I nod.
He steps back and holds an arm out toward the hallway to the right.
I step inside without hesitation, but come to a grinding halt when I spot two men standing at the door.
Ordinarily I wouldn’t be worried about it, considering the reason we’re all gathered here. But it’s these two men in particular that have my hackles rising.
Lombardis.
Ronan and Damon stand on either side of the door, their backs pressed to the wall with matching anger tugging at their features.
And here I was thinking today would be another boring day on Chloe watch.
After I arrived in New York, I did some of my own research to pin point potential families Chloe may be hiding from. Not because I particularly needed to know, but because going actively hunting to being stuck on bodyguard duty is a violent change and I needed to stretch the muscles.
At the time, I narrowed it down to five familiar across the country, but it seems I’ve just figured it out. I don’t know if anyone in this room knows the danger these men pose to her or if they’re all blissfully unaware that Chloe has been in hiding from this family for a decade, but I imagine my girl is freaking the fuck out right now.
No. Not my girl.
My assignment.
Just my assignment.
Nothing more.
Even as I think the words, my chest tightens. Apparently my cold dead heart has chosen the most inopportune person to open itself to, but I don’t have time to deal with that right now.
I need to get Chloe the fuck out of here and work out what to do next.
She’s going to want to run. It’s in her nature to flee a dangerous situation, but I won’t let anything happen to her. Partly because I care for her, and partly because Boss will kill me if I let any harm come to her.
Both my bosses, actually.
Fuck.
I’m not sure Camilla will be any more open to my feelings for my charge than he will be.
I wipe my face of any emotion, forcing my body to relax as I close the distance between Chloe and me.
“Gentlemen,” I greet, my smile easy and carefree.
“Who the fuck are you?” Damon snaps. He always was the one with the shorter temper, making him predictable but no less dangerous.
“Chloe’s bodyguard. I’m here to take her home,” I say, not bothering to lie to them. Any mistruths I tell need to be carefully chosen, and this one is hardly worth hiding from these two assholes.
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” Ronan replies, standing to his full height and putting him level with me. I’m sure he’s used to people finding him intimidating, but I’m tempted to laugh at the show of masculine peacocking.
“Well, she’s certainly not going anywhere with the two of you, so I suppose we’re at an impasse.” I shrug. “In case you haven’t been made aware, Chloe is incredibly important to Camilla, which makes her important to the men of the Legion. I trust youunderstand the implications of threatening those close to the Syndicate?”
To their credit, neither man flinches, which is kind of disappointing to be honest. It’s been too long since I’ve had the chance to intimidate someone, and it’s making me itchy.
“She’s not going anywhere until we talk to her,” Ronan says, his gaze flicking over my shoulder to his brother.
The door opening behind them cuts off my response, and a furious-looking Bishop appears, closing the door over behind him and blocking our view of Chloe before I get the chance to make sure she’s okay.
The urge to check on her grows by the second, my skin itching with each minute that ticks by without eyes on her, but I keep my face neutral.
“She doesn’t want to see either of you,” he tells the Lombardis before looking up at me. “Did she call you?”
