Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
“Your family home isn’t ideal since it’s more than likely already a known location for you, but we could send in Apollo to wire it to the nines. Cameras, perimeter sensors, drones, if the land allows it. Out there, we can control the environment instead of reacting to it.”
Lofton’s brow creased, causing her to wince. She gently rubbed the bandage on her forehead, and then circled her fingers in the air, signaling for me to continue.
“LA is nothing but noise. Paparazzi and tourists, searching for their next celebrity sighting, only to report your location in real time. A small town will have fewer eyes. Fewer cameras that don’t belong to us. A stalker would have to commit to getting close. Marty was on the right track, moving you to that rental, limiting the access points. However, my guess is he underestimated this guy’s desperation. Nothing against Marty. He just wasn’t working with the same intel we have now. Bottom line, LA keeps you visible. Tennessee helps you vanish. From a security standpoint? You can’t touch what you can’t reach.”
I looked from Lofton to Leo to Johnson, and for the first time all damn day, no one looked like they were fighting the urge to tell me to shut the fuck up.
“I’m good with that,” Lofton said immediately.
“Me too,” Leo added. “How long do you think it would take to get the proper security in place, Lo?”
Apollo sat up straighter in his chair. “You got a budget in mind?”
Lofton shrugged. “What’s the going rate for not being murdered in your own home?”
“Right. No budget,” Apollo replied. “Then, assuming there is already a security framework in place, and I can find a team we trust, it shouldn’t take more than a few weeks to get things set up.”
“You got one,” I shot back.
He quirked a challenging eyebrow. “You want this done right or quick?”
“We want it done right,” Lofton said before I had the chance to open my mouth. “You may have a few hoops to jump through with my Dad, but my sister can help you with that when you get there.”
Leo grinned. “Alright, now that we have that settled. We still need to get you somewhere safe for the time being. Totally your call, but we have a safe house nearby. It’s already wired, secure, and vetted.”
Of course. Rhion’s place. Johnson hadn’t been offering a vacation spot when he’d brought it up. He’d been issuing a friendly reminder of our local resources, and I’d been so blinded by my own bullshit that I’d missed it. Dammit. What else could I have missed?
“Works for me,” Lofton said, decision made and already on her feet. “Let me grab Brooke and we can head out.”
“Actually,” Leo cut in. “That’s something else we need to address. I know you are close with your assistant, but I strongly advise she and the kid go home for a while.”
Lofton stopped in her tracks. “No. They live in my guest house. They can’t go back there.”
“Okay, then we’ll get them set up somewhere else. As hard as this may be for you to hear, until the cops catch this guy, they’re in more danger when they’re with you.”
Her shoulders fell and her dark lashes fluttered shut for a beat. “I know. I hate it, but I know.”
“I promise we’ll take good care of them. But you have to be our priority.”
She drew in a deep breath, releasing it on a resigned sigh. “All right, then at least let me say my goodbyes.”
Everyone stood as she rounded the table to leave.
Just short of the door, she stopped in front of me. She wasn’t particularly short for a woman—maybe five-eight or so—but I dwarfed her in both height and body mass.
Tipping up her chin, she met my gaze. “For the record, I don’t care what your boss says. You aren’t the best in the business. Marty was.”
She turned to leave, but I stepped into her path, careful not to touch her.
“You’re right. He was one of a kind.”
Surprise flickered across her face. “You knew him?”
“We worked together at Arrow when I first started. Lost touch after I moved.” My throat tightened, but I kept my voice even. “He was a damn good bodyguard. And an even better man. You have my word. From here on out, I’ll do a better job trying to fill his shoes.”
It wasn’t the apology she deserved.
But it was a promise I could keep.
She rolled her eyes. “I won’t be holding my breath.”
Yeah. That one landed.
But I’d earned it.
She walked away, disappearing into the bedroom without another glance.
Apollo immediately grabbed his phone and got to work.
Johnson did the same. Though his tone was gentle and warm, so it had to have been Rhion on the other end.
Leo walked over to me, a grin playing on his lips.