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“Do you know each other?” Leo’s gaze bounced from Jo to the lumberjack and back to her. Vigilance glimmered in his eyes. This was a man who missed nothing.
“You could say that.” The lumberjack’s voice was gruff, impossible to read. He stuck out one hand, scrub that, one paw. “Griff Nyland. Guardsmen Security.” His voice was a slow drawl, making the short hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention.
He leaned in, his scent of soap and man loosening all the muscles around her knees, as he clasped her hand in his. His palm was warm, the skin calloused, delicious friction against her own skin.
“You.” Her chest locked tight, and it was an effort to breathe.
He released her hand, hooked his thumbs under his leather belt.
He flashed perfect teeth. “Looks like it.”
She waited a beat, anticipating some smart-ass comment about her not accepting help, but none was forthcoming. Griff remained silent, his attention fixed on her.
Leo cleared his throat. “Please come and sit down.” He placed a comforting hand against the small of her back and guided her to an enormous polished table at the rear of the room.
He pulled out a chair for her. “Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee?”
“Coffee would be great, thanks.” Jo sank into the chair, grateful. The nip of tension in her shoulders eased. She was no longer on her own. These fierce-looking men were on her side, and one in particular…
“Please, Inga, could you bring some coffee?”
The older woman who’d shown her in nodded at Leo and, after shooting Jo an encouraging smile, she left the room.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me. Especially when I didn’t give you much to go on.” Heat stung Jo’s cheeks. “I didn’t know if it was safe.”
A glance flew between Leo and the lumberjack at her words. Leo took a seat opposite and steepled his hands over a sleek tablet. “Not at all. Many of our clients are cautious. How can we help you?”
She cleared her throat. “You may already know my brother was on the Architect when it went down.”
For an instant, the only sound in the room was the hum of power from the bank of state-of-the-art computers behind Leo.
Leo’s expression smoothed, giving nothing away. “I’m so sorry.” He straightened the tablet on the glossy wood. “We’re well aware of how difficult a time this has been for so many families.”
Jo stared at her laced fingers in her lap. Her heart thudded in her chest, making it hard to catch a breath. She lifted her head, pushed back her shoulders, flattening down the wave of emotion threatening to consume her. She’d come so far, she wouldn’t stumble at the last hurdle.
“I know you’ve had dealings with Raptor Industries. Your company protected Abbie Allard when she testified against them in court.”
Leo leaned forward, his face serious. “You must understand we can’t discuss another client’s business.”
“Yes. Of course.” Heat flushed her neck. “I tried to speak to Allard when she went to visit Horton. She was with one of your men.” Jo glanced around the room, even though she already knew the intimidating man with the silver beard she’d seen with Abbie Allard wasn’t present.
“I think Allard guessed Raptor owned Pharmasyn, that they were using it as a cover to continue their research. Unethical research.”
Griff placed his hands on the table, dark hair dusting the back of them. Capable hands that would take care of a person. Jo dragged her gaze away to her own trembling fingers, dug her nails into her palms and took a deep breath. “Abbie Allard testified against Raptor. That’s public knowledge. She brought them to their knees and for a short while I allowed myself to think it was the end of it, that justice had been served. The Pharmasyn deal to build a manufacturing plant close to London. It fell through. Pharmasyn slipped off everyone’s radar.”
“But not any longer?” His voice was gruff, but Griff’s eyes spoke kindness. Up close, their impact was a hundred times more intense than it had been at the side of the road.
“No.” She shook her head, her voice quiet. “I started writing a feature piece on my brother and Raptor before the court case. Cost me my job.” She gave a half laugh, remembering that day, finding Dave her boss at her desk, regret warping his face even if he wouldn’t admit Raptor had applied pressure to silence the paper.
She sniffed, emotion riding her hard, grateful for the pause as Inga brought coffee to the table. “Milk? Sugar?”
Jo shook her head. “Thanks, but I like it black.” She cradled the steaming mug between her hands, soaking up the soothing heat. “After the court case, I wanted to finish the piece, job or no job. Closure, if you will. I thought the dust had settled, but it hasn’t. I started pulling information from public sources.” She sighed. “Clearly I poked the sleeping bear. And now I haven’t slept properly in weeks, I’m being followed— “
Griff exchanged a look with his boss. “Followed?”
“I went to my brother Luke’s house. Raptor made excuses and went through all his things just after the funeral. Checking for loose ends. They thought they had them all tied up, but they missed one.”
“In his will, he left me this key. It looks like nothing and it kind of is. It’s for his childhood money box. The Tardis from Doctor Who. I thought he was being sentimental, but it contained this.” She held up the USB she’d found inside.
