Fate’s Unseen Shadow (Cager #1)

Chapter 7

7

D amon stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for five-thirty to roll around. Right on time, Ella’s door opened. She exited, locking it behind her, before stepping down the stairs. Her new jeans were low on her hips, hugged her thighs, and flared to a wide opening. Her black T-shirt ended at her waist, revealing two inches of smooth skin. He’d seen the pictures of her online. A few casual shots at charity events. In none of those photos had she dressed like this. And to his unfortunate luck, he’d found one with her and Matteo, arm in arm, at a gallery opening. She’d looked pretty, of course, and Matteo looked like the fucking loser Damon thought he’d be.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her mouth pulling down with a slight frown. “Do I look okay? You’re staring at me weirdly.” She twirled in a slow circle. She’d darkened her makeup, swapping the bright red lipstick she’d worn yesterday for a new one purchased today. A deep burgundy red that suited her. “Did I get it wrong? I’ve never dressed like this before. I can change if I need to.”

“You look fine.” It was the best description he could offer without sounding more interested than he should be in her.

“Oh. Good.” She nodded and walked past him to his car. “Glad I look fine. I was shooting for that level of compliment.”

Damon rolled his eyes at the annoyed tone and followed her to the car. Telling her she looked hot as hell would better fit how he felt but wasn’t appropriate. “Let me get that.” He reached around and opened her door.

Ella stepped back, her shoulder brushing his chest. She looked back up at him, her blue eyes nearly turquoise in the sunlight. He rarely second-guessed himself, but he did right then. She’d draw attention from every man and woman at Cager. Not because of her position or money as the owner of Cassin Systems.

But because she was fucking gorgeous.

And he wanted to keep her for himself.

Damon exhaled and stepped away. “We need to go.” He left her and crossed to the driver’s side, his throat tightening with his struggle for control. He wanted her safe.

He sat down, pushing the Start button before she even got her door closed. “Promise me if the language gets too rough at the bar for you, you’ll let me know. I don’t want you to be subjected to all the nonsense that comes out of some guys’ mouths. And women’s. Both can get rough when you add alcohol into the mix.”

“I can take it. There’s misogyny in the business world, too.”

“And you shouldn’t have to take it there either,” he murmured. She was made for a different lifestyle than this one, and it was his job to get her back to it as soon as possible. He and the guys would brainstorm later. They’d all had business emergencies come up today, keeping them from discussing her case.

But his first hurdle was ensuring Ella was safe tonight, and the longer he thought about it, the more that protective weight settled in his chest.

Damon drove to Cager and parked along the side of the building. “I mean it, Ella. Let me know if you run into any…trouble,” he finished as Ella was already unbuckled and stepping out of the car. “Obviously, you’re ready to work.” He chuckled, which she appeared not to hear as she closed the door. He hurried to follow her. “This isn’t going to be anything like your old life.” He stepped beside her as she headed toward the front of the building. He took her by the elbow, leading her in a large circle. “We’ll enter in this way. I said this won’t be like anything you’re used to. We will work to get you back to your old life soon.”

She sighed and pushed her blond hair back, fisting her hand in it at the nape of her neck. “I’ve spent a month alone, psychoanalyzing myself to the point that I don’t even remember what I liked about my old life. I want my company back. I love being in charge, making deals, flying around the world. But otherwise…” She shrugged. “I didn’t have anything else.”

He kept his voice neutral. “What about Matteo?”

She snorted and rolled her eyes before cutting them in his direction. “No. I’m hurt he didn’t defend me, but I don’t miss him.” She lowered her voice. “He was convenient. Nothing else.”

Damon tried not to ask, but it came out regardless. “And you were with only him for the last four years? No other dates with other men?”

Ella shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “That’s right.” She twisted her lips as he unlocked Cager’s back door. “The sad state of my life. Too busy for real friends or real dates.”

For most people, that statement would’ve been an exaggeration. But with the way it sounded like she ran her life, it fit. She didn’t have real friends because those would take time away from her building Cassin Systems into the powerhouse it was.

“Let’s go introduce you to Lacy. You’re about to have an instant best friend.” He turned and strode down the dark hallway toward the bar, quelling the urge to reach for her hand and lead her. He wanted to fix the brokenness in her voice. Prove she wasn’t alone. Not anymore. Even when she returned to Atlanta, he’d be available to her.

Gorgeous and smart—an incredible combination in his book. The men in her world, especially Matteo, were fucking idiots. He agreed that men shouldn’t hit on a woman in most situations. The boardroom wasn’t a place to bring up the bedroom. But damn, the second their business negotiations were over, he’d throw every single angle he had to get a date with her if he lived in her world.

But he didn’t. He fit into her life for one reason and one reason alone: safety.

He’d keep her safe. If anything else happened beyond that, he’d consider himself a lucky son of a bitch.

Damon rested his forearms on the bar as his best and only bartender sauntered over. “Lacy. This is your new bartender, Ella.”

Lacy wore a pair of leather pants and a crop top, short enough that it might be a bra. The neckline touched her collarbone, hiding the butterfly tattoo across her breastbone. “You finally got me some help. Only been asking for a month.” She hitched her thumb over her shoulder. “Get your cute butt back here so I can teach you the ropes. You won’t be any use to me if you need your hand held every five seconds.”

Damon shot Lacy a hard look, but before he could say anything, Ella hurried behind the bar with a big smile. “I’m a fast learner,” she announced with the same confidence as yesterday.

“And eager.” Lacy raised her eyebrows. “Cute jeans.”

“Thanks.” She started tugging down the shirt but then stopped and lifted her chin. “I wasn’t sure if I looked okay. This is a little different from how I used to dress for work.”

Lacy crossed her arms and gave her a long look up and down. “You look hot as shit, girl.” She held up her hand. “And I’m so borrowing those jeans.”

“Thanks. The last person I asked didn’t give me the same level of response.” She ended her statement with a sly cut of her gaze to his.

“Because the last person you asked isn’t interested in borrowing your jeans.” Damon set his hands on the bar, not amused by the byplay. “Lacy?”

“What’s up?” She leaned on the bar across from him, her smile a little too cunning on a Thursday night. “I think you’d look cute in her jeans. Or at least I’d enjoy watching you try to get in them.” She winked.

“Well, I’m not doing either. Watch out for her.” He aimed his warning at Ella, locking eyes with her, making sure she heard every word he said. “Your new student has never been behind a bar like this. Never been in a bar like this. She may find it fun, but she needs to know the risks. Please teach her the ropes to be safe.”

“I’m thirty-one. I understand the risks,” Ella shot back.

“I don’t think you do.”

“I worked in the business world, Damon. I didn’t live in a cave.”

He snorted. “And that difference between your reality and mine is the same as between a penthouse condo and a cave.”

“And it feels like I’ve lived in both of those in the last month,” she snapped, her cheeks flushing with anger. “Stop doubting my intelligence”—she huffed and added—“please.”

Lacy stepped between them and held her hands up to both to stop. “Whoa! I don’t need World War Three to start. She’ll be just fine, boss. I’ll keep her safe, although I don’t think she’ll let anyone mess with her for long if she’s already telling you to back off.”

“Then, I suppose I’m overreacting. But regardless, I’m staying all night.” He pushed off the bar.

“Great. Chris will enjoy the backup,” Lacy called as Damon started to inch toward the door, needing space to move. His bouncer, Chris, wouldn’t need backup. The man was massive and could pitch an average guy halfway across the parking lot if necessary. And he had.

As Damon stepped off the porch, Xavier pulled into Cager’s parking lot and drove to the side of the building, so he headed that direction.

“I thought about driving her car,” Xavier announced as he climbed out of his truck. “I wanted to. Maybe swap the plates. But I thought I’d double-check with her first.”

“That would be polite before helping yourself to a $150,000 car.” He crossed his arms and looked toward the highway in front of Cager. “Will everyone be here tonight? We need to start working on her case.”

“They should be here in a moment. How’s our girl settling in?” Xavier asked. “Think she’ll make it? I bet Lacy will turn her from a boardroom baddie to a kickass bartender.”

“I was told to get lost, that she’ll be safe.” He exhaled with a short laugh. “She was afraid for her life yesterday and now is telling me she doesn’t need my protection.”

Xavier shrugged. “I don’t understand women, so I have zero advice to give. But knowing you, her opinion won’t sway your decision to watch over her.”

“Nope.” Trying to clear his head, he switched topics. “We need to talk about work.” He pulled out his phone. “Did you see the email I sent?”

“You want to do real work?” Xavier shook his head. “Fine. I guess we have a little bit before the crowd picks up.”

Yes, they did. And maybe Damon would get his shit together before he had to watch Ella work all night, pretending she didn’t affect him. Because that attitude, telling him to back the hell off, was hot.

Xavier pulled out his phone. “A new tenant signed for that shop near the market? Do you want me to handle it?”

“Yes. I’m fully booked with the renovation near the battery and trying to keep up with Taylor and Taylor. We’re so back and forth at this point. I don’t know if they’re following our every move or if we’re somehow copying them. But it’s damn annoying.”

“I don’t mind taking that on. I’ll call the owner and set up a walk-through to see if any of the renovations they need to be done to the space fall on us. I hope it’s a good tenant. We can’t seem to keep someone in there.”

“It’s a bakery.” Damon shrugged. “She’s young without credit, but her father cosigned. And I already have a meeting set up for Saturday morning. You’ll hand over the keys and take over as her point of contact. Name is Holly Bennington.”

Xavier looked up from his phone. He turned the phone around. The email Damon’d sent with her application had been pulled up on the screen. “That’s her?”

The smiling woman on the phone screen might be the happiest person Damon had ever met. “Yup. That’s her. Super bubbly, to warn you.”

“Warn me?” He grinned. “I like bubbly.”

“It’s business, Xavier.”

“I’ve never tried to mix business and dating, and I won’t start now. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate that she’s a good-looking woman.” He cleared his throat. “Sort of like you acknowledging that Ella is beautiful.”

“I never did that.”

With a snort, Xavier pocketed his phone and headed toward the bar. “Didn’t have to. I saw it yesterday when you looked at her. You remember how long I’ve known you, right?”

Yeah, he remembered. And he’d do better to hide his reaction because Xavier was right. But that didn’t mean he’d make a move. Damon was there to help, not date the victim.

“Looks to be going well.” Slater held up his empty glass to Lacy. “Anyone else want another round? She told me to let her know when we were ready, that she’d try to stay behind the bar with Ella most of the night instead of making the rounds.”

“Sure,” Ryker said, lifting his hand to Lacy.

She pointed at Damon and Xavier. They both nodded.

“You know she’s due for a raise,” Slater said. “I looked over the books. We decided last year to give her a raise each time our profit increased. It’s damn near doubled since then.”

Xavier knocked on the table. “Do it.”

“Did we ever decide what Ella would earn? I mean, I know she doesn’t need it, per se, but I can’t sit by and let her work for free.” After pulling out his phone, Damon opened the payroll system. “Send me the figure for Lacy, and I’ll adjust it. I’ll put Ella down at one and a half times the minimum wage, off the books, of course. She’ll earn that with tips. Based on how friendly she seems, she’ll make a killing. I should have known she’d be good at this.” Based solely on the fact she’d said she would.

“I think she’d be good at anything and could take over our jobs as owners tomorrow.” Xavier drained the rest of his beer. “But she does appear to be chatty with the customers.”

“It still worries me.” With a hard sigh, he scratched his cheek. “I hope this isn’t a mistake.”

“She’s doing everything you said, right?” Ryker asked. “She looks completely different. I even pulled up her picture circulated by the FBI a few minutes ago, trying to remember what she looked like. No one would guess she was a billionaire.”

“Um. Did you say billion…with a B?” Slater asked. “Seriously?”

“When you consider her total wealth, with her full ownership of Cassin Systems, yes. A few times over. She was on Forbes ’s Thirty Under Thirty four years ago at twenty-seven. She could buy this bar with the change in her sofa cushions.”

“I guess the Rolex should’ve clued me in.” Slater sat back, rubbing his hands on his jeans. “And the diamonds.”

“Or pearls?” Ryker said, laughing. “Never seen a waitress at a place like this so decked out.”

Damon drummed his fingers on the table. “And none of you told her to take them off?”

“She came in with you. Did you not notice them?” Ryker asked.

He’d been trying his best not to look at her too closely. “I guess I didn’t.”

Xavier chimed in with his concern. “I agree with Damon. Because not only will it draw attention, but it’ll also draw the wrong kind of attention. The kind that won’t know who Elizabeth Cassin is but sees an easy target to rob.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Slater slid his empty glass to the end of the table. “Looks like Lacy is sending her over with our drinks. I’ll let you tell her to take them off.” He sat back in the booth, giving Damon a serious look. “You’re in charge of this one.”

“I’ll tell her. She’ll take them off, or I’ll return her with her jewelry to the apartment.” Because he’d keep her safe one way or another.

“Lacy sent me with gifts.” She smiled at all the guys, her cheeks flushed, probably from the rush behind the bar. As she started to set the beers off the tray, her blond hair swung in front of her face. She tucked it behind her ear, revealing two-carat diamond earrings. They were the same ones she’d worn yesterday.

“Ella, take off the jewelry.”

She straightened, sliding the tray underneath her arm. “That’s strange. Most people say thank you when I bring them a drink.”

Slater snickered. “Sassy.”

“Sorry. Damon’s manners have yet to be installed,” Ryker quipped. “He’s still at his factory settings. Thank you for the drink.”

“You’re welcome.”

Damon sent Ryker a murderous look he ignored. They’d just talked about her needing to get rid of the jewelry. He could use some backup, not smart-ass comments.

Ella fiddled with the pearl necklace. “I never take it off.”

“Let me try to explain this with a little more civility. Damon would like for you to take them off because it’s unsafe to walk around with that much money on your body on this side of town.” Xavier picked up his drink. “And thank you for the beer.”

“Thanks, honey,” Slater said. “And Xavier is right.”

“You’re welcome, and don’t call me honey.” She turned her attention back to Damon. “You really want me to take it off? I know the danger when I’m alone, especially this last month, but I’m here.” Ella halfway motioned to him. “With you.”

“Even with me here, watching over you, it’s unsafe for you to use the women’s restroom wearing them. I’m surprised Lacy didn’t tell you to take it off.”

“She did.”

Unsure whether to be irritated or amused at her stubbornness, he decided to stick to the point. “And now I am.”

“And if I say no? I never take them off.”

“Then you don’t get to work at Cager. The idea is to stay incognito and safe. Take off the jewelry, or I’ll have Slater take you back to your apartment and stick around until he feels comfortable that no one has followed you.”

“Why would Slater take me home?” She crossed her ankles, tipping her head to the side and studying Damon for a beat. “And not you?”

She didn’t mean it that way.

He had to tell himself that because it didn’t match the question he perceived in those blue eyes.

“Because as much as I feel that I can protect you, I’m going to make sure the man with the gun keeps you as safe as possible.”

Her lips formed an O, and she nodded. “I see.”

“Good.” Damon held out his hand. “I’ll hold them for you.” When she didn’t move immediately, he added, “This isn’t up for discussion. You came to us to keep you safe and I am.”

“I came to you for a job and for help finding my stalker. You offered to keep me safe.”

“And you accepted my help.”

“And that means I do what you say?”

“Yes. It’s already a huge risk for you to be out in public. So, either take them off or you’re fired.”

They stayed locked in a silent stare for nearly a full thirty seconds before she caved. “Ugh.” She unclasped the watch and set it in his outstretched hand. She worked off the earrings next. And then the pearls.

Clutching her jewelry, Damon set his hand in his lap.

Ella didn’t move, her cheeks more flushed than before.

“Lacy is slammed at the bar,” he said, trying to prompt her to return to work without demanding it. He already felt like an asshole, but it was for her own good.

“When do I get them back?” She rubbed her throat, tipping her head to the side and exposing her neck. “God, I feel naked.”

The immediate image tightened his hand on her jewelry, the backs of the diamond earrings digging painfully into his hand.

Slater snickered. It wasn’t loud enough for Ella to hear over the music and noise of the bar, but Damon caught it. Which meant his friend caught his response.

Damon cleared his throat. “Go back to work. Learn the job before it gets busier tomorrow. I’ll return your jewelry to your body once you’re safe inside your apartment.”

“Will Slater still drive me home?”

He ought to say yes, insist that Slater escort her instead of him, and sidestep the whole ordeal. Yet, there he was, rising to his feet and tucking her jewelry into his jeans pocket. Despite recognizing the need for space, his decision remained unchanged. “No,” he declared, his gaze dropping to meet hers. “I’ll take you home at the end of the night.”

She looked down at the ground, failing to hide her smile before turning on her heel and carrying the tray back to the bar.

“Well. That was…interesting.” Ryker laughed and shook his head. “I wonder what about that conversation made her smile?”

“I think our client has a crush on you,” Xavier added.

“No shit.” Slater laid his arm across the back of the booth. “But what was funnier was watching Mr. Cool over here nearly lose his cool.”

Damon sat down. “I’m fully in control of my cool and don’t know what you mean.” He’d stay on the right side of the relationship.

“Really? Because I have the distinct impression that if you met our Ms. Ella outside of this context, you’d use all that charm that you’re trying to stuff down and ask her out on a date.” Slater glanced across the bar. “And I bet she’d say yes. Y’all would have an intellectually satisfying dinner where you’d be polite and respectful. Then you’d end up at your apartment?—”

“That’s enough,” Damon grumbled. It was too close to the truth.

“Maybe if we catch whoever stalked her and possibly killed Teddy, you can have the chance,” Xaiver added, chiming in. “We’ve got to figure out where to start with her. I thought about a sketch artist for the stalker?”

“I agree.” Ryker, phone in hand, added, “I’ll set something up. A month is a long time for a memory, but she’s not an average woman.”

“No.” Damon sighed, seeing her laugh with another customer. “She’s not.”

“I bet it’ll work with her. Then I can do some facial recognition with security cameras.” Ryker typed into his phone. “Let me see if my contact is available.”

“Based solely on what she said, the hit on Teddy wasn’t random. They’d both been stalked by the same man. I need more information from Ella.” Damon had a big task ahead of him, making that woman trust him enough to tell him the entire truth. He had to see if someone in her past had a motive, and to figure that out, he needed to dig deep.

Ella made a cocktail and handed it to a woman in exchange for a twenty. She turned and made the change at the register. When she passed back the change, Ella’s eyes found Damon’s.

Even from this distance, he felt the heat. “Shit. This isn’t good.” Because one of them needed to stay away from those thoughts, and his brain didn’t want to cooperate. Ever since the first moment he laid eyes on her yesterday.

“In fact, this could be a good thing. If she trusts you, you can ask her all the necessary personal questions.” Slater crossed his arms. “Or else you move out of the way and let me do it. You know the information we need, but I have more experience gathering it. If you give me her jewelry, I’ll drive her home and ask?—”

“No.” The word snapped out of his mouth.

The guys all froze.

He looked at each man. “She’s my responsibility. I’ll ask her the questions.”

“Damon, we’re all here to help.” Xavier’s tone had turned serious. “I know this is personal for you, that you take responsibility for turning her down before, but remember, this isn’t the same as it was with Hayley. You don’t have to gear up to be the solo hero in this situation. You have us. And as a team, we work better together.”

Ryker broke first, snickering at the corny line.

Slater next.

Damon felt some of the heaviness lift as he laughed. “You’re right. I didn’t mean for it to sound that way. I take every case seriously and know we’re better off as a team. Even with Hayley, I couldn’t have done that without the two of you.” After being with the Marines, he knew the benefits of working as one unit. “But this one hit me hard.” He studied her again. “She could be dead right now, and that would be on me.”

“You don’t play what-if games,” Xavier said. “Don’t start now.”

No. He didn’t. “You’re right. But now I have my chance to make sure it doesn’t happen, and I don’t want to fail.”

“We won’t.” Ryker’s declaration was paired with a rare intenseness. “I can find the guy. Give me some time.”

Damon nodded. “You’re right. We won’t fail.” He’d keep her safe, no matter what. But that didn’t solve the immediate issue because right then she looked back at him and smiled.

“Good luck, brother.” Slater slapped him on the shoulder. “If anyone is strong enough to withstand that smile aimed at him, it’s you. I have faith in you.”

“Yeah. Great.” He might be strong enough, but it didn’t mean it’d be a painless experience.