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Weston was right on Kayleigh’s heels as she burst through the hospital’s waiting room door. Chance had entered first to scope out the situation and make sure there were no immediate threats. Weston wasn’t sure where Luke and Brax were, but knew they were also already in the building.

Upon arrival, a front-desk attendant escorted him and Kayleigh to a private section of the hospital. The waiting room was like any other hospital—beige walls, white-tiled floors and uncomfortable chairs.

Everyone inside the room was part of Leo’s employment. Under other circumstances that would’ve made Weston more comfortable, but not today.

The door hadn’t even closed behind them when Gwendolyn threw herself at Kayleigh with a relieved sob. Weston curbed the reflex to pull Kayleigh away from the incoming hug—potential danger—but stayed close.

“Thank God, you’re okay,” Gwendolyn whispered.

“You?” Kayleigh asked. “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Kayleigh captured the other woman’s hands. “How is Dad?”

Weston hated how Kayleigh’s lip quivered and whole body shook with fine tremors. He took her by the arm and gently led her toward the chairs to sit next to him while Chance stood guard nearby.

The older woman cleared her throat, but before she could answer, someone else did. “Not well. Coma. They wouldn’t tell us more until you got here.”

“Dean! Your bedside manner is terrible.” Gwendolyn scolded the lawyer before turning back to Kayleigh. “I’ll let the nurses know you’re here. We’re hoping Leo’s doctor will be out shortly with an update.”

Kayleigh looked over at Weston. “I need to know what’s happening. I need to see him.”

“You will,” Weston soothed. He looked around and realized they were missing a major player in Leo’s forces. “Where’s Jasper?”

“Stayed behind to see who started the fire,” one of the security guards said.

Weston caught Chance’s eye. The head of security leaving his client alone in the hospital after an attack that large? That didn’t sit right.

Someone needed to ensure Leo’s safety. “How many guards on Leo’s door?”

“Two.”

Weston nodded. A smaller team made it harder to keep a client safe in times of chaos, but was also harder to infiltrate. The bigger problem was that Weston had no idea which of Leo’s—or, more accurately, Jasper’s—men could be trusted.

Weston and Chance shared another look and he knew his brother was thinking the same thing. They’d have to sort out security for Leo on their own.

Before he could ask any more questions, Gwendolyn came back with a doctor just behind her.

“Kayleigh Delacruz?”

Kayleigh jumped up and rushed toward the man. “That’s me. How is my father?”

“I’m Dr. Appleton, your father’s personal physician.”

When she shook his hand, Appleton gave her a typical doctor smile, friendly without making promises or offering hope. It sent something cold slithering through Weston’s stomach to see it. Smiles like that tended to be bad news.

From the way Kayleigh’s smile stiffened, she had the same thought.

“I’ll be frank with you. Your father is in a coma and we can’t figure out why. At first, we thought it was from smoke inhalation, but his lungs are improving consistently and there’s no sign of any internal damage besides that. Smoke inhalation isn’t consistent with a coma anyway.”

“So what does that mean?” Kayleigh asked, reaching for Weston’s hand and gripping it like it was a lifeline. He smoothed his thumb over her skin in gentle circles, trying to give her a piece of the calm she so desperately needed.

“It means there’s nothing we can do right now except wait. We’ll monitor him round the clock and keep looking for the cause of his coma. But without it, there’s not a lot we can do.”

Kayleigh was quiet. The tightness of her hand in Weston’s was the only indicator that she’d even heard the doctor. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse and thick. “I want to see him.”

“Of course. Right this way. We just ask that there is only one person in with him at a time. And only people you approve.”

“Okay.”

“Actually, Kayleigh, I’d like to speak with you before you go see Leo,” Dean said. “I know it’s bad timing, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent.”

Kayleigh blew out an exasperated breath, saying, “Gwendolyn, you go in first. We’ll trade out once I’m through here.”

“I’ll go back in just a minute.” She pulled Kayleigh in for another hug, shooting another ugly look at Dean, obviously afraid the man was going to be insensitive again. “I’m here for you, Kayleigh. Whatever you need.”

Dean smoothed the jacket of his suit, pressing out invisible creases before he turned to Kayleigh. “I need to know what your father told you about the Brighton Pharmaceuticals merger.”

“Can’t this wait, Dean?” Gwendolyn asked.

“It’s important,” the man muttered. “I need to know what Leo told you about the merger.”

Kayleigh’s eyes narrowed, but when she spoke, her voice was low and controlled. “My father is lying in a hospital bed in a coma and you’re asking me about a merger? I’ve never had anything to do with my father’s business dealings and I certainly didn’t start now.”

Dean sighed. “I promise, I’m not trying to upset you, but I need to get to the bottom of things.” He looked around the room and Weston could practically see him composing his speech in his head. “This merger has always been strange. Different than all the rest.”

“How so?” Weston asked. He kept a casual eye on the others in the room to see if anyone was reacting in a strange way.

“It’s different in that I don’t know much about it.”

Kayleigh crossed her arms over her chest. “Why would Dad keep you out of the loop?”

Dean stroked his chin. “I’ve been at Leo’s side since his business was barely off the ground. I’ve been through plenty of mergers with him and this is only the second time he’s actively kept details from me.”

“What was the first?” Kayleigh asked.

“When Leo bought out George Kesler’s business five years ago.”

Kayleigh’s eyes got a little bigger. “I remember that. He was Dad’s rival.”

Weston glanced over at Chance and saw him texting. No doubt he was having Maci dig up anything she could on George Kesler.

Gwendolyn bobbed her head. “He and Leo were enemies.”

Dean nodded. “Kesler’s bread and butter was medical research and artificial intelligence. Leo saw an opportunity and bought Kesler’s company. He was supposed to sell it as a whole, but something changed.”

“Changed how?” Weston asked.

Dean’s jaw got tighter. “It was the meeting I wasn’t invited to. Leo and Kesler went into the meeting together. I don’t know what happened, but afterward, Leo was the owner and he dismantled Kesler’s entire business. Everything sold off in pieces.”

Gwendolyn crossed her arms over her chest. “That was before my time, but Leo has mentioned it. Are you sure this needs to be discussed right now, Dean? Kayleigh wants to get in to see Leo.”

Kayleigh shook her head. “Do you think Kesler is behind the attack on Dad and kidnapping attempts? Some sort of revenge?”

“He can’t be,” Dean responded. “A few months after the merger was finished, he had a heart attack and died.”

Gwendolyn gasped, hand flying to her mouth. “Oh my gosh.”

Kayleigh let out a sigh. “I’m sorry to hear that and even sorrier if Dad’s actions had a part in the heart attack cause. But what does this have to do with now?”

“Because this current merger Leo has been so worried about involves George Kesler’s son, Beau.”

Dean took some papers out of his briefcase and handed them around. One was a picture of Beau, the others images and data about Brighton Pharmaceuticals.

Weston’s eyes narrowed. “So, Leo’s involved with another Kesler, he’s keeping secrets from you, and there have been multiple attacks against him and Kayleigh.”

None of those things individually were good. All three together were very bad.

Dean nodded. “Yes. Beau built Brighton Pharmaceuticals after his father died.”

Weston looked over at Gwendolyn. “Do you know anything more than Dean about the merger? Has Beau attempted to contact Leo or come by the house?”

“No. I’ve never seen Beau Kesler in my life. Leo has kept me out of the loop about a lot of this merger too.”

“It’s in three days,” Kayleigh whispered. “What happens with it if Dad’s still in a coma?”

“All of Leo’s mergers have a clause in it that require them to continue to completion once they’ve started.” Dean’s eyes darted between Kayleigh and Weston. “So, no matter what happens, the merger will go forward. In cases like this where Leo is unavailable due to medical issues, I have power of attorney, but I’ll need your signature too.”

“Fine, whatever,” Kayleigh said. “I just want to see my father.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do. Leave her alone for a while, Dean.” Gwendolyn slid an arm around Kayleigh. They made their way to the door and were quickly whisked away by a nurse.

Weston itched to follow after them. He wanted his own eyes on Kayleigh, especially since everyone else was a potential suspect. He stood, ready to do just that when Dean’s voice called him back.

“Weston, there’s something else,” Dean said, eyes darting to the door Kayleigh just disappeared through before settling back on Weston. “Leo has another clause in his contracts. In the case of his incapacitation or death, Kayleigh has the authority to halt or continue any merger at her discretion.”

He raised an eyebrow. “She can override everything? So she’ll have sole decision-making power for whether the merger goes through or not.”

“Yes.”

Weston’s stomach tightened and he looked over at Chance, who was still standing at the door, lips now pursed. He was thinking the same thing. Kayleigh was in more danger than they’d realized.

“You need to take her somewhere safe,” Dean said. “If someone’s trying to make sure the merger doesn’t go through, she’s the target now.”

“Beau Kesler?”

Dean shook his head. “I don’t think it’s him. Beau will be making a lot of money in this merger. It’s not in his best interest to stop it.”

Chance took a step closer. “We’ve been doing some digging into the merger since Weston took the case. What about Oliver Lyle?”

“Lyle? I know him,” Dean responded. “He’s a competitor in the medical research sector.”

“Of all the interested parties surrounding this merger, Lyle is the most alarming. He’s never been arrested, but there are rumors he’s used force to seal some lucrative deals for his company in the past. Whispers that he’s not above shaking someone down to get a signature, or stop one.”

Weston gritted his teeth. This wasn’t good. “How does this merger affect him directly?”

“Brighton Pharmaceuticals is a direct competitor,” Dean said. “If Leo buys the company and raises it to the top of the industry like he has every other company he’s taken over, Lyle could lose everything.”

The more Weston learned, the more the need to keep Kayleigh close and safe beat at him. Even knowing she was down the hall was almost too far for him. He couldn’t see her. Couldn’t feel her presence. And it made him anxious.

Dean’s phone rang and he stepped away to answer it with a polite nod. Weston glanced at Jasper’s men by the doors and caught his brother’s eye, tipping his head to bring Chance closer. They had a window of time without anyone else around and he intended to use it.

“Knowing who could be behind the attacks is one thing, but right now we need to figure out how to keep Kayleigh and Leo safe,” he said in barely above a whisper. “Leo’s security team can’t be trusted.”

Chance looked over at the other men. “Agreed. You said you have an idea of where to take Kayleigh?”

Weston sighed, dragging a hand over his face. He was exhausted, but there would be no rest anytime soon. Not until Kayleigh was somewhere no one would find them. “I do, but getting her to leave is going to be a problem.”

“What are you going to tell her?”

“The truth.” No way was he about to start lying to her now. “She knows Leo’s already compromised. Someone on the inside is working against him.”

“So we use one of our teams?”

The guards across the room shifted. Weston knew they couldn’t hear, but he turned so his back was to them, to make sure neither of them was attempting to figure out their conversation by reading lips.

“I don’t even trust this to one of our teams. I want family-only on this.” Kayleigh was too important.

“Pulling out the big guns, aren’t you, brother?”

“She’s worth it.”

Chance didn’t even tease him, just offered a nod. “All right then. Family only. Luke, Brax and I can take turns here, but we’ll need a few other guys to help out or we’ll be spread too thin if something happens.”

“Agreed. Pick the ones we trust implicitly and make sure everyone keeps the mission to themselves. We need to keep this quiet.”

Chance opened his mouth but before he could say anything, the door opened behind them. Weston spun around to find Jasper striding through the door with two more of his men.

As soon as Jasper saw Weston, his face pinched and he scowled. “What are you doing here?”

Weston kept calm and focused. “Watching over Kayleigh and Leo. Where have you been, Jasper?”

“Trying to figure out what happened at the house.”

“And you thought that was more important than staying with Leo yourself? You left your client alone in a hospital bed. What kind of security does that?”

Jasper’s hands clenched at his sides and he took a step toward Weston. “How dare you insinuate that I don’t care about my job. I was out there trying to figure out who is after Leo. What have you been doing? Rolling around in the mud with Kayleigh?”

Weston curbed the urge to react to the other man’s blatant disrespect of Kayleigh. “If that’s how you speak about your boss’s daughter, then you aren’t the right person to protect either of them. I think it’s time for you to take some time off. Your services are no longer required. Once Leo is awake, you can take it up with him.”

“I don’t work for you, Patterson,” Jasper snarled. “I’m the head of Delacruz security. That includes your precious Kayleigh. So, if anything, you work for me.”

Weston stepped forward, only to have Chance pull him back. His brother didn’t have to say anything; this wasn’t the time or place to get into a physical altercation.

Dean, finally finished with his phone call, joined them, and Weston could see the stone-cold lawyer in him. “Technically, Jasper, Leo has it set up so you work for me until he wakes up. I’m finding I agree with Weston. We’re in the middle of a crisis and your priorities are obviously more focused on proving you’re the best person for the job instead of actually protecting Leo. We don’t have room in this mess for your fragile ego. Until things have settled, you and your men are on leave.”

Jasper’s face reddened, from his neck to the tips of his ears, and Weston steeled himself.

“You’re going to regret this.” Jasper spun on his heel, jerking his head for the others to follow him.

That was one problem settled, but not the biggest one by a long shot.

“I’ll contact Brax and Luke, and get a schedule sorted out,” Chance said.

Weston nodded. “I’m going to see Kayleigh.” He held his hand out to Dean and the two men shook as Chance walked to the corner of the room with his phone. “Thanks for your help with that.”

“No thanks needed. My job is to protect Leo’s interests and Jasper didn’t have them at heart. Not the right ones anyway.” He dug into his briefcase and pulled out a business card, handing it to Weston. “Take this. Call if you need anything.”

Weston agreed, though he doubted he’d use it. Dean wouldn’t be able to help them where they were going. He took out his wallet and slipped the card in, removing one of his own for the lawyer. “We’ll be out of cell service, but if you need to contact us, you can call the office. My brothers will know how to get in touch.”

Dean took the card and slipped it into his pocket before resting a hand on Weston’s shoulder. “I know it’s only three days, but keep her safe. Leo won’t cope well if anything happens to Kayleigh again.”

“I’ll protect her with my life.”

It was his job, putting his client’s safety first, but Weston found that, for the first time ever, he meant more than that. He knew without hesitation he’d do anything to keep Kayleigh alive and well. He just had to hope that it wouldn’t come to that.