Page 9

But with each step he took, his confidence settled over me. Steady, controlled, like the men assigned to protect my family. Only it wasn’t the same. There was something more dangerous about him. Something that grew heavier the closer he got. It wrapped around me and the air between us charged. A nervous energy I couldn’t ignore.

When I outlined my plan, my security team voiced their concerns. Their frowns revealed their thoughts. They didn’t approve. Tried to talk me out of it. In the end, there was no cause for them to tell me I couldn’t go. That’s not how it worked. They were assigned to me to keep my brother happy, but I could do as I pleased. As long as there was no visible or known threat. I rarely went against their advice, but last night, before getting into Aiden’s truck, I warned them to stay out of my business.

A knock on my bedroom door pulls me from last night’s memories. Another follows, forcing me to toss the covers back with a grunt.

“What!” As soon as I shout, I feel bad for being rude. “I mean, come in.”

The door opens, and Marty, one of my guards, peers in, chuckling like he’s getting far too much enjoyment from my outburst. “Sorry to wake you, miss, but you have a visitor.”

I bolt upright in my bed, heart pounding. “Who?”

Please do not say Aiden.

“A Ms. Hilbert. She claims to have a cure for your hangover.” With a lingering smile, he runs a hand along his beard. “Shall I tell her you’ll be down in a few or send her up?”

“Send her up.”

He nods but doesn’t leave. It’s clear he has something else he wants to say.

“Just say it.” Taking a deep breath, I bend my legs, drawing my knees to my chest, feeling my muscles contract. “You’ve always been frank. Why stop now?”

“The man from last night should’ve been vetted before you got in his vehicle. You make our job more difficult when you do stuff like that.” He lifts a hand to halt my words when I open my mouth to disagree. “Just be careful. I ran a quick check this morning, and I’m a little worried about what I saw. There are several red flags.”

Resting my chin on my knees, I frown. “First, I wasn’t alone. Jen was with me. He’s her cousin.”

His eyes narrow in concentration. “Which is why they allowed you to go in the first place.”

“Don’t.” The thought of arguing about protocol feels like a chore and has me rolling my eyes. “I appreciate your concern, but you have no right. I choose who I spend my time with. Your responsibility is to keep my brother happy. You work for me. Don’t vet the people I meet unless I ask you to.”

Marty’s frown deepens, but he knows I’m right. “Understood.”

“Good. Now send Jen in and tell Wendy I’ll be skipping breakfast this morning but would appreciate a pitcher of water.”

He tugs the door closed without another word, his heavy footfalls echoing as he walks away.

Growing up in this world, I learned that to be taken seriously, a person must prove they’re the one in charge. Marty had no right to go behind my back and run a background check on Aiden. I’m sure the others mentioned Aiden laying his hands on me, and how they stepped in. I’d scolded them both all the way home, reminding them of my panic button I always carry. They apologized and promised to handle it differently next time.

There’s another quick knock before Marty speaks. “Ms. Hilbert, to see you, ma’am.”

“Send her in.” I holler as I fall to my side and hug my pillow.

The door opens, and Jen walks in wearing sunglasses, a large tote bag slung over her arm. The room fills with a greasy-sweet scent, and my mouth waters.

When she spots me on the bed, she shakes her head. “I was hoping you weren’t alone.”

I point to the small table overlooking the grounds. “So was I, but that, sadly, isn’t the case. Once he spotted my guards tailing us, I realized I’d be waking up solo. What’s the story on your cousin?”

After placing the bag on the table, she unpacks the takeout containers. “He’s always been a loner. Lived with our grandparents for as long as I can remember. Bit of a troublemaker. Disappeared for a few years. Showed up when our grandmother died. That’s when I learned he’d joined the military. We kept in touch after that. When a bullet shattered his knee, ending his career, I was the one he called. He stayed with me and my ex while recovering.”

I cross the room and plop myself down. “Military? What branch?”

Jen hands me a plastic fork, motioning for me to open the box. “Not sure what he enlisted in. All I know is where he ended up.” Across the table, she scoops up some food and shoves it into her mouth. “He was SBS. High up, from my understanding. Planned on retiring there. That all changed after his injury. I don’t for one second believe he’s mixed up with the people everyone claims. That’s not the man I know Aiden to be. I think there’s more to it than that, and I’ll die on this hill defending him.”

I’m mid-bite when she drops that tidbit of info. “What does that mean?”

Picking up a piece of toast, she dips it into the runny part of her eggs and takes a bite. “He joined the military to escape a life of crime. You can’t tell me that after spending fifteen years fighting for the greater good that one bullet sent him running headfirst back into hell. I’ll give him credit. He’s damn good at fooling most, but not me. And I’m only telling you this because I saw how you reacted to him last night. I can’t put my finger on it, but I just know he’d never return to that world without a good reason. I’m not sure what that could be, but that’s what I believe.”

My confusion has only grown, leaving me with more questions than answers. “What the hell is he involved in?”