
"May I call you Mikayla?" I can’t keep calling her Lady when addressing the issues we are about to discuss. Also, we are going to become compatriots in this battle soon enough.
"Yes."
"Wesley?" I ask him, and he nods too.
"Today the attack at the track was perpetrated by a man we have both caught the eye of.”
"Why would Terence be after you too?" Mikayla asks. Wesley drops his head, upset that she gave us the name.
"Ah, is that the shooter?" I knew Sir would hire someone. He used my local enemies against me the times he came after me.
"We believe so. Where is Andy?" Wesley asks.
"Mr. Edwards will be brought here shortly. We needed to make sure he wasn't being followed. I respect my privacy. The house your team and Mikayla visited me at before is a front. This is my personal home." My arms open up to indicate my home. "This is where I know my men and family are safe."
"I need to make sure that Fiona is safe. I'm sorry, but your word isn't very trustworthy yet." I watch as Mikayla dials Fiona’s number, and when she huffs, I assume her call went to voicemail.
"I understand." I pull out my phone and text Lex to join us in the kitchen with his laptop. "Lex will be here shortly."
"What is Lex going to do? Why can't you just let us go?" She stomps her foot. Looking at her hurts because she looks so much like my Fiona.
"Who do you think is after us?" Wesley asks.
"I don't think. I know. There was a card attached to the bouquet." I stare them down. "Your manager is dead. Any guests that were exposed were transported to the hospital, but we were lucky. Wesley's observation saved many lives. Sir doesn't care if he hurts innocent people, he just cares about revenge." At least this Sir doesn’t care. My father had worked with the one before, and he was about being discreet. Not this one though.
I watch as Wesley stands up and starts pacing.
"The card said Sir?" He stops and looks at me. I nod, confirming the truth.
Lex enters the room and starts clicking away on his laptop.
