Page 46 of Iron Willed Warrior

Did Manning know he worked for the head of Stillwater? As a bodyguard, he would see plenty. Ryker, Manning’s boss, had threatened the nanny who Westwick had been keeping prisoner. Maybe Manning had been involved in that. He’d been a corrupt cop before his bodyguard days.

He was a threat, no question. But was he also a potential weakness I could exploit?

“I travel a lot for work though,” Manning was saying, “so what my girl doesn’t know doesn’t concern her. If you know what I mean.”

“Right on.” I grinned, wondering if I would end up killing this guy too. “That’s what you’re doing here in Arizona? Working?”

The door across the hall opened, and another face appeared. One even more recognizable, making my pulse leap and my muscles involuntarily clench tight.

Donovan Ryker stood there, frowning at the two of us.

Manning jumped, since he’d just been caught goofing off. “Ryke! Hey. Didn’t see you there.”

“Who is this?” Ryker asked, staring at me, his voice oily and threatening. A man who didn’t mess around. My initial shock had faded, and now I was wary, my mind spinning out what this could mean.

Ryker wasn’t supposed to have arrived until tomorrow.

But Cameron Clay wasn’t the type to cede an inch, even around a tough guy, so I just stared back. “I don’t know, who the hell are you?”

Manning laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. “Thisguy is funny, Ryke. He’s staying down the hall. We were just chatting.”

Ryker’s hard gaze turned to his employee. “Then I suggest you get back to what you should be doing.”

Manning practically clicked his heels together and took off down the hall. What was he up to? Prepping security for Westwick’s arrival?

Unless the head of Stillwater had already arrived. A whole day early. Dammit, I wanted eyes on Brynn.

Ryker stepped out, closing the door most of the way behind him. He looked me up and down, pausing on my prosthetic leg, but unlike Manning he didn’t comment on it. Instead his scrutiny increased. There was a long pause.

“What was your name again?” he asked.

“I didn’t say. What’s yours?”

Ryker didn’t answer.

I didn’t intend to antagonize the man. But there was no buddying up to him, either. He would’ve found that more suspicious.

I lifted my chin. “Whatever, man. My girl’s waiting for me by the pool.”

“Enjoy yourself,” Ryker said, though his tone suggested I do something else to myself entirely.

If Ryker had recognized me as someone affiliated with the Protectors, then I would find that out very soon.

I had to get to Brynn.

When I reached the pool, Brynn was sitting in a cabana, holding court like the most popular girl in school. Relief flooded me at the sight of her, just knowing she was safe.

I’d had no reason to suspect otherwise, but dammit, I had a weakness for this woman.

I slowed my pace as my mouth went dry. Her cover-up was open, revealing a pale pink bikini underneath. She had her sunglasses perched on her head, legs tucked sideways in her chair as she laughed at whatever the woman beside her was saying. Several other guests looked on. They all held drinks like they’d been relaxing here for a while.

She gave me a playful look when she spotted me. Waved me over. “Cameron, there you are! I was just telling everyone about you. They’re here for the seminar too. This is?—”

“Need to talk to you, B,” I interrupted. “Now.”

She pouted. “But baby, I want to introduce you to my new friends.”

“Now, B,” I repeated.

---