Page 24 of Stryker's Ruin
“Do I look okay? How long do you think I have to stay? Will you be able to sit with me?” She looks the very picture of control, but I can see her pulse throb at her throat.
“You’re beautiful.” I pull a jeweler’s box from my pocket, open it and remove the blue stone heart surrounded by silver. I step behind her and clasp the chain then turn her so I can see. “Gorgeous.”
“Wha…what have you done?” She walks to the mirror on the wall and gently fingers the necklace.”
“I thought you needed something to go with the dress. I saw this and thought it was perfect.” My informant at the restaurant said the seating is for only ten. I’m hoping I’ll be able to stand inside the room along the wall. Just in case, I bought the jewel for her then I-Tee sent me the minuscule listening device to affix to the back. No way in hell am I going to let her be where I may not be allowed to follow without being able to hear if she’s in trouble. We don’t send undercover agents in without multiple backup plans.
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you.”
“Is this a formal dinner? Like a ten-course meal?”
“It won’t be any different than the meals we’ve shared at restaurants. It’s a private room so only the people I told you about will be there. I’m not sure they’ll allow me in the room once dinner starts, but I’m not leaving you. I’ll be in the building, you just won’t see me. Is your phone in your purse?”
“Yes.”
“Take it out and put it on vibrate. We’re going to practice.” Once she’s done, I continue. “Now, if I call you, you can feelit, but no one else will know.” She nods. “If you get frightened, excuse yourself to the restroom and call me. Try it.”
She does and it rings in my ear. I tap to answer. “See, easy. You’ll tell me where you are, and I’ll get to you.”
“Okay.”
“You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to do any of this. I can call, tell him you’re sick and have you out of town in an hour. I’ll be with you.”
“I’ll meet this man he wants me to meet since he’s gone to this trouble and expense. After, can you hide me until after my birthday?”
“I’ll do anything you want. Take you anywhere you want. Stay with you as long as you want.”
“You would do that for me?” She looks so doubtful.
“Last night I told you you’re mine. I meant it. I know you’re conflicted by obligations and wanting to have, to be, a part of your family. You feel you owe them. But family isn’t always blood. Sometimes it’s the people you choose and who choose you.
“I understand your family more than you know. I had my mother and my father who came when he could. The rest of my family disowned me because I wouldn’t be what they wanted.
“My brothers in arms. They’re my chosen family. They would drop anything to help me, as I’d do for them.
“Your grandfather, your father, held you hostage until they could use you for their own gain. You owe them nothing,” I snarl.
She nods. “I’ll do this dinner, then we’ll leave.”
I kiss her forehead. “I’ll keep you safe.”
At the restaurant, there are two guards outside the private dining room door. Based on the photos the team sent me, one is from the O’Kelleys and one is Camassa. The Camassa guard steps in front of me. “We’ll take her from here.”
“No.”
He looks at the other guy, who steps forward. “Boss said nobody but the family inside.”
“I take her in, check the room and make sure I know which seat will be hers, then I’ll come back.”
“Ain’t what the boss said.”
“Then we’re leaving.”
“We got guards all over the place. We got half the family to protect. Ain’t nothing gonna happen.”
“I don’t care about the rest of the family. This woman is my sole responsibility. I stay in the room with her, or I don’t leave her side until I’ve done my own inspection.”