Whatever It Takes (13 page)

“And then you had to sell your house to pay for Alice’s defense. That had to be painful.”

Losing her house had been more painful than losing her fiancé. For the first time in her life, she’d had security, a home of her own. She had no regrets in doing that—Alice had been more important than a stack of brick and mortar. But still, when she thought about her quaint little house with its wrap-around porch and sunny kitchen, the little vegetable garden she’d started in her backyard, her heart bled a little. It had been tiny, not in the best neighborhood, but it had been hers. All hers.

“And still it wasn’t enough. You had to take loans out, go into debt. Live in a seedy part of Chicago.”

She shot him a silent, resentful glare. He wasn’t going to stop. She could see that he was trying to make a point, but damned if she could figure out what it was. He would go on and on, metaphorically shredding her life, bleeding her dry. If they hadn’t been moving down the road at a good clip, she’d have opened the door and gotten out. A few bruises and scrapes would be preferable.

“Then you lost Alice.”

“Stop it, damn you. Just stop.”

He pulled to a halt at a red light and shot her a strange, knowing look. “Close your eyes, Kathleen.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I’m not going to—”

“You agreed to cooperate, so I’m asking you to close your eyes.”

Though more furious than she’d been in a long while, she closed her eyes and snapped, “Now what?”

“Give me a perimeter check.”

Setting the fury aside, she described the scene around them. “Three vehicles directly behind us. In the third one back, the black SUV, are your bodyguards.”

“And you know this how?”

“I saw a photograph online.”

“Continue.” 

 “In the vehicle directly behind us, the white F-150, is your chauffeur, Gunter. The cream-colored Taurus in the middle is a freelance reporter.”

“How do you know he’s a reporter?”

“Because he’s got the look of a predator without the toughness or attitude to go with it.”

“And why do you peg him as freelance?”

“He’s got a cheap video camera attached to his rearview mirror and one of the worst comb-overs I’ve ever seen.”

She heard the amusement in his voice when he said, “Okay. Continue.”

“Two cars to our right, green Subaru and white Volvo. Both appear to be occupied by innocent civilians.”

“Where are we?”

“Forty-second and Seventh.”

“If those innocent civilians are not so innocent, or the creep in the Taurus comes for us, what’s our exit strategy?”

“One block to the right, two blocks left is a residential area. Lead them there. It’s like a maze. We could easily lose them.”

“And?”

“A police station is on the other side of the community. Head there.”

The car started forward, and she opened her eyes to see triumph on his face. “And that, Kathleen, is the reason I want you to guard my children.”

Chapter Fourteen

Eli knew he was an ass for trapping her like that. Throwing the most painful moments in her life at her, as if they were amusing trivia, had been tasteless to the point of cruelty. But it had proven his point. This woman with her mesmerizing eyes and fairy-tale looks was a highly trained professional. Even while he’d hammered at her about all the trauma in her life, she was still focused enough to know exactly what was happening around them and have an exit strategy if needed. He had no doubts that she could take care of his daughters.

He knew the training she’d had. He’d talked to her former employer as well as several of her former clients. All of them had given her their highest recommendations, praising her as both professional and kind. She didn’t just protect the people she guarded, she cared about them. 

Under her protection, Violet and Sophia would be safe. And they would trust her. He had ensured that as well. 

Eli pulled up in front of the school, but before they got out, he had something else he needed to say. “I’m sorry that I upset and hurt you. You asked me why I wanted you to guard my children. You didn’t take me at my word, so I felt the need to show you. I have a tendency to be ruthless when it comes to those I care about. Bringing up your most painful memories was in poor taste.”

She stared at him for several seconds. He could only imagine what was going through her mind. She had her guard up again. His fault this time. He’d put her in a position of vulnerability and felt vaguely sick to his stomach. 

She finally nodded. “Fine. Let’s go meet your children.” 

Her tone said she didn’t expect the meeting to go well. He chose not to explain why he disagreed. She would learn soon enough.

As they got out of the car, he asked, “You’re armed?”

“Of course.”

He’d already gone too far with her today but couldn’t resist asking, “And your weapon is where?”

The withering look should have singed him but made him want to smile. “I have a bra holster holding my SIG P238, and a knife in a sheath attached to my right thigh.”

Now he wished he hadn’t asked, because the image that came to his mind wasn’t something that would leave him any time soon. Forcing himself to focus on the here and now, Eli explained, “I’ll go get Violet and Sophia. You can wait at one of the tables in the side yard.”

With a nod of agreement, she headed to the large iron gate to the side. He waved at the camera attached to it and waited until the gate opened then closed behind her before he went into the school. His children were in for quite a surprise. As was Kathleen.

Taking in her surroundings in a flash, Kathleen was surprised and pleased to find that though this was obviously an exclusive private school for the most elite of Dallas, with its gated entrance and security cameras, the playground still had the regular playground equipment of monkey bars, slides, and merry-go-rounds. She was also pleased that it was well maintained and cleaner than the inside of most houses. Not a speck of dirt was on the stone bench she seated herself on to wait for Eli and his children.

She was still furious with him. He had used some of the most horrendous moments in her life to prove a point. In spite of her anger, she also secretly admired the man’s ingenuity. The fact that she had fallen for it was a bit of a shocker, but she consoled herself that at least she had passed the damned test. Despite the fact that he knew more about her than she was comfortable for anyone to know, she was also pleased that he had done his homework. He didn’t want just anyone protecting his children. He wanted the best.

She knew her strengths and weaknesses. She was confident in her training, abilities, and talents. She had focused her energies on becoming the best. 

Navigating the dangerous and choppy waters of personal or intimate relationships was another matter. Kathleen believed in playing to her strengths.

She glanced down at her dress and grimaced. One of the many perks of working for Grey Justice was having her very own stylist and hairdresser for certain events. The phenomenon was still quite new to her, and she loved it. Who wouldn’t? 

She had planned to wear the simple but elegant Donna Karan dress the stylist had sent her last week. It fit perfectly and was appropriate for the elegant and exclusive gathering she was attending tonight. Her wardrobe plans had abruptly changed a few hours ago.

She’d been getting out of the shower when the stylist had shown up at her apartment with a different dress and a request from Grey to wear it instead. Yes, it was beautiful, but nothing like what she would normally wear. First, it was quite frivolous looking, almost playful. 

Secondly, though the dress was multicolored, the main color was almost the exact shade of her eyes. She rarely wore that shade of blue because she’d always felt it was just too much. She’d inherited her mother’s eyes, their color a cross between ocean blue and smoky silver. They were pretty, but when she wore anything the same color, the results could be astonishing, almost overwhelming. 

The material of the dress was another thing she would never have picked out. It was a delicate, almost flimsy fabric, with several layers that seemed to swish and swirl with her movements. 

Grey’s request for her hairstyle had been the biggest surprise. When she was on the job, she almost never wore it loose. She either wore it in a long braid or ponytail, or if she was dressing up, she wore it in a loose chignon. The stylist had insisted that the dress called for her hair to be loose and flowing around her. And since the woman had more knowledge of fashion than Kathleen would ever have in a lifetime, she had agreed.

So here she sat in the play area of one of the most exclusive schools in Dallas, wearing one of the most frivolous outfits she’d ever worn in her life. Odd how she felt both silly and ultrafeminine.

At the sound of a door opening and closing, Kathleen stood, waiting for the two little girls to notice her. She had no idea why she was suddenly nervous. She most certainly didn’t care if Violet and Sophia Slater liked her or not. It wasn’t as if she’d see them again after today. 

The salary Eli had offered was off-the-charts generous, the time commitment of four hours a day insignificant. And with the additional security Eli had surrounding his children, the job should be minimal risk. But protecting children again? After what had happened to Emily? She seriously didn’t think she had it in her.

They were beautiful children, both bearing a strong resemblance to the tall, devastatingly handsome man following them. The youngest one, Violet, had medium-length, curly, white-blond hair, a button nose, and the softest, sweetest brown eyes Kathleen had ever seen. Sophia’s hair was a darker gold, very similar to Eli’s hair, and it was long, almost to the middle of her back. She had creamy skin that reminded Kathleen of a gardenia, and her eyes were brown with golden flecks.

Kathleen gave them a cautious, serious smile, waiting for the awkward introductions. Instead, the instant they spotted her, both girls gave delighted shouts of happiness, surprising the hell out of her, and ran to her as if they’d known her all their lives.

“Eudora!” Violet squealed.

They danced around her as if she was the best surprise ever. She glanced over at Eli Slater, who was wearing the smile of a satisfied lion on his too-handsome face. She didn’t know quite how yet, but she knew, without a doubt, she’d been set up once again.

Chapter Fifteen

McGruder Art Center

Laughter and too many conversations going at one time drowned out the soft music of the discreet orchestra in the corner. Grey stood in the middle of a group of people who hung on to his words as if they were made of gold. At events such as this, he didn’t mind the attention. Most of them were well-meaning people who actually wanted to do something worthwhile with their money. The Grey Justice Foundation, his victims’ advocacy group, gave them the opportunity without having to become involved in the minutiae of the actual work. Resenting their attention would be counterproductive. Actually enjoying the attention was another matter altogether. 

Irelyn had excelled at these kinds of events. No matter what was going on in her mind, she could separate herself from her worries and be the charming, delightful companion. It wasn’t until after she’d disappeared that he had realized just how much he had depended on her to get him through these things.

Almost a year had passed, and still no word from her. How did she do that? After being in each other’s pockets for so many years, he felt as though he’d lost an appendage. Did she feel the loss, too, or did her hatred make their separation easier to accept?

A pause in conversation caused him to look around. The instant he spotted the woman at the door, he wanted to smile. She looked lovely, and though the fire in her eyes said she was thoroughly pissed, she walked through the room with a confidence he couldn’t help but admire. Hiring her had been a wise decision.

When Eli had called with the unusual request about her wardrobe, he’d been puzzled. Hearing his reasons behind the strange request had made him laugh out loud. Seeing the results was even more entertaining. While everyone else was dressed in expensive but conservative clothing, Kathleen stood out like a wild rose among a bunch of boring carnations. With each step she took, the dress flowed around her, its colors luminescent, seeming to change shades and nuances with each movement of her body.

The look she gave him, though brief, told him he’d be hearing her opinion on her attire a bit later. Kathleen was a self-possessed woman who didn’t like to lose control of any situation. He was quite sure that when the evening was over, he’d be getting an earful, but her irritation wouldn’t stop her from doing the job. 

Since no one could know of their association, he couldn’t acknowledge her presence and wouldn’t speak to her until the time was right.

Tonight was all about business. When he’d hired Kathleen and told her what one of her duties would be, she’d been resistant, as only an ethical person would be. When he’d explained further, she had reluctantly agreed. Then, when she’d been given her first assignment and learned the facts of the case, she’d been totally onboard. Sometimes, doing the right thing for the right reasons could at first look wrong.

In his peripheral vision, he watched as she began to work the room, and her target. This would be interesting.

Kathleen settled into her role. Playing the young ingénue was a bit of a stretch for her. She hadn’t been naïve in years. Maybe the dress she had been “forced” to wear wasn’t such a bad choice after all. The other women were wearing something similar to what she’d had planned—sleek designer dresses that screamed expensive and classy. Her flowing, retro dress definitely drew people’s eyes to her. Hopefully, it also made her look more approachable, friendlier, and slightly younger. Or, according to Sophia and Violet Slater, it made her look like a fairy sprite. Eli knew his daughters well. The instant they’d seen her, both girls had assumed she’d popped out of their favorite storybook.