“Send for Ian,” Christian said. “You should have seen him.”
Ian exhaled a shuddering sigh.
“If she has an anxiety attack, we will assess each situation as it occurs. If we can’t settle her with words and actions, we have a battery of medication,” Hunter said.
“We don’t want to drug her, but we won’t let her hurt herself,” Pete added.
Ian took over the conversation, “Now that we understand her physical condition, let’s start with what I know. I’m going to put everything on the table. Some of this will be difficult to hear. I need to be clear: I care for Cassie. The first time I met her was at a fundraiser six years ago at the National Gallery.”
Ian noted Kieran paying close attention to the family’s facial reactions, while Martin was intent on him. “I was still acclimating to being home from Afghanistan. It was the first thing I did for me after getting the company up and running. There she was, gorgeous, brilliant and funny, holding the diverse crowd’s and my attention. An engagement ring rested on her fourth finger, so I stopped there.
“The Monday before she was stabbed, in a chance encounter at Luke and Rachel’s home, I felt I was given a second chance. She was adorable after Knight stole her badge and gun.” Ian looked at Caleb and shook his head. “We shared a meal at the American Café, and she stole my heart.
“After one dance, I was enamored. Speaking with all of you, her partner, her boss, and Sophie, I grew surer of my feelings. Tonight, I want to make it crystal clear: Cassie’s well-being is personal to me. Everything I do is to protect her.”
Frank said, “What are you saying, Chase? What did you do?”
“Hear Ian out, boys. We owe him that,” Luke warned.
“First, I placed her under the protection of Chase Security. The FBI protection and their motives did not impress me. After Wilds’ intentions became clear and the level of danger increased, I brought in a qualified medical team. In addition to being physician assistants, Jamie, Eric, Tuck, and Pete are all former pararescuemen. The men providing your escorts or transportation are all former Special Operators. All work under Eagle’s Talon auspices.”
Five pairs of eyes locked on Ian. Caleb said, “LC, what’s the deal?” Overseas, Eagle’s Talon’s personnel, working as independent contractors, embedded with the SEALs on more than one occasion to protect high-value targets.
“Cassie is under our protection,” Ian said.
Frank looked up. “Holy shit, Chase. You’re behind Eagle’s Talon?”
Kieran nodded. “Ian and I are. The group’s resources enabled us to discover a lot of the information we will share with you tonight, those resources and an in-depth discussion this morning with Andy Blake and Javier Ruiz.”
Luke Paulsen pushed up from his seat. “Chase, you overstepped your bounds this time. You had no right to speak with them, and if they gave you any information, I will have their badges.”
Rachel Paulsen slapped her hands on the table. “Luke, sit down. Ian did not overstep his bounds. I gave him permission.”
Luke’s eyes popped. “Why?”
“Ian told us in the waiting room the night she was stabbed, she said, ‘Cassiopeia is dead.’ When he asked us what she meant, we said nothing. I thought about it every night since and realized we’re not protecting Cassie. We’re protecting ourselves. Her attack is too painful for us to bear. Eric, Jameson, and Ian came to me last night. If this proves to be related to six years ago, don’t we have a duty to Cassie to help her put this to rest? And if it doesn’t, it’s clear to me Ian won’t use this information to hurt her. For God’s sake, you’re all supposed to be trained observers—and you can’t see Ian is in love with her?” Rachel said, swiping at tears.
Ian stood. “We’ll give you a few moments.” The Chase personnel left the Paulsens alone, seeking refuge on the patio.
Luke joined them twenty minutes later and asked them to return inside.
Ian began again, bringing them up to speed on what went on during the dinner, including Wild’s harassment and the coverup recorded by the surveillance devices and his intention to derail her career as well as wishing her dead to make things easy.
“Dad, you should have let Christian and me kill him,” Caleb said.
Anger shook the room. Kieran stood. “At this time, we have no reason to believe Wilds was involved in anything more than wishful thinking to protect himself. We’re investigating rumors Cassie is not the first woman he’s harassed. I personally apprised Director Samuels and Paul Yates of the situation. All evidence was turned over. Also, we have reason to believe the five agents on her team complained about Wilds to the higher-ups. Tomorrow morning, the director and Paul plan to come by for a visit. I spoke with Greg tonight, and he will be here at 0900.”
“I know this will be difficult, but tomorrow, I would appreciate your restraint and honor in letting us handle this. Cassie comes first.” Ian wrote a note on his tablet.
“Now to Dr. Joe Maddox.” Ian summed up where their evidence trail took them. “We want to make sure he loses his license to practice anywhere. Any funds gained will be donated as per Cassie’s wishes. We expect Maddox’s arrest soon. We still have no idea why.”
Kieran waited for a pause before explaining the circumstances of the potassium overdose.
Ian cleared his throat. “At the Helping Hearts dinner, Cassie was assigned to protect Senator Robert Bynum.” He described the events of the dinner in a slow and deliberate manner, knowing the mention of the tables’ occupants and the planning would take Cassie off her game.
“Are you kidding me?” Caleb raised his voice.
“Who did this to her?” Sean clenched his fists.
