Her mother patted her cheek. “You are so beautiful, my daughter. So clever and kind. I’m so proud of you.” She scooped Vanessa’s hair up in her hands. “Do you want me to make the rose?”
The rose was a hairstyle her mother always did on her and Lucy when they had to dress up—Christmas Mass, a funeral, a baptism, a wedding. It was an intricate updo that resembled a rose in bloom. It was one of Vanessa’s favorite hairstyles, and one only her mother had ever done for her.
She’d planned on wearing her hair down, but now the rose seemed more appropriate. “That would be nice, Mom, thanks.”
Her mother pressed a kiss to her cheek, then set to work, twisting and shaping her hair into a rose.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Something was going to happen tonight. Despite all his reassurances to Joel, Jordan could feel it crawling under his skin. He’d double-checked every security measure, every exit, every face on the guest list. Still, the unease coiled through his gut like a warning.
As he made his way back to The Link’s gym after doing his fourth walk-through of the premises, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming tonight that he hadn’t prepared for.
He tried to calm himself by running through the protocol, the men he’d stationed at all the access points of the building, the restricted areas, and the places that would have the highest traffic. He’d arranged for cameras, digital security, even fucking law enforcement.
So what was he missing? What had he not prepared for?
As guests started arriving, he kept watch like a hawk. The weight of the Glock at his side was both familiar and distant—like an echo from a life he’d sworn he’d buried. Almost a decade had passed since he’d worn a weapon, and he never expected to again.
But protecting Vanessa had changed everything. With only one non-violent felony on his record, and Joel’s connections fast-tracking the paperwork, Jordan’s right to carry had been quietly and legally restored for private protection work.
The new life he imagined for himself was quiet and inconspicuous. Straight and narrow for once in his goddamn life. But Vanessa had blindsided him in every single way possible, dragging him back to a version of himself he thought he’d left behind. The version that could shoot to kill. The version that never missed.
And if keeping her safe meant becoming that man again, he’d face every ghost that came with him. He’d do it a thousand times over, because this time, he had something worth fighting for.
Heading down the hallway to the gym, he took a mental note of anyone who appeared remotely out of place. He filed away minute details like outfits, approximate height and weight, and snippets of conversations happening around him. One never knew when the tiniest detail became relevant.
As he entered the gym, he took a moment to marvel at how Vanessa had transformed The Link for the evening. The entire place radiated a swagger that hadn’t existed forty-eight hours ago.
The gritty, tired feel was gone, replaced by an elegance that was entirely a reflection of her.
Each chair was covered in deep red fabric, arranged in a perfect U-shape around the long, sleek runway, which was trimmed in black silk that complemented the seating.
Behind the runway, a dramatic black silk wall hid the roughed-up gym while also creating a backstage area. Jordan knew that’s where Vanessa was right now,orchestrating the final touches, making sure the models were ready and everything from clothing to makeup and hair was flawless.
He was so damn proud of her. This entire evening had been planned and brought to life in the span of three weeks. Hours of her time and even her own funds had gone into it.
The lights flickered, signaling it was time for people to take their seats. He rolled his shoulders back, the weapon at his side shifting at the movement, reminding him that he was here to do one job. Keep her safe.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a couple of players from the Portland Trail Blazers and their partners take their seats. Across the room, the mayor was being escorted to his seat next to a beaming Chantal, who was seated beside Luciano, Maria, and the rest of the Barone contingent, Hope and Gabe included.
The lights went out, music started, and a spotlight dropped onto the back of the stage. Vanessa appeared from behind the curtain, her body draped in a white sheath dress that hugged every contour. Cutting high across her collarbone and stretching over her arms, the fabric fell down her long, toned legs until it pooled at her feet, hiding her shoes.
If she was wearing a stitch of underwear under that dress, he couldn’t see it. Heat rolled through him at the sight of her.
As if they were the only two people in the room, she instantly homed in on him. Holding his gaze, she strutted the catwalk, hips flowing side to side, head high, and lips pouted. The spotlight followed her, and with the glow illuminating her, she looked like she was walking down an aisle. Toward him.
Fuck.
She consumed everything. Every cell in his body, every ounce of his attention, every corner of his soul. If she kept walking along the runway like that, looking at him the way she was, she’d swallow him whole.
With a shake of his head, he broke eye contact. The last thing he needed was his growing feelings for her distracting him from the goal of protecting her.
As he patrolled the gym, he listened to her opening remarks. She spoke like she did everything else, with confidence and grace. She spoke of the kids who’d worked their asses off for tonight’s show, about their dedication and resilience, about how close she’d gotten to them. Mostly, she emphasized how important The Link was not only to young people in the community, but to the well-being of the community itself, because strong youth meant a strong generation of adults in the future.
By the time he finished his first pass of the gym, he spotted several teary faces in the crowd. By the time the lights dimmed again, and the show started, he knew that The Link was getting a hell of a lot more out of tonight than one-off donations.
He checked in with the rest of his team, walked the perimeter, and inspected the backstage, which was a flurry of outfit changes, hair and makeup touch-ups, and a cacophony of giggles and excitement.
