TWO
Bran could tell by the dark look on Chase’s face when he walked into the office and saw the broken windows—his brother wasn’t happy. He took a look around and headed straight for Bran. At least the glass on the floor had been swept up.
“What the hell, little brother?” Chase propped his hands on his hips as he surveyed the jagged shards left in the window frames, all that remained after the shooting.
“Take it easy. I’ve already called the glass company. They’re sending a guy out to take measurements and replace the panes. I’ll take care of the cost.”
“It’s not the money and you know it.” Considering they were each worth millions, thanks to the extremely profitable oil-and-gas business their father had left them and the great job their brother, Reese, as CEO, had been doing to grow the company.
“Someone could have been seriously injured or even killed,” Chase said. He was the oldest of the Garrett brothers, brown eyes, dark blond hair, a hard jaw rimmed by a short, dark blond beard. Chase was newly married and extremely happy. Well, until today. “What’s going on?”
Bran tipped his head toward the woman quietly sitting in the oak chair next to his desk. “Chase, meet Jessie Kegan. She’s a journalist from Colorado. And Daniel Kegan’s younger sister.” After the shooting, there had been no more problems, but the back door was now locked and Jax was keeping an eye on the front just in case.
Chase’s dark gaze went to Jessie, but he didn’t have to ask who Daniel Kegan was. He knew how close Danny and Bran had been, knew Danny had been killed in the war—killed saving Bran’s life. Knew the pain his friend’s death had caused.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jessie,” Chase said. “I assume all of this has something to do with you.”
“I came to ask for Brandon’s help. I didn’t mean to bring trouble down on all of you.”
Chase’s expression softened. “Trouble kind of goes with the territory when you’re in the security business.” His gaze returned to Bran. “I take it you’re going to help Ms. Kegan solve her problem.”
“I’ll keep her safe. But the problem won’t be solved until we track down the people involved. To do that, we’re going to need to go back to Colorado.”
“When are you leaving?”
Bran glanced toward the broken windows, his hand automatically going to the custom grip on the Glock 19 now clipped to his belt. “I’d say the sooner the better.”
“How are you getting there?”
“It’s too far to drive. Less than three hours by plane.”
“Less than that if you take the company jet.”
“If I fly us down in the Baron, I’ll have a little more flexibility. Not sure where we might end up. That is if you aren’t planning to use it.”
“I don’t have anything planned. But keep me posted, and if you need help, call me.”
“Will do.”
Chase headed for his office. So far the cops hadn’t shown up, and it looked like they weren’t going to. Reporting the incident without any info or even a plate number on the vehicle wouldn’t do jack, so it didn’t really matter.
“You own a plane?” Jessie asked.
“Technically, it’s Chase’s, but my brothers and I all share it. We don’t know where this thing with your father is headed. With the plane, we’ll be able to move around more easily, depending on what we find out.”
“That sounds good. When are we leaving?”
“First thing in the morning. I’ve got a couple of loose ends I need to take care of before we go.”
“I took a taxi straight here from the airport when I realized those guys were following me. I need to find a hotel to spend the night.”
Bran felt a trace of amusement. “You won’t be needing a hotel room, Jessie. You’ll be staying at my place tonight. You’re Danny’s sister. From the moment you walked through that door until this is over, you’re under my protection.”
She blinked. “Wait a minute. I’m not sure what I expected when I came here—your help clearing my father’s name, for sure. But I certainly wasn’t expecting you to act as my bodyguard.”
“Until today, you didn’t know you needed one. Now you do.”
She looked as if she might argue, but since he was right, she stayed silent.
