Page 35 of Relentless
“And you are?” Kara asked.
“Alex Bantry. Cody’s personal assistant,” she replied, not bothering to shake Kara’s hand.
“I thought we were late,” Cody called from outside the plane.
Ethan glanced at Kara, his brow raised in question. She quirked hers back at him and gave a tiny shrug. Apparently, she hadn’t missed the weirdness between Cody and his PA, either. But then she nodded toward the stairs, and he took the hint. Gesturing her ahead of him, he followed her onto the tarmac. Leaving Alex behind.
“We’re here,” Ethan said, shooting his cousin a what-the-hell-look that Cody ignored. Although when Ethan took in his surroundings, and the woman standing next to his cousin, he could sort of understand Cody’s distraction. She looked every bit the security operative he was certain she was. Her hypervigilant eyes scanned the private hangar, a lightweight jacket hid her sidearm, and her practical shoes gave her away. But she was stunning.
She’d pulled her sleek black hair into a long ponytail that fell between her shoulder blades. Thick black lashes ringed almond-shaped eyes that were the complex—and not common—color of deep green sapphires. And her rich skin tone hinted at a Southeast Asian heritage.
She wasn’t very tall—no more than five foot six or seven—but she had the kind of proportions that made a man think things he shouldn’t. And while Ethan’s preferences ran to petite strawberry blondes, objectively, the woman was beautiful. Someone who’d easily draw a second, and third, glance. He didn’t know her background, but if she’d ever been in intelligence, he’d bet she’d been damn good at misdirection and subterfuge.
“Ethan, Kara, this is Valentia Khatri. My head of security,” Cody said. Ethan found it more than a little interesting that Valentia had been introduced, but not Alex.
“Call me Tia,” she said, stepping forward and shaking first Kara’s then Ethan’s hand. “We have much to discuss, but we can do that later. Let’s get everyone and everything in the cars. I think your PA is about to blow a gasket since we’re already five minutes late.”
“She said fifteen,” Cody said.
“I’m sure she did,” Tia replied. “Let’s load up. The second car can get all the luggage.”
Kara raised a brow at him when he reached for her hand. He nodded in response to her unasked question. He’d talk to Cody about his PA at some point. But whatever drama Alex Bantry was orchestrating, it didn’t involve him or Kara, so it could wait.
Tia climbed into the driver’s seat as Alex scrambled out of the plane. She made to get into the back with Cody, but Cody cut her off and asked her to ride up front. Alex looked less than pleased but did as bid while the three of them took the bench seat in the back. As soon as everyone was buckled up, Tia started the large SUV, and the caravan headed out.
“You have the sound check from nine until noon, then a meet-and-greet with the press from noon until one,” Alex said, rattling off a schedule presumably on her phone since she clutched the device like a lifeline. “After one, you have a VIP event—”
“No,” Cody cut her off. “I told you, no VIP events.”
“The label set it up—”
“And you can cancel it. They wouldn’t have done that without you giving them the go-ahead. And I specifically remember telling you no VIP events on this tour.”
Kara leaned against Ethan’s shoulder. She was either going to fall asleep again or wanted to show her solidarity with the Warwick family. Either way, he took her hand as he pulled out his phone.
“Cody, it’s already organized,” Alex said.
“Then unorganize it. It’s not up for discussion.”
Alex’s spine stiffened and she began furiously typing something on her phone. For her sake, Ethan hoped she was canceling the event. Bringing his own phone to life, he typed in a message.
Ethan:What’s up with Bantry?
Cody looked at him, then pulled his phone from his pocket and read the message.
Cody:This your version of passing notes in class?
Ethan:Happy to talk about it out loud, but I get the feeling there’s something you might not want to share
Cody:I don’t trust her
Ethan’s gaze met his cousin’s before turning back to his phone.
Ethan:What about Tia?
If his cousin didn’t trust one person on his staff, could he trust any? With Kara’s safety on the line, he wasn’t taking any chances.
Cody:Trust her with my life
