Page 69 of Ryder’s Storm

“Why don’t you believe me, Dad? She’s lying.”

“After all Claudia has done for you, you hurt her like that? I won’t have it. I don’t want to lay eyes on you until you’re ready to make amends.”

There was a click in the line. Brandon King had disconnected the call.

Ryder put his arms around Scarlet and held her close to his chest.

“Why was she even with him?” Scarlet sobbed. “You said she was with Derek at the San Francisco house.”

“She was, but that was almost three hours ago. She must have driven back to Palo Alto after…” He didn’t have to finish his sentence.

Scarlet lifted her head. “How’s he ever gonna believe me now?”

“We’ll have to figure out a way for him to find out for himself. I’ll think of something.”

Scarlet sniffled.

“But right now, we need to go to Scanguards. They can help us look into Derek to see if there’s anything that can help us expose him as Claudia’s lover. If we can prove that he’s not her nephew, your father will have to listen to you.”

She hoped that Ryder was right. “Okay.”

“Let’s go.”

33

Scarlet appeared to still be shaken from the revelations about Claudia as well as her father’s rebuke. Ryder wished he’d insisted on Scarlet not mentioning anything to her father until they had verifiable proof of Claudia’s infidelity.

“We’ll figure out another way,” Ryder said to her as they arrived at Scanguards. “We’ve got a few investigators here that can help us dig into Derek’s background.”

They rode up in the elevator, and exited on the top floor. The corridor was empty and quiet. Ryder was glad for it. Bringing a human to the top floor was strictly forbidden. There was only one exception to this rule: blood-bonded human mates. They were allowed on the executive floor where the offices of Scanguards’ directors were located.

Ryder headed straight for Thomas and Eddie’s office. Next to the door, a sign read Thomas Brown-Martens & Eddie Brown-Martens, Directors of IT. He knocked at the door.

Scarlet pointed to the sign. “Father and son, or brothers?”

“Spouses.”

“Come in,” Thomas’s voice came from the inside.

Ryder took Scarlet’s hand and opened the door, entering, then shutting the door behind them. Thomas was alone. He sat at his desk, several computer monitors next to each other. Eddie’s station was empty.

“Ryder,” Thomas greeted him, before his gaze swept to Scarlet. He lifted an eyebrow, then tossed Ryder an inquisitive look.

Ryder was aware that Thomas knew that Scarlet was human. Her scent and the lack of a preternatural aura only visible to vampires and other non-humans, identified her as such. But before Thomas could issue a reprimand, Ryder lifted his hand.

“I’m sorry to barge in, Thomas. I know Scarlet isn’t supposed to be up here, but this is urgent.”

Thomas nodded at Scarlet. “Nice to meet you, Scarlet.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

“So, what’s so urgent?”

“We need your help,” Ryder started. “I was assigned to Scarlet’s protection detail. And something has happened.”

“That goes without saying,” Thomas replied and shook his head. “I hope I don’t need to remind you that a relationship with your charge means you’ll be removed as her bodyguard.”

“It’s not about that. Besides, don’t tell me you never broke a rule in your life.”