Page 256 of Unexpected Heroine

“Come on, Lettie. You don’t really believe that, do you?” Through what could only be a mystical phenomenon, his gaze somehow intensifies. “You know who he is. Deep down.”

Unable to answer, I find myself shifting my body away from him. It’s not out of fear but to protect my thoughts and feelings from his examination. Enough vulnerability for one day.

Despite having quickly grown at ease with him, I don’t want him to know everything about me because he’s got some freaky psychic powers.

He slaps his hands against his jean-clad legs. “Well, Lettie. I’d love to explain more, but Tomer Stillman isn’t a short topic.” He exhales, the oxygen accompanied by a low groan, both of which leave his chest forcefully. “Can we continue this conversation another time? I have some... well, kid, I have some fucking bullshit to deal with around here because lives are on the line. Some Russians aren’t too happy with us, and the feeling is mutual. But I want to get to know you better if that’s okay with you.”

Fear detonates inside my gut like a bomb.

Russians.

Viktor.

I roll my shoulders back, lifting my chin. “Um. Yeah. Of course. That would be great.”

We both rise at the same time, ending up staring at each other with no clue how to end the interaction. Just a father and daughter. Standing in an office after the most bizarre introduction in history.

Do we hug? High five? Chest bump?

He dusts his palms off on the sides of his jeans, clearly unsure what to do with his hands. I know that move. Done it a time or ten myself.

“Well, thanks for seeing me,” I offer. “And sorry again for my disastrous grand entrance.”

Lowering his chin in a slow nod, he flashes a slight smile. “No problem. And sorry to cut this short. It’s not a great time. Oh shit. Wait.” Bending his arm at the elbow, he scratches the back of his neck. “Shit. I can’t send you away unprotected. You need guards.”

He takes a step toward his desk, then freezes, looking back at me with both brows raised. “Hold up. We had guards assigned to you. Josh and Deb, right? Did you drive here on your own?”

Without waiting for me to answer, he dashes toward his desk, bends at the waist, and jiggles his mouse to wake his computer monitor. “I normally know where my guards are working. Not today. It seems I’m also a mess with an S on my chest.”

A snort-laugh escapes me. “I called in a favor to a billionaire named Amber to escape the lockdown at the shelter. She and her husband, Cort, brought me here today with one of the guards from their staff following us. As for my Redleg protection, I believe Deb and Josh stopped watching over me when I moved into the facility since it has everything except an alligator-filled moat protecting it. I’m sure Tomer will be getting that installed shortly, though.”

Shut up, Lettie. Gah.

“Good. Good. You’ll be safe there as long as you stay inside.” He straightens. “Before you leave today, let me check on some things first. Would you mind staying while I do that? I want to get some extra protection on you. Are you willing to wear location trackers? I need to have Klein check your phone. Unless Tomer handled that. Bet he did.”

Head down now, he starts typing rapidly while quietly rattling through what I assume are safety precautions. The more he rambles, the quieter he gets.

I should probably tell him that Tomer’s already spying on me, but I’m okay if he wants to give me some of those tracker things. I’d take a guard dog too. Self-defense and shooting classes. Tasers that shoot from my fingertips.

Give me the works, pops. Swaddle me in bubble wrap if you must.

His fingers freeze over the keyboard, and he looks at me like he’s seeing me for the first time.

He splays his arms out wide and beams at me. “Holy fuck. I have a daughter!”

I match his energy and mirror his stance. “And I have a father!”

As quickly as he brightened, his face falls twice as fast, body slumping and eyes going vacant. “Holy fuck. I have a daughter.”

Substantially less excitement that time. Not gonna take that personally.

For long.

He forks his fingers through his hair, pulling at the roots. “I have a daughter when the motherfucking mafia has declared war on us.”

And he collapses into his desk chair.

This seems like as good a time as any to mention he’s the cause for my abduction, torture, and captivity.

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