The drive to the office is silent, if not awkward. I spend the time rescheduling some of Owen’s first meetings since he won’t make them. We don’t speak, though his attention volleys between the road and me.
Owen drops me off at my apartment and waits for me in the car. I rush up and throw on my standard black suit and heels and race back.
“I’ve been thinking,” I finally say as we make our way the five blocks to the office. “You should borrow someone else’s car for a while. This thing is too easy to spot and track.”
Owen only nods and doesn’t say a word.
We make it to the office, silence still hovering over us. I don’t know what to say to him, and he doesn’t know what to say to me, apparently. He leaves me there to attend a meeting, and I rush to my desk, eager to hire the necessary security to protect him. It doesn’t take me long. I know far more about private security than any normal person should. In fact, the guy I call is the best. He’s a former CIA field agent. Most importantly, I trust him with my life.
“Listen, Noah, I need you to pretend you don’t know me. Can you do that?”
Noah laughs on the other end of the phone. “Got yourself in a little too deep there, Nova?”
“I’m on assignment and don’t want my target getting murdered before I complete it, understand?”
All of that is the truth, but I don’t say anything else about it, and I know Noah understands why I can’t.
“Understood. As long as I’m getting paid, I couldn't care less what mess you’re getting into.” I hear the delight in his voice. Noah loves drama and violence far more than any normal person should. He was a reckless agent, but he’s a hell of a security guard.
“Thanks, Noah. I’ll see you later today to meet with the boss?”
“I’ll be there with my team.”
“I owe you.”
Noah chuckles on the other end. “A date, perhaps?”
I groan. “Not a chance.”
Noah barks out a laugh. “It was worth a shot.”
I hang up the phone, somewhat relieved that there will be more eyes around that I trust. Now the question is, how much do I tell Declan?
I stare at my phone, at Declan’s personal cell phone number on the screen. My fingers shake when I press the call button. I slowly raise the phone to my ear and wait for his voice to pierce the silence.
“About time. I was getting worried you fell off the face of the Earth.” His teasing voice relaxes me a bit.
“I'm sorry, Dec. I got into a bit of trouble yesterday and had no way to contact you until today.”
“What happened?” His voice is serious now.
I take a deep breath. “This is more complicated than we thought. There are more parties involved. I believe that the companies Owen acquired had some crime going on.”
I wait for Declan to say something, but when he doesn’t, I continue, “When he acquired them, the money was cut off to these crime groups, and now they’re after Owen.”
“You have evidence?”
“One witness who used to work for one of the companies.”
“How do you know they’re after Owen?”
“Because we almost got shot yesterday.”
“What?” he roars.
“Someone was trailing him on a hike yesterday morning. They had a gun.”
“Wait, wait!” Dec shouts, and I snap my mouth shut. “You were on a hike with him? Alone?”
