Page 8 of Defending You

The name was a gut-punch, dragging up memories he’d buried deep—high school, her pretty smile, and the sting of her laughter when he’d dared to ask her to prom. He’d been a scrawny geek then, all braces and glasses and wild optimism.

That humiliation still burned, a quiet ember he’d never let anyone see.

The elevator finally dinged at the lobby, and the doors slid open. Asher followed the other passengers onto the polished marble floor, his footsteps echoing in the gigantic space filled with fancy chandeliers and fresh bouquets in crystal vases.

A blur in the corner of his eye had him turning just as the client’s assistant barreled into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Thank you so much! I was afraid you were going to stick up for him or something.”

Asher didn’t move, not quite sure how to handle the woman’s misplaced gratitude.

She stepped back and looked at him. “I would never have had the courage to do it if you hadn’t been there. I just knew by the look on your face that you were as horrified by his behavior as I was.”

“Rhodes? You there?” Bartlett’s voice cut through the haze. “Who is that?”

“One sec.” He covered the mouthpiece and took a step away from the woman. “No problem.”

“Where are you…?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, my gosh, did hefireyou?”

“He requested a different protection officer, but?—”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to get you in any trouble.”

“It’s fine.” At least he hoped it would be. “Just glad you’re smart enough not to work for a jerk like that. Good moves, by the way.”

She grinned, her head tilting to one side. “If you’re not busy, maybe we could grab dinner?”

“Sorry.” He indicated the phone. “I’ve already got another job. Thanks anyway.” He hurried past the woman and spoke into the mouthpiece. “What’s Cici gotten herself into?”

“You know her?”

Asher forced a steady, professional tone. “We went to high school together. What happened?”

“Ballentine says she found some stolen necklace tied to his parents’ murder. A jewelry store got hit today. Owner’s dead, and she saw it go down.”

The words had Asher’s heart rate ticking higher. “She’s safe?”

“She got away but thinks the killers are after her. She’s holed up at a hotel.”

Asher needed a break. What he didn’t need was to deal with the prom queen. But it was Cici. If she was in danger…

“She’s in Philly,” Bartlett said. “Job is to get her back to Shadow Cove alive, preferably with the fancy necklace.”

Cici Wright, running from murderers. That polished, perfect little rich girl he’d known had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shopping for jewelry.

That figured.

Guarding Cici would mean babysitting the woman who’d humiliated him, who’d probably still look at him like the charity case he’d once been. He didn’t need that.

But as much as he didn’t want to see her again, he’d hate to think of something bad happening to her. And he needed to redeem himself in Bartlett’s eyes.

“This is big, Rhodes. Ballentine’s connected. We nail this, we could be looking at steady contracts. I need you on it. Tell me you’re in. If not… I guess I could send the new guy.”

Asher pictured the company’s new recruit, a former SEAL who had all the physical ability required but little in the way of strategic thinking and zero instincts for the job. “I wouldn’t trust that kid to guard my Skittles.”

Bartlett chuckled. “Everyone else is either assigned or too far away. Fact is, nobody can get there as soon as you can. If Cecilia Wright has any shot of getting out of this alive, we need to get to her now.”

Asher stopped near the lobby’s revolving doors, the bustle of Philadelphia filtering through the glass. This could be his opportunity to prove his value, his ability to handle a difficult client—and Cici would no doubt be difficult. But her life was in danger.

He’d signed up for this gig to protect people, even difficult people he’d hoped he’d never see again.