Chapter Twelve
ROME
Ishouldn’t have snapped at her. I hated that I did. I wasn’t ready to talk about my last assignment; I could barely think about it myself. I shouldn’t have gotten so defensive, but there was this switch in my brain that flipped every time someone brought it up–or brought up any of my time with my Ranger team.
Some memories were too heavy to dig up alone, but I wasn’t ready to ask for help.
People looked at me, and they saw the upbeat, happy facade I wore for the public. They assumed that since I was cracking jokes, always cheerful, and 'aggressively optimistic', that I must be okay. That I didn't have demons within me. Little did they know, I was simply very good at hiding them.
I needed to apologize for my outburst. The comments she made about me, while not the kindest, usually didn’t bother me. At that moment, though, I couldn’t take one more criticism. My mind couldn’t carry it all. Iwouldapologize to her, but I also needed to maintain a more professional relationship with her.
We were bordering on lines that shouldn’t be crossed. I needed this job, and based on these goddamned notes she was receiving and failed to tell me about, Bec needed me.
I couldn’t fathom how nonchalant she was about the entire situation. Yes, people of her status received threats, but those threats were thoroughly investigated to ensure none were credible… and often handed over to the police. These threats to Bec had simply been piled up in a drawer of her desk, and most were left unopened.
These were coming directly to her office, superseding the security controls that we had in place. I had overseen those security controls, so I knew the only way these notes could have reached her was if they had come from someone within the company.
My theory that it was an inside job meant I needed to rely on outside resources. Particularly, resources that had a vested interest in Bec’s safety… but unfortunately, these same resources were not my biggest fan.
The phone continued to ring on my desk, the sound trilling through my small office. I had been sure to lock the door as I had a feeling Bec would be less than pleased with my current actions. Though I don’t think she had ever entered my office… I wastypically called to hers. We were also now engaged in a cold war after our argument yesterday, so I guess I didn’t need to worry.
“What?” Will’s annoyed voice sounded through the phone.
I couldn’t help but chuckle, “Pleasure to talk to you as well. It’s been far too long. How’s the wife?” I asked as I kicked my feet up on my desk.
I could practically hear the eyeroll happening on the other side of the country. I couldn’t help but rile up Will… and Bec… and my best friend Malachi. I was beginning to notice a pattern in the people I surrounded myself with. They were all closed off, grumpy control freaks. I probably needed to look into that, and why I loved to rile them up so much.
Was it some sort of fetish? I didn’t get off on it or anything.
“Rome, what do you need?” Will asked, ignoring my antics, as usual, and snapping me back to reality. I was convinced he secretly loved me, just couldn’t show it, and potentially ruin his bad boy attitude.
“Come on, at least give me some details on Jackie. Tell me how the smartest woman I have ever met is?” I continued. Jackie was brilliant and quick-witted, and shockingly similar to me. In truth, I was in no way attracted to Jackie. She knew that, I knew that, and somewhere deep down even, Will knew that. If my comments had bothered Jackie, I would have shut it down years ago, but she found it as amusing as I did. I had a feeling the two of us were going to send him to an early grave.
Will groaned over the phone. “Fucking hell,” he muttered. “If you don’t cut to the chase, I’m hanging up this phone.”
“Fine, fine, don’t get your panties in a twist. You’re kind of a buzzkill,” I began, straightening back in my chair and staring at the letters to Bec. I had spent half the day poring over them. “It’s about your sister. I need to knowexactlywhy you wanted me out here, and why you thought she needed additional security.”
There was a pause before Will finally spoke, “What happened?”
“Nothing,” I answered immediately, not wanting him to jump to conclusions. “There are some strange letters that she has been receiving, and from what I can see, they are coming from someone within the corporation. I’m trying to discern how credible the threat is. Why?”
I heard a whisperedshitover the phone before Will sighed, “As you know, up until I sent you out there, our dad ran her security. He’s been running it our entire lives… insistent on it. He would have run my security, too, if I hadn’t cut off all contact and moved across the country. It’s one of the ways he tried to exert control over us. His goons would follow us, report back on everything we did and said, and keep people my dad deemed not worthy away from us. It never had to do with our security, but it had everything to do with complete control over our lives. I wouldn’t be shocked if he was somehow behind this.”
“Do you really think they’re from your dad?” I knew their father was a piece of shit, but it was hard to imagine any parent not wanting to keep their own children safe.
“The threats Bec and I received as kids terrified our mom,” Will explained. “My dad used these threats to scare her into submission. I wouldn't be shocked if he were trying to do the same thing to Bec now. To make her lose her footing and screw something up because she's scared. He's a controlling asshole."
“Yeah, I’m starting to understand that. Is that why you sent me out here? Were you worried about your dad and what he would do?” I asked.
He sighed deeply, “No… well, partially. Look, Bec taking over is my dad’s worst nightmare. He wanted me in that position and had expected he could force me there when he was ready. I’m worried about what ramifications may occur with her takingover. I’m not positive he’s given up his dream of me running the company.”
“Ramifications from your dad?” I clarified.
“Yeah. Look, Rome, I know I’m being paranoid. I worry about Bec, and she doesn’t have anyone in her corner out there. My mom tries, and Bec’s friends care for her, but she’s on her own–partially of her own volition. I needed someone out there to keep her safe when I couldn’t. Maybe my dad won’t do anything credible, all logic says he wouldn’t, but I would rather be safe than sorry,” he explained. “I should have told you initially, but I had hopes that my fears would be unfounded.”
I took a moment to digest it all. Will was right that Bec had isolated herself from any meaningful relationships. She had moved herself onto a deserted island of her own choosing and let very few people in. The few she did were often as busy as she was. If something were to happen to her and if she needed help, there weren’t many people here who would help her without question. Especially people who weren't on her payroll, and I did wonder if those same individuals could be interested in a bigger payout. “I’ll do my best to keep her safe.”
“Thank you.” Will answered. “Look, I’ve got to go. My niece has a dance recital, and you already know Jackie is making it a whole production. There are banners... multiple of them. Call me if anything comes up?”
