Page 37 of Mile High Baby

"Why?" I asked.

Knightly's jaw tightened. "You're Mr. Banion's friend..."

I moved to the table. “Right now, I work for Henry just like you.”

Caroline remained silent, watching the situation play out.

“I'm sure Mr. Banion wouldn’t agree.”

“Yeah, well, Henry isn’t here.” I inhaled the scent of my food. "It smells delicious, Mrs. Tillis."

"Thank you."

We ate in silence for a moment, then Knightly asked, "Was Miss Victoria okay when you took her food to her?”

I nodded. “To be honest, I think she understands the depth of danger she and Henry are in more than he does, or at least more than he’s willing to admit."

“She was always a smart girl," Mrs. Tillis said. Her colleagues nodded in agreement.

"I hopeshe'll do okay with Henry gone, " Caroline said, earning a warning glance from Knightly. I guess she wasn’t supposed to talk about Victoria’s private business in front of me. Well, too bad. If there was something I needed to know to keep her safe, I was damn sure going to hear it.

"Why wouldn't she?"

"She's not one to be kept cooped up," Mrs. Tillis said. “She has a bit of wanderlust, I'm afraid.”

"She'll be stir crazy in two days,” Caroline added. “Maybe three.”

Knightly arched a brow at me "You'll have your work cut out for you then."

Mrs. Tillis laughed. "Remember when she snuck out to follow that boy to Costa Rica?"

What boy? Irritation flared.

"What was his name? Tommy? Johnny?" Mrs. Tillis's brow furrowed as she tried to remember.

"What happened?" I asked, trying to act curious, not jealous.

"I caught up to her at the airport,” Knightly said, apparently deciding it was okay for me to learn the family history.

"You, not Henry?"

Knightly shrugged like it was no big thing. "Henry was out of town. Tori had just turned eighteen and wanted to experience life. Henry promised her a trip, but it was postponed when a business issue popped up. She was okay for a day or so then met some young man in the park who filled her head with adventure and saving the world."

"You say that like it’s a bad thing," I said.

"Adventure and saving the world aren't bad," Mrs. Tillis said. “Running off with a man you don't know to the jungles of Costa Rica isn't smart."

I thought of Victoria on the plane and how she'd accepted my call for adventure. At the time, I could tell she craved excitement, but I’d believed she'd never acted on it. Now I knew she had. Or at least had tried.

"After that, she channeled her energy into college and building her business,” Knightly said with a hint of pride.

"Hopefully, she'll do that this week while Mr. Banion is gone," Caroline said.

"She'd better,” I growled, causing everyone to look at me. "And you should help make sure of it too. I'm not a babysitter, and I don't want to put my men in more danger because Victoria is bored."

Knightly glared at me but nodded. He knew I was right.

Later in bed,I reflected on what I'd learned about Victoria. She had a thirst for adventure. She'd also opted out of joining the family business, just like I had. But in her case, she wasn't disowned. I had to admire her ingenuity in starting a business that allowed her freedom to work practically anywhere.

---