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My leg bounced.
Bill held my gaze. “You’ll only be safe when we find out who he is and what he wants. Otherwise, you’ll be looking over your shoulder forever.”
I liked Bill’s use ofwe. I definitely needed help.
Lauren and Vincent nodded in agreement.
I attempted to still my unruly leg. “And how?—”
“Protection and investigation,” Bill said, cutting me off. “A security firm that has the people to keep you safe and the resources to find out if someone is after you.”
What the hell?Ifsomeone was after me?Bill didn’t believe me. I straightened. “Look, I know what happened. I didn’t imagine it. If you don’t believe me, maybe I should just go.”
“I believe you.” Vincent had always been a rock for me.
Lauren shot her husband a warning glare. “Of course we believe you. Don’t we, Bill?”
“Absolutely,” Bill agreed. “What I was trying to say…” He glanced at his wife. “…is that I know the best firm in town. Hawk Security’s crew is top-notch in every way. Their people are ex-military, Secret Service, FBI, CIA—they have it all. Lucas Hawk’s people will ferret out who this is and what they want.”
His mention of Lucas Hawk made my throat go dry. I’d met the man at my lowest and owed him my life. The chest that held those memories rattled, threatening to spill open.
“If you think they’re the best, we’ll gladly use them,” Vincent decided for me.
Be proud, be brave.I nodded. “Sure. They sound fine.” What else could I say? Lucas Hawk was central to secrets I couldn’t share. I mentally wrapped another chain around the chest.
Bill nodded slowly. “Good.”
“To be clear,” I emphasized, “we’re not involving Dad.” Getting my father involved was the one sure way to lose all my hard-fought freedom. “Or anyone else,” I clarified, looking at my brother.
He nodded.
“Understood,” Bill said. “I’ll arrange it with Hawk and make the introduction.”
I nodded and took a deep breath of relief. For now, Dad wouldn’t know.
“But if they tell me you’re being reckless and not following their procedures, I’ll have to get Dad involved,” Vincent added.
And he would too. I nodded. “I understand.”Be a good girl, Serena. Do what you’re told, Serena.I was so sick of it.
Bill picked up the phone.
“They’re good people,” Lauren assured me while Bill dialed.
“Hi, Lucas, Bill Covington. I have a top-priority job for you. A dear friend of mine has been attacked… Yeah, both protection and investigation to find her assailant… That’s great. We’ll be right over.”
Vincent stood. “I think I should come along.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Bill said, standing. “Lauren can tell you more about the opportunity while I’m gone.”
Lauren nodded. “Glad to.”
“I’ll be back in thirty,” Bill added. “We can finish the interview then.”
Uncharacteristically, my brother backed down. He clearly wanted the job Bill had available, whatever it was. We each had our own method of escaping Dad.
CHAPTER 4
Duke
