Page 57 of The Bronze Garza

He lifts a brow at me. Bored. Uncaring. “What’s your issue now?”

Oh, what a smug, calculating ass. “Why is Reuben here?”

“‘Cause he’s your security detail.”

“I don’tneedsecurity detail,” I snap. “I told you Patrick will be at the house. I’mfine.”

“Yeah, you did. Except that when I called Henderson to confirm, he didn’t seem to know what I was talking about. And since he’s the one who hired me, he’s the one I’m choosing to listen to.”

“What is—”

“Listen, princess,” he starts, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, hard stare fixed on me. “Your father hired me to do a job. Paid a shitload for it, too.Youare the job. I might seem chill and all ‘cause you’re in my home crashing my vacation, but if there’s one thing I don’t fuck around with, it’s my job. So I’m gonna give you some options. But understand that theonlyreason you’re even getting any is because of what you’ve been through, and the last thing I’d want is for you to feel like you’re a captive here.”

“How thoughtful andcompassionateof you,” I bite out on a breath of sarcasm.

“Option one,” he says as if I didn’t speak, “you stay here with me—”

“No.”

“Thank fuck.”

“Option two, you go back to your house, but with Reuben and two others from Red Cage as your security detail. Both of whom I’ll have to pull from other jobs for this.”

“And what’s option three, Your Highness?”

“I take you to Barefoot Runaway where you’ll stay with my step-mom and little sister. You’ll be as safe there as you are here.”

“I choose option four,” I counter. “That is, I dowhatever the hell I wantand you and everyone else can piss right off.”

“I’ve no problem adding that option.” He nods once. “As soon as you call Henderson, sort it out with him, and he confirms your release.”

“Fine! I’ll call him.”

I dig my phone out and dial Daddy’s number. It rings and rings and rings until it goes to voicemail. I call him again, pacing back and forth.

Voicemail.

Determined, I ring him again.

“You mind?” Torin grumbles, shooing me from in front of the flat-screen.

Yes, I do mind. So I don’t move. And, with a saccharine smile, I tell him, “Go to hell.”

A horn honks at the same time my phone pings with a text.

Daddy: Stay where you are.

Me: Are you sending my calls to voicemail on purpose?!

Daddy: Yes. I will be here a bit longer than expected. Torin Garza will keep you safe.

Me: I don’t want to! Call him now and end the job.

Daddy: No.

Me: Screw this. I’m leaving. He can’t MAKE me stay.

Daddy: Red Cage does everything by contract. This one needed both our signatures to start, as you know, and it will need both our signatures to end. You can go ahead and sign, but without my signature or verbal confirmation, he won’t release you.