Page 53 of Protecting You

Molly led him back down the hallway toward the stairs. “Unlike you?”

“My family aspired to middle class.”

She gave him a long look, eyes narrowing. “You seem to do okay.”

“Good education and a lot of hard work.” He looked around the space. “I always wonder about people like Sanders. I guess it’s easy to assume they’re all greedy and demanding. He a good guy to work for?”

Instantly, her guard went back up. The smile faded, the interest disappeared. “He’s a fair boss. I would give you a tour of the gardens, but I think the sprinkler is running.”

“Maybe Alyssa and I can poke around outside later when she takes a break. You think she and Charles are done? I’d like to find her now.”

Molly gave a curt nod and started downstairs. When they reached the second-floor landing, she said, “Wait here,” and marched in the direction she hadn’t taken Callan before. She knocked on a door, then stepped inside.

He stood near the stairs dutifully, despite his desire to peek past closed doors into the rooms she hadn’t shown him. Maybe bedrooms for guards—yet, where were they? Or maybe something else. Offices? Some kind of security command center with banks of monitors watching the perimeter?

Callan was more interested in what he’d find in the basement. Was Ghazi running an operation out of this house? And if so, was he running it from the bottom floor? The floor with no windows, no way for anybody to peek inside or listen in?

Probably.

The door opened down the hall, and Molly walked toward him. “You’re welcome to join your friend now.”

“Great. I’m just going to run back to the kitchen and get my laptop bag so I can get some work done.”

“I’ll have Benson bring it to you.”

Callan didn’t hide his frustration. “I’d rather just?—”

“Follow me.” She swiveled and strode away, leaving him little choice but to follow.

They entered a long, narrow space. Straight ahead were windows and doors that opened to a balcony. One end held a fireplace and shelves.

On the other, Alyssa stood from behind a desk and a bank of screens. “There you are. This place must be huge, considering how long it took you to see it all.”

Ghazi was seated in a chair against the windows where he could watch what she was doing.

When Callan headed toward her, the man stood. “You need to stay over there.”

Callan glared at him. “I was just going to greetmyfiancée.”

Playing the role of the jealous partner.

The man’s grin was a little smug.

Alyssa stepped past Ghazi. She’d pulled her blond hair into a low ponytail, which somehow made her look younger and more serious. She gave Callan a quick kiss on the cheek. “Nice place?”

“Want me to find out if it’s on the market? We could move right in.” He nodded toward Ghazi. “After he’s finished with it, of course.”

She laughed. “This place is right in line with our budget.”

So much stupid banter, as if all were well. But by the tightness around her mouth, she wasn’t feeling as lighthearted as she was pretending.

Callan backed away and turned toward the other end of the room. “I guess I’ll just sit over there?”

“That would be best,” Ghazi said.

Callan asked Molly, “Could you please retrieve our phones and my laptop? I have work to do.”

She looked at Ghazi for permission. At his nod, she disappeared out the door.

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