Page 29 of A Very Titan Christmas (Titan #14)
Trying not to somehow wordlessly announce to the world that Rachel Porter had just been crying out his name in bed, Bryce took Rachel by the hand and entered the resort’s conference center.
Dry air was pushed over them through overhead vents.
The conference center bustled with activity as members of the security team prepared for the incoming summit.
The last time Bryce had been in this wing of the resort, Jared had told Bryce not to fall for the woman he was protecting. Bryce had fallen. Hard.
If they didn’t have to meet with Senator Porter, they would still be naked in bed, and Bryce would have things to say. To explain. He and Rachel had serious business to work out.
They shucked off their winter coats, stomped the ice and sand from their boots, and followed the stone entryway, which led to polished wood floors.
The conference center was decorated the same as the main lodge.
It looked as if Kris Kringle might hold a pre-Christmas nice-and-naughty-list symposium.
Holiday bunting of holly hung along the walls.
Bright red ribbons and wreaths were pinned between the window-lined hall.
Trees with gold glitter held court between meeting rooms.
All of that was marred by security personnel installing detectors and sensors.
Bryce and Rachel rounded a corner, and she jerked to a standstill. “Why are there dogs?”
Bryce squeezed her hand. She rarely saw all that went into keeping her father safe.
“Standard protocol.” But he had to admit that bomb-sniffing dogs working in the decorated space put a damper on the holiday vibe.
Employees from several agencies, wearing distinct uniforms, moved through the halls.
The dog handlers dressed one way. The State Department and personal security dressed in entirely different ways.
Some wore plain clothes. “You just don’t see the dark underbelly of this stuff. ”
A conference room door opened. Eloise and Senator Porter, in deep conversation, moved into the hall.
The head of the senator’s security detail beelined toward them with an all-business expression that was serious enough to make Bryce take notice.
The senator’s jaw tightened. Everyone was feeling the effect of the leak.
Bryce moved a little closer to Rachel. “Are you sure now’s the right time to make demands of your parents?”
She linked her fingers with his. “Well, yes, if you won’t tell me.”
“I have nothing to share.”
“Then here we go.”
Eloise saw them approach and fussed with a poinsettia-red-and-green quilt covering her legs. Still wearing his trademark flannel, the senator nodded gruffly to Bryce and focused his attention on Rachel. “What’s the matter, Rachel? Mom said you tore out of the tea party like your cabin was on fire.”
“Actually,” Eloise countered, “I said that could be the reason or that you and your boyfriend needed some alone time.”
Heat rushed into his cheeks, and Senator Porter looked equally uncomfortable.
Bryce rubbed a hand over the back of his neck and focused on a security group moving from one meeting room to another.
At least his teammates had been called to go elsewhere.
They would miss this round of Eloise Porter’s overzealous involvement in her daughter’s—and his—private life.
“Mom, stop it. I want to know what’s going on with the summit.”
“Oh, that.” Eloise waved away Rachel’s concern. “It’s just the same as any other summit.”
Rachel crossed her arms. “No summits have ever been hosted here, and none have been so secretive. You both are acting weird.”
“You just haven’t been around to see all the activity and fuss around your father.”
Rachel turned something akin to puppy-dog eyes to her dad.
Senator Porter rested his hand on Eloise’s shoulder as he addressed Rachel. “Look, honey. This won’t make sense to you. And I should have told you before, but after this summit ends, I’m announcing my retirement.”
“Wait.” Rachel’s jaw fell open. “I’m sorry. What?”
Bryce refocused on the conversation. He could have guessed a hundred reasons Senator Porter wanted to show off his resort before the holidays with a political summit, but his retirement wasn’t even on his long list.
“You heard me, kiddo,” he said. “I want a meaningful legacy to leave on, and if I’d known it would bother you so much, I would have said something earlier.”
“You’re retiring?”
“Yes.”
Rachel turned accusing eyes to Bryce. “Did you know?”
“No.”
“Of course, he didn’t know,” Eloise said. “Why would we tell Bryce? We’ve told no one.”
“So that’s it. The big secret. I’m retiring,” Senator Porter said matter-of-factly. “This is my final public push. This summit will be the mark I leave so long as it doesn’t fall apart because of a leak.”
“After this final year,” Eloise offered, “we’ll just be… your normal mom and dad. Nothing to do. Nowhere to go.”
“Eloise,” Senator Porter muttered under his breath.
Bryce didn’t know Rachel’s parents well enough to slice and dice exactly what was going on, but suffice to say, Eloise wasn’t thrilled.
“It’s time for your mother and me to focus on the next phase of our lives. I’ll finish my term, and someone else will be in my seat next November.” He beamed. “We’ll be retirees.”
Eloise plastered on a smile that said she would rather eat yellow snow. “Maybe I’ll learn to play bridge, or bocce ball, or something equally exhilarating.”
Senator Porter rolled his eyes but said to Rachel, “You’ll understand one day.” He checked his watch. “Sorry, I have a conference call I need to jump on. We can talk more about this later.”
“Have you ever played bridge?” Eloise asked Bryce.
“No.”
She offered a pained face. “I don’t think I’m looking forward to it.”
“Then do something else.” The senator shook his head but kissed Eloise on her cheek before heading toward a meeting room.
Bryce’s phone buzzed with a call from Titan’s switchboard. There was no one left in their offices except for Parker. Apprehension itched in his chest. “Excuse me for a second.”
Rachel and Eloise moved toward the large picture windows overlooking snow-covered pine trees.
Bryce wondered if Rachel would ask Eloise about her fake enthusiasm.
He didn’t recall much that was fake with this family years ago, but he and Rachel had been teenagers then, caught up in the secrets and shenanigans that came with high school life.
If her parents had been trying to hide things from them, they wouldn’t have noticed.
His parents hadn’t bothered to hide their havoc. What would he and Rachel be like if they had stayed together all this time? If they’d had kids and had to deal with family headaches?
What would they be like in the future? Not secretive. That was for damn sure. Not like either set of their parents.
Bryce answered the phone call, but it didn’t connect. A weak cell signal in the snow-covered mountains was to be expected, but the Wi-Fi signal should have been stronger. He double-checked—no Wi-Fi.
Grumbling, he redialed Parker. Once. Twice. The call wouldn’t connect.
Bryce retraced their path to the entry doors and opened his phone settings to reconnect to the Wi-Fi.
Nothing. The security sweep was wreaking havoc on his phone connection, and the itching apprehension in his chest expanded into his throat.
Whenever Parker called, it was important.
That Parker had called him directly when Boss Man and the entire team were in Silverberry Ridge was concerning.
Bryce shrugged on his parka and stepped into the blustery cold, where gray clouds hung low and spat ice and rain like sad, grumpy confetti. He started to redial, but his body jerked at the sound of approaching voices and heavy footsteps before he could complete the call.
Roman and Cash were hauling ass toward the conference center. Bryce shoved the phone into his pocket and hustled toward them—only to stop when Roman waved his forearms like he was directing a jet for takeoff.
“Go!” Roman called down the icy sidewalk. “Compromised.”
With his heart in his throat, Bryce spun toward the doors, tearing off his parka and unholstering his weapon. He could hear his heartbeat. He could hear Cash and Roman crashing through the doors behind him.
Bryce rounded the corner. “Where’s Rachel?”
“I—I—” Eloise turned from the window, looking around and then to the gun in Bryce’s hand. “She was just here. I think… she went to talk to someone.”
Roman and Cash flanked Eloise.
“Bryce?” Eloise cried. “Where is she?”
He could see chaos flood through the security details. Radios crackled. Agents surged toward the meeting room Senator Porter had entered for a conference call. Voices barked orders. An immediate threat was known, but no one seemed to understand it.
His stomach bottomed out. Despite the flurry of activity, the surrounding space seemed empty.
No Rachel.
No sound. No scream. Nothing but Christmas bunting and decorated trees.