Page 28 of Scar

Mind, her parents were not aware that Tally and Mark were not as well suited a romantic couple as Tally portrayed them to be.

Tally needed to prove to herself and to her parents that she was capable of living on her own, of having her own career and life. She loved her parents, but they both could hover.

A thought occurred to Tally then. What if her mystery man didn’t work for Gordon Tremont? What if he worked for her father? It would explain why he hadn’t hurt her or spoken to her. Knowing her father, he had ordered the security detail not to interact with her. But he should have known that Tally would discover the man’s presence anyway. He’d trained her to hone her remaining senses.

Not wanting her dad to think anything was wrong, she quickly said, “Yes. Just let me know when you’re coming and I’ll do my best to clear my schedule. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to take off completely but I’ll try.”

“Of course, baby girl. If anyone understands a busy schedule, it’s your old man.”

Tally smiled. “I know, Dad. I’m glad you’re going to find time to take off, even if I can’t. You work too hard.”

“Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, little miss.”

Tally laughed. “Fair point.”

No, she decided, she wouldn’t tell her father about the mystery man. If he was working for Gordon Tremont, she’d take care of him herself. If he was working for her father, then she didn’t want him to get into trouble.

Time would tell, though.

“Dad, are you sure you’re okay? You sound…tired,” she decided. It seemed nicer than saying ‘worn out’, ‘exhausted’, or ‘stressed’.

“I’m fine, baby. You’re the one I’m worried about. Please make sure you’re taking care of yourself. And always sense your six.” It was their own play on the traditional ‘watch your six’, because Tally couldn’twatchanything.

“I promise, Dad.”

She was definitely leaning more and more towards her mystery man working for her dad because he acted like a guard rather than a threat. Whatever it was her dad was working on the past couple of weeks must be serious if he sent a bodyguard down to Atlanta to protect her.

“And call your mother.”

Tally snorted. “I talked with her yesterday.”

“Texting and talking are two different things!”

“Not to me,” she reminded him playfully.

“Tally Ally, I am aware you are in your thirties, but I will still put you in time out for sassing me.”

Tally smiled. “I know. Love you, Dad.”

“You too, baby. I’ll call you once I figure out what’s going on here and can get some time to come down to visit.”

“Looking forward to not seeing you.”

Her dad finally let out a rough chuckle. “Bye, baby.”

“Bye, Dad.”

Tally put her phone back in her pocket after hanging up so she didn’t accidentally bury it on the mess that was her desk. Less than five minutes later, her hostess came into her office to tell her that Gordon Tremont was in the dining room and asking for Tally.

* * *

[WiseWave620: Star’s cat is a psychopath.]

* * *

Scar’s eyesnarrowed on the stout man in a fancy business suit who was currently standing by the hostess stand. The hostess, a young college student named Chelsea, had gone to get Tally. As soon as she was gone from the podium, a tall man with a military haircut went around the podium to start taking pictures of the tablet Chelsea had left behind. Scar scowled for two reasons. He would put money on the fact that the man with Tremont, despite his haircut, had never served in the military in his life. But the biggest issue was the fact that Scar could not reveal himself in a crowded restaurant to scare Tremont off prior to Tally coming out of her office.

The dining guests who were enjoying their lunch did provide a modicum of protection to Tally. Scar had looked Tremont up. He was a real estate developer who was using various shell corporations to purchase the riverfront properties surrounding Tally’s restaurant. Scar hadn’t deduced why he was buying all that real estate, but he’d get there. He might not be as proficient as Keys, but he’d discover what he wanted to know soon enough.

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