He tookher into the fortress. I will not let him stand in my way.
The man they knew as Dean parked down the street from the Chase Group San Diego branch.She won’t be able to stay hidden for long.
You have to be patient, a second voice said.
Stop reminding me. I know. I know,Dean said.
Both conversations continued in his head.
* * *
Troy waitedfor permission to join Tony and Ian in Tony’s office. “I had tech leave one tracker functioning. We have the location of where the target is tracking Monique from. It’s on the second story of a strip mall in National City. How do you want us to handle it?” Troy asked.
Ian blew out a breath. “It’s a heavily populated area. We can’t have casualties.”
“Let’s get eyes on the place. See if we can catch him coming or going. We need Monique to help give him a false lead. Thursday is her charity show at the San Diego Yacht Club. If we don’t have him by tomorrow night, we take the place. That should lessen the potential of civilian casualties,” Tony said.
“I’ll grab Martin.” Troy stood.
“Negative, I’ll assign a level-three team for surveillance. You, Ice, Martin and Julian are too valuable.” Ian walked to the window to see the San Diego Bay glistening in the sunlight. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he said, “We need to find a safe place for Monique to stay.”
“We had her at the Fairmont and The Omni. Both are upscale accommodations. What about at the Navy Lodge on North Isle? It will limit folks without a military connection,” Troy suggested.
“Great idea. I’ll make some calls. I’m going to put it under your name. Hopefully we will get another layer of cover,” Tony said to Troy. “Ian, go bring Kieran into the loop. I’m surprised he isn’t charging in here.”
Ian sighed.
“Uh oh. This is not a simple high value target protection gig, is it? He’s—” Tony’s intercom buzzed as his door flew open.
Kieran launched himself into the office. “I was going over things with Monique. Attached to just the Seraphina campaign, if we count men only, we are looking at over one hundred seventy-five, and if we add women, another eighty-five. That’s a lot of people to run down.” Kieran stared at the three in the room. “What’s going on?”
Troy appeared uncomfortable. Ian stood and faced his brother. “Sit.”
Kieran growled but heeded Ian’s command.
“We have the location where Monique’s phone and tablet were being monitored from. Troy left one feed working. I want to give him a location we have control over to snare him. Until then, you’ve got a suite at The Navy Lodge,” Ian said pragmatically.
“You like managing me,” Kieran said.
“No, I would like our company to survive.” Ian shook his head. “Where is Monique?”
“Asleep in our office. She’s exhausted,” Kieran managed with a straight face.
“Hmm,” Ian said, brow rising at Troy’s amused expression.
Troy’s smile dissolved into a serious expression. “Um, I’ll grab Martin and Ice to find that location. Delphine has plans on leaving tomorrow morning. I figured we’d let Julian be until then.”
“And people think you’re the mean one, Bremen,” Tony said with a laugh.
Chapter 10
Ensconced at the Navy Lodge on the North Island at the Naval Air Station Coronado, Monique remained curled up in bed. She spent the entire night wrapped in Kieran’s arms. For the first time since she arrived in San Diego, she felt safe. Kieran Chase made her feel something else…wanted, loved?
He cupped her face between his palms. It stunned her how gentle he could be. “Julian and his brother Taggart are going to stay with you.”
“Where are you going?” Her manicured brows fretted.
Kieran kissed each one. “I will be in search of the evil person stalking you.”
