Page 53 of Bridles and Bribery

Here it comes.Dave braced himself for whatever the co-owner of Lonestar Security was about to ask for. He was in no position to refuse any requests from the man.

“Look at you squirm.” Josh gave him a bemused sideways glance. “Relax. I’m not about to ask for your firstborn child in return for our cutting-edge securityservices.”

No, but you sure as all get out are about to ask for something else.“I’m listening,” he growled.

“As you know, Lonestar Security was recently honored to bring Gil Remington on board.”

“Yep.”Old news. Get to the point.

Josh’s voice grew animated. “After no small amount of additional prayer and soul-searching, we’re now gunning to turn our triad into a tetrad.”

No kidding?“A fourth partner, eh?” Despite Dave’s growing anxiety over his wife’s condition, he was happy for the owners of Lonestar Security. Happy for Gil getting in on the ground floor of something good. Happy for the incredible future looming for the company as a whole. And he was happy to be able to be a part of it from the legal side of things.

“Yep.”

“Guess I better get busy drawing up the paperwork.” He hoped Josh didn’t expect it on his desk today, because that wasn’t happening.

“Yep.”

“Who?” Dave didn’t know why Josh was being so stingy with the details. As their new in-house attorney, he wasn’t a guy they’d be able to keep many secrets from going forward.

“You, Dave. Who else?”

Dave’s head whipped in Josh’s direction. “Is this some sort of joke?” Talk about kicking a dog when he was down!

“Do I look like I’m laughing?”

Dave was stunned. His life and career were in shambles at the moment. If someone had even suggested he submit his resume for another job right now, he would’ve told them they were crazy. Somehow, though, one had fallen from the sky into his lap.

“I’m sure you have questions.” Josh reached the main highway and gunned the motor. “We’ve been trying to set up an in-person meeting for the four of us, but your schedule hasn’t exactly made that easy.”

Dave snorted. “Okay, now you’re laughing at me.”

“Nope. Still not laughing.” They reached the edge of Heart Lake and skirted the first bend around the lake.

Dave’s townhome rose in the distance. A trio of ambulances were parked at varying angles around the house, with their lights flashing.

My wife is in one of them!

He yanked his ball cap further down over his forehead, ready to unclasp his seatbelt and hit the ground running before the vehicle came to a complete stop.

“I have one more offer to make you,” Josh intoned gravely. “Despite all the precautions we’re taking, it’s possible your enemies have been watching your home, lying in wait for Jillian’s delivery to draw you out of hiding. If I drive you straight to the medical center, we can avoid?—”

“No!” Dave’s voice was harsh. “I promised my wife I’d be at her side when this day came. If I don’t keep my word, none of the other stuff will matter.”

“But—”

“I know the risks, Josh. You’d do the same for your wife.”

“Yes, I would,” Josh sighed. “I had to make the offer, though.”

A flash of burgundy caught Dave’s eye. It was a minivan rounding the corner in front of them. The driver took the curve way too fast and careened into their lane.

“What in the—?” Josh laid on his horn.

The minivan barreled closer. If the driver didn’t moveback to his lane soon, they were going to have a head-on collision.

Josh had no choice but to mash his foot on the brake. The sedan skidded to a halt with a squeal of rubber against pavement.

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