“I have contacts of my own, but I’d like to talk with Wright first before bringing in the DPD.”
“I really think this is a matter for the police, now,” Martin looked to his boss. “You know I can push things through on that front.”
“With all due respect, Senator,” Grant jumped right back in. “You came to R.I.S.C. because you know what we’re capable of. So, trust me to do my job.”
Cantrell looked from him to Martin, and back again. “You’re right. I do trust you, and I’m well aware of what you and your team can do. I’ll support whatever you think is best for the safety of my daughter.”
Grant could tell Martin wasn’t happy his boss sided with him, but he couldn’t give two fucks less.
“Thank you, sir.” He looked at Martin. “It’s my understanding the charity event tomorrow night is one endorsed by this office. Brynnon still insists on going, so if you really want to help, you’ll get me a list of everyone attending, as well as any of your staff and the catering crew.”
The man looked as though he wanted to say more, but instead, made his smartest decision yet by answering with, “I’ll take care of that.”
“I’ll need it within the next hour so my guy can run backgrounds on each of the names.”
Martin shook his head. “The guests and staff have already been vetted by our office.”
“We’ll have the list to you within the hour,” Cantrell assured him. “Martin, why don’t you go ahead and get started on that, so Mr. Hill and his team have plenty of time to go through it.”
Begrudgingly, the other man gave his boss a nod. “Yes, sir.” Knowing he’d just been dismissed, Martin left Grant and the senator alone.
Turning to leave, Grant was surprised when Cantrell closed the door and turned to him. “I wanted to have a word with you, alone, if that’s okay.”
“Of course.”
He’d do his best to control his temper, mainly because he genuinely liked his job and wanted to keep it. But if the guy thought Grant was going to take an ass-chewing sitting down when Cantrell was the one who’d fucked up, he had another think coming.
“I’m not usually a man to mix words, so I’m just going to get right to it. Are you sleeping with my daughter?”
Grant’s eyes flew to Brynnon’s father’s.What the actual fuck?“No, sir,” he answered honestly. “I’m not.”
Cantrell gave him an assessing glance. “Huh. Well, I’ll be damned.”
“Sir?”
“I’m rarely wrong about these things, but for some reason, I believe you.”
The guy actually sounded disappointed—which sure as hell couldn’t be right. Grant cleared his throat. “If there’s nothing else, I should be going.”
“Not so fast.”
Cantrell stepped closer. Grant towered over the older man, yet he still felt like he was about to be scolded like a child.Well, this should be fun.
“You may not have slept with her yet, but you do have feelings for my daughter, don’t you?”
Feeling as though he’d fallen down a rabbit hole of epic proportions, Grant did his best to sound indifferent. “Sir, you hired me to protect Brynnon. Sleeping with a client is against R.I.S.C. policy, and would be grounds for—”
A bark of laughter burst from William Cantrell’s chest. “Spare me the corporate CYA bullshit, Grant. Your job isn’t in danger here. We’re just two men having a conversation. That’s all.”
Yeah...a conversation about having sex with your daughter.
How the fuck was he supposed to respond to that? Was this a set-up? As he spoke, Grant had to force himself not to scan the room for hidden cameras.
“Sir, I’m a little confused by your line of questioning.”
“Christ, son,” Cantrell chuckled. “I guess it’s true what they say...you can take the man out of the military, but you can’t take the military out of the man.” Shaking his head, the man slapped Grant on the shoulder. “How about I talk, and you listen?”
Grant blinked. “Okay.”
