Control (Harper Security Ops #18)

Six

SIX

Ty

“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need to elevate your foot on something?”

Though I was genuinely concerned and wanted to be certain Alana wasn’t feeling any discomfort, the truth was that my questions about her physical well-being were all a means for me to delay the inevitable. I was still trying to come to grips with what was happening here.

From the moment Avalon had walked up and told me Alana was here, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. It had been just shy of two weeks since I went to visit her in the hospital following her car accident. If I was honest, I hadn’t expected I was ever going to see her again.

Of course, I’d had plenty to keep my mind distracted since I left the hospital that day, so it wasn’t as though I’d been sitting around regretting that I hadn’t asked her for her phone number before I left.

I had enough problems to deal with. It would have been unfair for me to drag someone else into my life at this point.

Despite having not returned her calls, it seemed my ex-girlfriend thought repeated attempts to contact me would work in her favor.

Evangeline continued to call, continued to text, and had even shown up at my place on two separate occasions. The first time, I was fortunate enough to not be there, having needed to stay a bit later to work on a security system installation for a client. The security cameras I had installed at my place alerted me to her presence, though, and I was merely grateful she was gone by the time I’d gotten back home.

The second time she showed up, I wasn’t so lucky. A knock came at my door early one morning, and I didn’t think twice as I dragged myself out of bed and to the front door. Seeing her there first thing in the morning, I wasn’t happy.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ty, we need to talk about this,” she said.

I took in her appearance. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days, something that gave me the slightest bit of satisfaction. At least I wasn’t the only one who’d been impacted by her infidelity.

“I thought I made it clear that there’s nothing for us to discuss, because I’m done with you.”

She nodded. “I understand that. I don’t expect you to want to get back together with me. But I would like the opportunity to apologize.”

My brows shot up as I sent an unimpressed look her way.

“I’m sorry for what I did.”

“Great. Thanks. Now, would you please leave and not come back?”

“Don’t you want to know why? Don’t you care to understand?—”

“No,” I clipped. “No, I don’t. Because it doesn’t matter to me why you did it. All that matters is that you were capable of doing it. I don’t care that you’ve moved on. I don’t care if you’re happy with your decision. I just don’t care at all.”

She jerked her chin down slightly. “You’re a good man, Ty. And I know it’s possible I’m going to live to regret my decision one day. I realize I didn’t go about this the best way, but I want you to know I never meant to hurt you.”

“If you’re concerned that I’m sitting around pining over you, let this stand as your confirmation that I’m not. I’m fine. You need to live with the choice you made, just as I do. And I’d like to be able to do that, so I’d appreciate if you’d walk away now and leave me alone. I don’t want to see you again, Evangeline.”

She stared at me for several beats, disappointment lingering in her gaze. “Take care of yourself, Ty.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be sure to do a much better job of that than you ever did.”

Without giving her the chance to respond beyond witnessing the hurt that slashed through her features, I stepped back and closed the door. Maybe my response was harsh, but I thought it paled in comparison to the pain she’d easily inflicted on me when she chose to deceive me and hook up with another man. And it seemed my tactic had been effective, because ever since I’d said those words and closed the door, Evangeline hadn’t reached out to me again.

Fortunately, things were steady enough at work that I was able to keep myself busy and distracted. I hadn’t wanted to sit around and wallow in self-pity, so I appreciated having something to do to keep me occupied and moving forward. With time, I knew things would get better.

And now, I was wondering if there wasn’t some higher power at work, making sure I had a constant flow of distractions. I couldn’t quite put my finger on precisely what the emotion was that I felt when Avalon walked up to tell me Alana was here looking to hire a bodyguard and had asked specifically for me to be the one to do that for her. There was certainly a level of shock and surprise I felt, but there was something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on, too.

So, as I tried to come to grips with seeing her again while I attempted to figure out what I was feeling, I figured that making small talk about her physical well-being was the best place to start.

“I’m alright for now,” Alana assured me. “Though I might be eating my words later, considering this is the most I’ve been out and about since my accident.”

“Have you seen your doctor since?”

“I have. He’s very impressed with the way everything is healing, so that’s good. I just have to go back to his office next week to get the stitches removed. And then I’ll be down to only four more weeks of needing to wear this boot.”

I smiled at her, glad to hear she was doing well. “That’s great news.”

She returned the smile and shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I can’t complain too much.”

I held her stare for a beat.

For the first time since her car accident, I really took her in. She was pretty. Her wavy hair, which fell to maybe two or three inches past her shoulders, was mostly dark brown, but when the light hit it at just the right angle, there were spots that looked caramel in color. Her sapphire eyes were stunning, but it was her prominent cheeks that I was drawn to most when she smiled.

“So, what’s going on? What led to you coming here today? Or, I guess, what makes you want to hire a bodyguard?”

She sighed. “I think you might be the only person I can trust.”

To say I was caught off guard would have been an understatement. I’d just met Alana, so I wasn’t quite sure how she could make such a grand statement. “I’m glad that you see me as someone trustworthy. I’d like to think that’s the kind of man I am, but something about you saying that after this being our third encounter with one another has me a little curious about what’s happening.”

“That’s fair. I realize this probably seems strange, but I feel like I might be out of options at this point. I assumed, based on the work you do, that you might be able to help,” she explained.

I nodded. “As I told you when I visited you in the hospital, I’m happy to help in any way that I can.”

Alana sent an appreciative glance my way. “I met with Dale today. I’m not sure if you recall, but he’s the news director for the station. I thought I’d be able to convince him to change his mind about my coverage of the story I’d been working on when I got into the car accident.”

“How’d that meeting go?”

She shook her head. “Not the way I had been hoping. He refuses to allow me or anyone else at the station to cover it.”

It seemed strange to me, even if the thought of someone like Alana putting herself in danger left me unsettled, that this guy wouldn’t want to break a story like this. Considering I didn’t know him personally, I couldn’t say what his motives were. Perhaps he merely wanted to look out for the people on his team. “So, how can I help?”

“I’m going to do it.”

My brows drew together, my head tipping slightly to the side. “Do what?”

“I’m not walking away from this story. I think Annie’s family and the community, as a whole, deserve answers. Plus, there’s the whole situation with my coworker. She’s improving, but it’s been slow. And they’ve been working on reducing the sedation medication, so she’s been in and out of it, mostly out of it, from what her mom says, but either way, her family should know who is responsible for putting her there.”

“I don’t disagree. Am I to assume you don’t trust justice will come to those who deserve it?”

She shrugged. “I’m not suggesting the police aren’t doing everything they can to get to the bottom of this, but I don’t think it hurts for more people to be involved. I mean, think about it. A lot of people are uneasy around cops, so I think it’s only natural they’re not as forthcoming if questioned. For someone like me, they might be more willing to talk, because it feels less threatening. I just think it’s possible for me to have some success where the authorities might not.”

That wasn’t a totally unreasonable assumption. “And how would I factor into this?”

“Right. Well, I can’t work on this story when I’m expected to be working on whatever comes across my desk at the news station. But I am prepared to do it in my free time. I know it’ll take longer, and I won’t get nearly as much accomplished as I would if I had a full day to work on it, but something is better than nothing. I’m prepared to take the risk the station isn’t. I realize there’s something sinister about this whole thing, but I can’t let it go. I also can’t tell anyone else that I’m going to be doing this. In a worst-case scenario, if something happens to me, nobody will know why. So, I was hoping I’d be able to hire you to come alongside me, to keep me safe, while I do what I’ve got to do to uncover what happened to these women.”

If there was one thing I could say I understood and appreciated about this whole situation, it would be Alana’s sense of determination and commitment to the cause. She had wound up in such a scary situation with that car accident, and she wasn’t letting that stop her. She understood there was a level of risk involved with the work she did, particularly on a case like this, that went beyond the risks of reporting on something like the weather.

And it didn’t scare her.

Or, maybe it did, to a degree. Why else would she be here?

But despite the harm that could come her way, regardless of the fact she could wind up in a situation like her coworker—or even Annie—Alana refused to back down.

I understood that sense of duty, the calling someone experienced when it came to the work they did each day. If I didn’t agree to help her, it was likely she was going to do it anyway.

Fortunately, I didn’t have any concerns about watching out for her while she did what she had to do and would be happy to help however she needed. I certainly wasn’t going to stand by while she’d been directly threatened.

Before I could relay that information to her, Alana had assumed my silence was enough of a response. “Listen, Ty, I completely understand if this isn’t something you want to be a part of. I signed up for this job and knew the risks. I don’t expect you to put yourself in a dangerous situation for me. I was just trying to be smart in a less than desirable situation.”

“You do know what I do for a living, right?”

She nodded. “Of course. But being a bodyguard for a celebrity is much different than actively putting yourself in a scenario where murderers are willing to do whatever is necessary to keep the truth from coming out.”

“Fair enough. But I also served in the military before I became a bodyguard here. I’m not afraid of dangerous situations. If anything, I’d be more concerned about you heading into something like this on your own. Plus, as a man who was just burned by someone who lied to me, I have this thing about honesty and truthfulness. So, no, Alana, I’m not afraid of this, and I’m certainly not turning my back on you. I offered to help you, and I will do that.”

As much as the relief swept over her, there were questions lingering in her gaze. Whatever they were, she didn’t ask. “Really?”

“Yes. So, what did you have in mind?”

Alana’s shoulders relaxed, and her features softened. She had truly believed I wasn’t going to help her. “I guess that depends on you. I’m accustomed to working on my own, but since this situation is unique and I want to have you along, I guess it’d be nice to have your input. Maybe it would make sense for us to get together at the first opportunity your schedule permits, so we can go over everything I’ve collected. I’m not asking you to do more than just what I intend to hire you to do, but I think it’s wise for you to know where I plan to go and who I expect to communicate with. I would imagine that would help you do your job better, wouldn’t it?”

I ignored the fact that she’d mentioned hiring me. We could get into that later. “The more information I have about what I’m walking into, the better. I just finished up a project, so my schedule is wide open now. If you’d like, we can get together tomorrow morning, review everything, and decide on a plan of action.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Unless that doesn’t work for you.”

“That’s perfect. That’s excellent. I don’t start back at the news station until after the doctor removes my stitches next week and clears me. Once that happens, my time is going to be limited, so anything we can do over the next couple of days to get a head start will be great.”

In that moment, it seemed Alana wasn’t the only one who was feeling a sense of relief. I had the feeling this task was going to be an ongoing one. Right now, with what I’d just experienced in my personal life, I was grateful for the work my professional life provided. I’d do anything to not have the time to sit around and think about how I’d trusted someone who didn’t deserve it.

“Alright, so where would you like to meet? I can come to you, if that’s easier. Or, if you want, you’re more than welcome to bring whatever you’ve got here.”

Focused on her goal, Alana didn’t hesitate. “If meeting here is okay, I think that’d probably be best.”

Fair enough.

I had some concerns about the extent to which Alana wanted to utilize bodyguard services—did she think she was in danger only when she was reporting—but until I had the full scope of the threat tomorrow morning, I wasn’t going to push for too much.

“Here works for me. Does first thing in the morning work for you?”

“I’m moving a little slower with this boot on, but I think I could be here by nine,” she said.

I grinned at her. “Nine it is. And if you’re a few minutes late, don’t worry about it.”

Something that felt a lot like mutual respect and understanding passed between us. Following a beat of silence, Alana spoke. “Thank you, Ty. I really appreciate your willingness to help.”

Shaking my head dismissively, I insisted, “Don’t mention it. Honestly, I’m really glad you stopped in for help. I’m looking forward to it.”

She dipped her chin. “Alright, well, I should probably get out of your hair now. I need to get home and get off this foot for a while.”

“Okay. Do you have your phone on you?”

“I do.”

“I know I gave you my card, but in case something comes up, why don’t you take down my personal number?”

Her eyes widened, an indication she hadn’t expected my offer. “Oh, that’s a good idea.”

After Alana programmed my number into her phone, we both stood and moved toward the door. We’d barely walked out of the conference room when Avalon’s hopeful stare was on us.

And once we were within a few feet of her desk, Alana asked, “Is there some paperwork you need me to fill out? I don’t quite know how this all works.”

Avalon glanced up at me, and I instinctively offered a slight shake of my head. She didn’t miss a beat, returned her attention to Alana, and said, “Nope. Today would be considered just a free consultation. Once I talk to Ty about the scope of services you’ll need, we can get all of that taken care of.”

“Oh, that’s great. I’ll be back in tomorrow morning, so we can take care of everything then, if that’s okay.”

“That’ll work for us.”

Alana gave her a nod, slid her eyes in my direction, and said, “Thanks again. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ty.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

With that, she turned and moved toward the door. I took long strides to make it there before her and held the door open. She smiled shyly at me and walked through.

And I found myself watching her as she made her way across the lot and to her car.

Being so caught up in watching her, I forgot to pay attention to where I was and what was happening around me. But the moment I felt a hand clamp down on my shoulder, I blinked and returned to reality.

“Who’s that?” Forrest asked.

I turned. “Her name is Alana.”

“Alana,” he repeated, a smile playing at his lips. I hadn’t hidden the fact that Evangeline and I were over, so it came as no surprise that Forrest was wearing this stupid look on his face now.

“Where do you know Alana from? I mean, she asked for you specifically, according to Avalon.”

Twisting my neck, my eyes slid to Avalon. She was wearing a huge grin, her eyes dancing with hope. It didn’t take a genius to know what thoughts were running through her mind. But because she was so sweet, I didn’t have the heart to just crush her. The truth was that I was not in any position to get involved with someone else right now. It hadn’t even been two weeks since things ended with Evangeline, and the sting of her betrayal was still lingering.

“I met her the night I learned about Evangeline,” I shared.

His brows shot up in surprise. “Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. I didn’t realize you went out and found a way to bury your sorrows.”

I huffed, shaking my head. “That’s not what happened. I was walking back to my car after what happened with Evangeline, and Alana came racing down the street. She lost control of her car and crashed.”

Forrest’s eyes darted past me toward the parking lot. “Is that why she’s wearing that boot?”

“Yes.”

“And now she needs bodyguard services because of it?”

I looked out into the parking lot and watched as Alana pulled away. “She’s a reporter, and she’s reporting on what happened to Annie Sanders.”

“That’s led her to think she needs a bodyguard?”

Returning my focus to Forrest, I explained, “Well, her coworker was the one who was initially reporting on the story, but she wound up being attacked and landed in the hospital. She’s still there. When Alana crashed, it was because she was trying to get away from someone who had approached her at the gas station and warned her to stop her investigation. Now that her news director has insisted that she not cover this story any longer, she’s preparing to do it on her own.”

Admiration and understanding washed over him. “Wow. At least she’s being smart about it. That’s great for her and for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing going on.”

“Not yet.”

“Not ever. I’m not in any position to be getting involved with someone right now,” I insisted.

“Well, if that’s the case,” Avalon interrupted. Forrest and I turned our attention in her direction. “Why are we not charging her?”

I narrowed my eyes.

Forrest burst out laughing. “Oh, boy. Better tell everyone to buckle up, Avalon. We’re about to have our next crisis.”

“That’s not what’s happening.”

Forrest and Avalon ignored me, and Avalon asked, “Do you think I should send out a memo to everyone? It might be easier that way. Plus, I think everyone will be excited. It’s been a year since Paxton and Aria got together. We’ve had some babies born, pregnancy announcements, and a wedding or two, so it seems fitting to have a little turmoil thrown into the mix.”

I sighed and shook my head.

If nothing else, at least my friends knew what to do to keep me in good spirits.