Page 115 of Sinclair Duet
“Our contingency plan is in place, but we shouldn’t concentrate on that. She also said to be open and honest. I’m being honest—I want the whole fucking world to know we’re married.”
Open.
Honest.
“So, keeping something from one another this early in our marriage isn’t a good idea?”
“If it’s that you’re not wearing panties, I think we can fit a fast fuck into our schedule.”
I playfully slapped his shoulder. “Yes, I’m wearing panties. I don’t want to fly back to Indiana with your come on my thighs.”
His navy orbs sparkled as his eyebrows danced.
“No,” I said definitively. “Are we ready to go back?”
“The driver will first take us to the hospital. If we can’t see Dad, at least we can see Mom. Also, Dani is going to meet us there and fly back with us.”
Dani.
Did she need to know what Pastor Abrams told me?
I needed to tell Damien.
“Before we go, I should tell you something the pastor told me.”
Damien
We were hardly in a private office. Instead, it was a small consultation room off a larger waiting room on the sixth floor of the hospital.
“We found him in the emergency room,” Leo Conner said. A tall, thin man, he was the lead on the security team I’d authorized to watch over my parents. “I’d already spoken with the hospital security.” He shook his head. “It wasn’t difficult to get Mr. Sinclair out of the building—just noisy. He could have made it easier on himself.”
Everything the man said coincided with what Ella shared earlier—the story she’d heard from Pastor Abrams. The information I didn’t know was what I would ask next. “Where is he now?”
Leo slowly shook his head. “Sir, my team was hired to keep Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair away from your parents, not to monitor their movement.”
“Did you hear him or his wife say anything that could be construed as threatening?”
“They were both pissed. I didn’t give their words that much consideration. People like to rant. It’s not unusual in our line of work. It’s mostly bluster.”
That wasn’t the answer I wanted.
Leo continued, “I have two other members of my team besides myself on this job. If you want more, say the word.”
This wasn’t the location that worried me. The pastor’s story had gotten to Ella. I could hear the change in her tone. She tried to sound strong, but damn, marrying me wasn’t supposed to come along with the threat of violence. The more I thought about the possibility, the more I knew that if Darius or Amber did anything to harm or frighten Ella, it would be the last damn thing they ever did.
“I want to hire more people,” I said, “not for here. You have a good team. Mom said you met with her.”
It wasn’t a question, but Leo nodded with a ‘yes, sir.’
“My wife” —damn that sounded good— “my sister, and I are flying back to Indiana, where we live.”
“I read your parents were from northern Indianapolis.”
A smile threatened my gruff exterior. “A man who does his homework. I like that. Now, if there is even an inkling that my brother and sister-in-law may pull something to retaliate, I want Ella and Dani to have around-the-clock bodyguards.”
“Our company can provide that kind of security, but I need to warn you, it’s expensive.”
“Find me four of your best men or women. I want them in my office in Indianapolis tomorrow afternoon. I’ll interview them and decide on the best two.”