“What do you know about her?” I ask, peering into her tired green eyes.
“Not a lot. The manager hired her. She’s a few years younger than me. Degree educated. She was having a hard time getting the hang of the job, but now I’m wondering if that’s because she was a plant with no skills suitable to the position.”
“I will have Phillip pull up everything we can on her. Your father said she wasn’t in the building when he arrived, so she’s most likely on the run already.”
“What about the manager?” Leo asks. “And other staff members? She might not have been acting alone.”
“She’s a stickler for the rules and completely honest,” Sierra explains. “There is no way she is involved with the Russian mafia. The other therapists have all worked at the center for years, and I doubt they are involved either. There were only two other therapists, me, and Lucille in the building yesterday.”
“We will check them all out,” Leo says.
“I want the receptionist found. Alive,” I add.
At least for now.
If I find out she conspired to drug my fiancée, I can’t guarantee her survival. I’m enraged and itching to make someone else pay.
Sierra stiffens against me, and I know she wouldn’t be down for that plan. “I want to talk to her myself,” I say.
“I’m very sorry, Sierra,” Alessandro says.
“It’s not your fault.” She is quick to reassure him, and a surge of jealousy slaps me in the face. I know Sierra isn’t interested in Alessandro like that. They are friends, and I’m being ridiculous. I know I’m acting like a moody possessive teenager, but I can’t help how I feel.
She is mine.
Mine.
“It’s my job to protect you, and accepting drinks from strangers is sloppy,” he tells her. “I know better.”
“You do.” I drill him with a look, but I don’t rip him a new one. Not in front of Sierra. He nods, understanding fully that he messed up. Sierra yawns, and I press a kiss into her hair while maintaining eye contact with Alessandro. “It’s been a long day. Get some rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
Both guys stand.
“I want a quick word, Leo,” I say, hauling Sierra to her feet. Leo flops back on the couch while Alessandro walks to the elevator. Gently, I palm Sierra’s uninjured cheek. “Alessandro put your bag in my room already, but if you’d prefer to stay with Rowan or in the other bedroom, that’s your choice.”
She places one hand on my chest, staring me straight in the eye. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
Thank fuck for that because I need to keep her close. To remind myself she’s safe. I nearly lost her today, and it’s put a lot of things into perspective for me. I brush my lips against hers, uncaring that Leo is here. “I will be up in a few minutes.”
“Good night, Leo,” she says, clamping a hand over her mouth to stifle another yawn as she walks off.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Leo says, and she smiles before grabbing hold of the glass bannisters. “See you in the morning,” he adds, and she nods. I watch her walk up the stairs and disappear into my room before I reclaim my seat.
A shuddering breath escapes my mouth as I lean forward on my elbows, running one hand through my hair.
“You look beat,” Leo says.
“I am,” I truthfully admit. Lack of sleep is catching up to me. “It’s been one hell of a day.”
“What time do you want to head out tomorrow?”
“Before lunch to beat the traffic, but it will depend on when Rowan and Sierra wake. I don’t want to rush either of them. They’ve had a traumatic day.”
“I’ll ensure everything is ready to go, and I’ll touch base with Phillip first thing.”
I already called my IT guru when we were en route to Chicago and got him to pull up the employee listing for the center. I knew someone who worked there was involved, so Phillip is already looking into everyone. “Call him now and ask him to prioritize Lucille. We need to find her.” Hopefully, Phillip will have background information tomorrow so we can narrow her whereabouts down.
“Consider it done, boss.”
