Page 5 of Cameron's Contract

“They don’t have that kind of power, Mia, unless you give it to them.”

“But—”

“We know they have your choker.”

She held back tears. “I’m going to get it back.”

“Forgive me for spanking you, sweetheart,” I said. “It was unconscionable.”

“I let him walk away with your beautiful choker.”

“You’re more important. Don’t ever forget that. Never put yourself in danger again.”

“Adrian threatened to leak my past to the press,” she said. “Tell the world you’re dating the daughter of a drug addict.”

“Oh, Mia. What would be the worst that could happen if that came out?”

“They told me it would affect Cole Tea.”

I glanced over at Shay.

We both knew Cole Tea didn’t need any help nose-diving into history.

Mia wrapped her fingers around my hand. “They warned me if I told you they’d contact the press.”

“Did Decker grab your collar off you this morning?” asked Shay.

She gave a nod, and she looked so worn down, so fragile.

“I’m sorry I shouted at you—” My arm shot up to protect her from the blur of movement to our left.

It was Emma, from Shay’s security team. We’d witness firsthand what she was capable of outside The Manor a few days ago. Her Ronda Rousey moves were legendary. Emma had taken down my attacker so quickly no one had seen a thing until the man was lying on the floor.

She handed Shay a gun and he tucked it inside his jacket. A few maneuvers later and he’d also hooked up a wire beneath his shirt, with Emma’s help.

I turned to face Mia. “Stay with Emma.”

“Let me talk to him,” she said.

Shay scoffed at that and tucked whatever else Emma had handed him into his jacket pocket.

“I have to deal with this,” said Mia. “This is my problem.”

“No, Mia,” I said calmly. “They want me. And they’ve come after me through you. I’m going to make it go away.” I wrapped an arm around her waist and led her to safety.

I forced her to sit in the car, where she’d be safe with Emma and two of Shay’s guards watching over her. They’d turned up fast, making this an impressive display of his security detail. All this apparently went on in the background, and I paid Shay well not to see it.

With Mia calmed in the back of the Cadillac Escalade, Shay and I returned to the Herron’s front door.

“Sure you want to do this?” he said.

I held back on this urge to kick it down. Shay had to see me calm, collected, ready to deal with them and not escalate the situation.

“Take off your tie,” he said. “Less formal.”

After pulling it from my neck, I tucked it into my pocket.

Shay knocked.