Page 5 of Barely Breathing
She didn’t doubt her exodus would concern Vince.He’d follow her.She’d left a note for him, saying she’d been called away.Hopefully, it would be enough to make him believe she was still oblivious to his intentions.She had no doubt he’d be coming after her, though.In whatever game he was playing, she was too important for him to risk losing her.She probably had seventy-two hours at most.He’d managed to get inside her computer.Hers.So, she knew he could find out where she’d gone.
She should have enough time to arrange a meeting with Midnight via Stace and have their protection when Vince arrived, though.She’d take all the help they offered and then some, if it kept her dad safe.Vince wanted to make her dad suffer.She wouldn’t help him.She knew she’d done the right thing by running.He probably expected her to call her dad.Christ, maybe Vince had planned for her to overhear the conversation, hoping she’d do exactly that.
Not this time.This time, she prayed she’d be pulling in Jack Madigan and his group.From her files, she knew Jack and his team were almost as hardcore as Zachariah Davison.Almost.As far as she was concerned, no one matched her dad.Not even Stace, who Honor thought highly of.
Her dad might be concerned Honor was walking into the lion’s den, but she needed a den of lions.She had a wolf on her tail, and she wasn’t sure how many others he had with him.She really hoped the lions were willing to help and hungry as hell.
Chapter Two
An engagement party.Stace was at a fucking engagement party.
Shit.Honor hated dressing up.She’d had just enough time to grab a hotel room and change clothes before heading to the party for Ally Samms and Blake Summers.It wasn’t exactly how she wanted to meet the people she’d put together files on, but what choice did she have?None.Nada.Zilch.Zero.There wasn’t time to wait for the festivities to be over.Who knew how long before the crazy bastard came after her?
Honor banked on his cockiness to buy some time before he found the note she’d left.Why would she leave when she had a hunk like Vince Towner hot for her?She laughed.Ego.Men seemed to have it to spare.Vince would probably choke on his own tongue if he saw her now anyway.
She cleaned up well.She didn’t do it often.She really wasn’t a dress-and-heels kind of girl.Her height didn’t need heels, but fuck it, what good was dressing up if you didn’t have the shoes?And when else would she be around a group of guys who were tall enough for her to wear stilettos and not be the tallest person in the room?
She stepped from her Jeep, took a deep breath, then shook out her hands in hopes of diffusing some of her nerves.She pushed the number pad on her door to put in her alarm code then waited for the lights to flash.Call her paranoid, but the car was her baby.Now, it held her entire life.
Please don’t let me fall!She repeated the words all the way across the lot to the door.No one stood outside.She couldn’t believe they wouldn’t have security.Not these guys.It was in their blood.No matter the place, someone would be watching.She had little doubt her arrival had already been reported.
The hair on the back of her neck rose, and she turned to search for the eyes on her.She was startled for a moment, not expecting to see Tyler Andrews.He’d quit working with her dad several years ago.Of all the guys who’d worked for Zach Davison, he’d always been one of her favorites.It had broken her heart when he’d walked away, but she’d understood.He was proof shit got real in actual combat, and people died.His being here only meant one thing.Her father had called him.
“Well, well, well.Do my eyes deceive me, or is it really Honor Davison under all this glamour?Damn girl!No wonder Zach keeps you hidden away.”
“I’d say it’s a pleasure to see you again, but we both know I’ve never been great at lying.”
Tyler laughed and pulled her in for a hard hug.Honor’s eyes got a little wet, and she blinked rapidly to keep her tears from spilling.It was so good to see him.Had he been in Legacy before her dad called or headed this way to meet her?It only took a moment before things clicked in her head, and she pulled back to look at him.
“You know someone with Midnight, Inc., don’t you?You were in the Army, right?Is it the Viking, Shep?Rangers together?Is this where you’ve been?Are you working with Midnight now?”
“Going over my file in your head?”
She glared at him, arms crossed over her chest.
“First question.I’m assuming ‘the Viking’ is Shep.He gets that a lot from people Especially women.”Tyler chuckled at the disgust on her face.“Yes, we spent some time together in the Rangers.I’ve been in Legacy for a few years now.Turning over a new leaf, so to speak.”He seemed to find his comment exceptionally funny, and she calmly waited for his laughter to die down.“I don’t work for Midnight, but I made a point of introducing myself to Jack Madigan when I arrived in town.He offered.I declined.”
“Did Daddy tell you I was coming here?”
“He worries about you.Plus, I was invited to this party.He knows something’s up, something big.He’ll dig until he finds out what.When he said you’d be finding Stace as soon as you arrived, I figured you’d plan to come here.”
“So, are you my bodyguard, or do I need to keep my eyes open for one of the other guys to pop up?”
“We both know you’ll keep those gorgeous eyes open, no matter what I say.”
She snorted.“I’ve missed your flattery.”
He grinned.“You’ve missed everything about me, and you know it.”
Honor snorted again.He was right.He was one of the few guys who’d stood up to her dad.Which reminded her she didn’t want her father involved in this.“When you call him, tell him I’m fine.He won’t believe me.You can verify you’ve seen me with your own eyes, and I’m as gorgeous as ever.”She fluttered her eyes at him, playing on his earlier comment.
He opened his mouth, and she immediately shook her head and placed a finger on his lips.
“Don’t ask me,” she warned.
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to lie to a friend.”
