Page 45 of Like a Hurricane

“This is the same one you were telling me about?” She asks curiously, “The one who married that girl with the kid?”

“Her name is Maya, Harper is her daughter, yes. You’ll like them.”

She doesn’t look convinced, “Not many people like me, Everett.”

I pause, “What?”

“I’m a convenience,” She shrugs, accepting the coffee with a small smile, “Always have been. My family like me, of course, and Suzy, she was my assistant. But I don’t have friends, just acquaintances. Most people only put up with me because they had something to gain.”

I’m stumped, then I’m fucking furious “No one will ever use you again, princess. I won’t allow it.”

But she just sighs, “It’s okay, really. You get used to being alone.” She glances towards the windows, “Hey, it stopped snowing.”

“Come here,” I call to Arryn a few hours later. She pads over to me, hair pulled across one shoulder as it dries from her shower.

“What is it?”

“I didn’t want you to miss it,” I tell her quietly, a pang of guilt tightening my stomach, “But I couldn’t risk taking you.”

“What are you talking about?”

I turn the screen her way, showing her the live feed of her father’s service.

She sucks in a breath, agony twisting her face as grief makes her eyes well with tears.

“Why did you do this?” Her voice cracks on a sob and I move in, pulling her to me and situating her on my lap.

“Because I didn’t want you to miss it, princess, this is the best I could do. I am so sorry.”

Her eyes are glued to the screen as people start to make their way inside the building ready for Victor’s service to begin.

“How?” Her hand curls around my arm as if being on my lap isn’t enough physical connection and she needs more. I hold her tighter.

“I have friends,” Is all I tell her.

“My sister,” She gasps, leaning in further as if she could climb through it and stand right by her sister’s side. Olivia Lauder is beautiful, very similar to Arryn in looks but where Arryn had blue eyes, Olivia had such dark eyes they almost looked black. Shorter hair which was wavy over the dead straight of Arryn’s.

Suzy, Arryn’s assistant stands with Olivia and a second woman who I didn’t know stands at her other side. They both support the young girl, tears tracking down her face and smearing her fresh makeup.

“I should be there.” Arryn whispers sadly, “I should be holding her.”

“I know, princess,” Arryn furiously swipes at her tears.

“How can you be sure it wouldn’t be safe?” She asks.

I lean in next to her and point to the screen, “These two people here,” I point to two men that look like security, “Are men I hired to keep watch on the service. I want to know if the Ware’s show up, but I also wanted them there to protect your sister in case something was to happen.” She nods, following my hand as I move it across the screen to a third man. I knew him, even had drinks with the man once upon a time. He was a well sought after hitman, almost as sought after as Torin, me, and Kolt, and Iknewhe was the man who had taken the job over. “This man right here works in the organization. He’s a very skilled assassin, I didn’t hire him for the service, and I very much doubt he’s there to pay his respects. He’s waiting to see if you show up.”

“He’d just murder me in front of all these people?”

“No, little storm,” I keep my eye on him, watching as he stalks every attendee, watches them all like a hawk, reading their faces, waiting for my Arryn to arrive. “He’d stalk you, mark you and when you’re alone, he’d strike. Once he has his eyes on you, he won’t lose you. Even if I was with you.”

“Oh my god, is Olivia safe?”

“She hasn’t got a hit out on her,” I tell her, “It’s just you. I don’t think the Ware’s intended to involve Victor’s daughters, you just happened to witness them killing two men and therefore you’re a liability.”

“But if they killed my dad because he’s the competition, then why would he not take us out? Since we’re the ones to take over the hotel and remain the competition.”

“I’m not sure, Arryn, I have people looking into them but they’re very good at hiding their tracks.”

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