Martin almost flew over the seat, ready to intervene. “Angel, Tuck wants to help you.” Kieran tried to calm her.
Tucker took a deep breath. “Susie, let’s play a game. Kieran is going to hold up his finger. When I say three, I want you to blow on it like it’s a big birthday candle.”
“Sally can help us. Just look at me, angel.” Kieran held up her doll and his finger.
“Count with us,” Martin said.
Susie never felt the stick. Fluid and medicine flowed into her depleted body. Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up to the Children’s Hospital.
* * *
Ian tipped back in his chair, removed the headset, and heaved a sigh of relief. Susie was safe. The team accomplished its goal. Rubbing the back of his neck, he knew he would feel more settled once he received news from the hospital.
On a secure line, he dialed the supervisory special agent in charge at the field office in New Orleans. The not-so-warm-and-friendly conversation did not surprise him. Notifying Kieran to be prepared for FBI company, he faxed them the evidence trail that led them to her. Sore, territorial feelings never factored in for him, especially when it involved the safety of a child.
Monique Lillie Chase sauntered into the control room. The black Chanel pantsuit clung to every curve of his exotic French sister-in-law’s model body. “Bonjour, my favorite brother-in-law.”
“I’m your only brother-in-law.” Ian smiled at his brother’s charming, black-haired, blue-eyed wife, whom Kieran met when she was the target of a stalker and, her management company hired Chase Security for protection. For Kieran, it was love and stupidity at first sight. She fit in the family business perfectly with a command of French, Italian, and German as well as an economics and management degree from Aix-Marseille Université.
“What’s up, Monique?”
She flopped into one of the chairs beside him. “Darling, Kieran called me. He isn’t gonna make it back from Louisiana until late tonight. He insists on setting up the Tanners’ new security plan.”
“You know Kieran has a protective streak a mile wide. Susie got to him.”
“Well, that streak brings me to you. We have tickets tonight to a charity fundraiser at the Four Seasons. I want to go. It’s supposed to be a fun crowd, but he won’t let me go without an escort.” She pressed out her full bottom lip in the pout that always made Kieran heed. Ian was amused. “I love Colby, but he’s still in diapers.” Monique referred to her twenty-seven-year-old bodyguard. “Will you take me, please?”
Ian laughed at her petulant tone. “I’m sure Cowboy would love to hear about his undergarments. Kieran hates these things and somehow always manages to get out of them. I swear he planned this. What am I raising funds for now, gorgeous?”
She rubbed her brow. “It’s actually something you might want to contribute to. It’s Helping Hearts, a domestic violence prevention charity. Please, Ian?”
Ian’s lips twitched. She was a perfect foil for his caveman brother. “What time?”
Monique took to her feet with the stunning grace he was accustomed to seeing. “Cocktails at six.” She placed a soft kiss on each of Ian’s cheeks.
The gala made him think about how perfect Cassie would be on his arm.
Chapter Five
Late that afternoon, Ian stepped into his tuxedo pants, and his Bluetooth was placed in his ear. Meanwhile, Kieran remained stalled in the Louisiana hospital. “Susie won’t let anyone come near her without Tuck or me in the room—not even her mom or dad. We are working on making her feel safe. Bro, Hanlon is amazing. The ER doc said he made the difference. We need to offer him steady work. I don’t want him going anywhere else.”
“Hire him.” Ian took a breath. “Was she—”
Kieran answered before the question was out of his mouth. “No, no evidence of sexual assault. This was all about the money.”
After discussing the operational particulars, they discussed the night’s charity event. “Fifty thousand a plate?” Ian asked. “Trying to get in Monique’s good graces? You hate these things.”
“And you love them, the Billionaire Beltway Bachelor. Hell, you might have fun for a change. Fun—you remember that word?”
Ian thought about Cassie. “Fun? Washington society, pandering politicians, actors and actresses, and sports figures who get dressed up to be the style star in the latest magazine edition. And the paparazzi make news out of nothing. All that cocktail party banter.”
“You banter better than me, Big Brother.”
“I prefer anonymous donations.” After speaking to Monique and pulling up the charity’s prospectus, Ian made a sizable contribution.
“You might meet a nice girl. Hey? What about that FBI agent?”
“Have you been talking to Mom? And Cassie is none of your business,” Ian warned.
