Page 53 of Protected from Malice
I thought what I’d experienced was bad—being violated, losing my sense of security, having to spend months just to feel clean again—but Tyler lost hiswife. According to Rafe, Tyler and Kaia hadn’t even been married a year when she died.
In less than two years, he lost his legandhis wife.
How did he survive it? How did he keep going?
But thinking about all he’s been through fills me with determination. If Tyler can face his ghosts to be here, surely I can do something as small as justtalking.
“I was thinking,” Rafe starts, casting a quick look around the table, “that Tyler could start us off with his recommendations for security. Then we can move onto the investigative part of things. And I know you’ve all been briefed on the situation, but if there are questions for Eden?—”
He turns to me with an apologetic expression. “I know it’s tough having to go through it again. And if it gets to be too much?—”
“I’m fine,” I tell him. “I can answer any questions anyone has.”
Indy looks between us, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. His jaw works. “I don’t understand why you called Rafe when you could have calledme. No offense—” He glances at Rafe before looking back at me. “But Eden. I’m your brother. Of anyone… Shit. Why didn’t you call me the first time you noticed something? The first time you got a strange phone call?”
My chest constricts. “I wasn’t sure it was anything. I didn’t want to worry you over nothing.”
His voice rises. “I’m your brother.I’mthe one you should come to. And you were almost run off theroad, Eden. You didn’t think to call me then?”
“I…” Tears sting my eyes. I drop my gaze to my lap. “I wasn’t sure. It could have been random. Road rage. Mistaken identity…”
“Comeon,” Indy snaps. Anger tightens his features. “For someone so intelligent, did you really think that?”
“Indy,” Webb interrupts. “I know you’re upset.”
“Of course I’m upset! My little sister’s in trouble and I only find out after? She could have been killed!”
My throat goes thick. “Indy…”
“Enough.” It’s rough. Firm. Rafe pins Indy with his gaze. “Eden had her reasons. She called me. And I called you. We’re all here. End of story.”
In contradiction to his commanding tone, he grasps my hand under the table and gives it a gentle squeeze.
A moment later, Indy’s features pinch with guilt. “Shit.” He sighs heavily. “I’m sorry, Eenie. The last thing you need is me snapping at you right now. Rafe’s right. What matters is that we’re here. And we’re going to make sure this asshole doesn’t come after you again.”
“Exactly,” Webb agrees. He leans forward and props his elbows on the shiny wooden table. “This piece of shit is going to find out he picked the wrong person to fuck with.”
Ace nods. “So.” He turns to Tyler. “What are you thinking for security?”
Tyler looks up from his laptop. Lines form across his brow as he thinks. “Well. Rafe did a decent job in here. Considering.”
Rafe arches a brow at him. “Consideringwhat?”
A ghost of a smile flickers across Tyler’s face. “Considering that you’re not an expert with computers, like me.”
“No, I’m not,” Rafe replies. “So. Aside from insulting me, what are you thinking?”
“I think we need two suites, side by side, first off. More motion detectors, both inside the rooms and in the hallway. I want to know when anyone even thinks about walking past the doors.” He clicks the touchpad a few times before continuing, “Hacking into the hotel system will be a snap. I should have that done in less than fifteen minutes.”
Glancing at Ace, he asks, “Can you set up some of your detectors in the hallway and in all the elevators? Not that I think anyone?—”
“I know,” I interject, softening it with a tiny smile. “It’s just a precaution.”
“No one should know you’re here,” Rafe adds. “Now that I’ve checked everything.” Self-recrimination tinges his voice. “I should have noticed that tracker before.”
This time, I’m the one giving his hand a small squeeze beneath the table. “It’s not like we had a lot of time, Rafe. After the break-in at my house, and dealing with the police…”
“So the break-in.” Indy flexes his prosthetic hand, then taps his fingers on the table. “The asshole said he picked up the job from a website. Can we find it?”
