“One and the same.”
Nobody said anything for a while. Then Striker asked, “Your niece—what’s her name?”
“Margo. Margo Connelly.”
“And she doesn’t know anything about you?” Stonewall asked. “Are you still the family’s well-kept secret?”
Roland nodded. “Frazier confirmed that today, and I prefer things to stay that way. If I could, I would protect her. I can’t, so I need one of you to do it for me. Hopefully, it won’t be long before the assassin that Erickson hired is apprehended.”
Striker eased out of his chair. Roland, of all people, knew that, in addition to working together, he, Quasar and Stonewall were the best of friends. They looked out for each other and watched each other’s back. And if needed they would cover Roland’s back, as well. Roland was more than just their employer—he was their close friend, mentor and the voice of reason, even when they really didn’t want one. “Stonewall is handling things at the office in your absence, and Quasar is already working a case. That leaves me. Don’t worry about a thing, Roland. I’ve got it covered. Consider it done.”
* * *
MARGO CONNELLY STARED up at her uncle. “A bodyguard? Do you really think that’s necessary, Uncle Frazier? I understand extra policemen are patrolling the streets.”
“That’s not good enough. Why should I trust a bunch of police officers?”
“Why shouldn’t you?” she countered, not for the first time wondering what her uncle had against cops.
“I have my reasons, but this isn’t about me—this is about you and your safety. I refuse to have you placed in any danger. What’s the big deal? You’ve had a bodyguard before.”
Yes, she’d had one before. Right after her parents’ deaths, when her uncle had become her guardian. He had shipped her off to London for three years. She’d reckoned he’d been trying to figure out what he, a devout bachelor, was to do with a ten-year-old. When she returned to the United States, Apollo remained her bodyguard. When she turned fourteen, she fought hard for a little personal freedom. But she’d always known the chauffeurs Uncle Frazier hired could do more than drive her to and from school. More than once she’d seen the guns they carried.
“Yes, but that was then and this is now, Uncle Frazier. I can look after myself.”
“Haven’t you been keeping up with the news?” he snapped. “Three people are dead. All three were in that courtroom with you. Erickson is making sure his threat is carried out.”
“And more than likely whoever is committing these murders will be caught before there can be another shooting. I understand the three were killed while they were away from home. I have enough paperwork to catch up on here for a while. I didn’t even leave my house today.”
“You don’t think a paid assassin will find you here? Alone? You either get on board with having a bodyguard or you move back home. It’s well secured there.”
Margo drew in a deep breath. Back home was the Connelly estate. Yes, it was secure, with its state-of-the-art surveillance system. While growing up, she’d thought of the ten-acre property, surrounded by a tall wrought iron fence and cameras watching her every move, as a prison. Now she couldn’t stand the thought of staying there for any long period of time...especially if Liz was still in residence.
Margo’s forty-five-year-old uncle had never married and claimed he had his reasons for never wanting to. But that didn’t keep him from occasionally having a live-in mistress under his roof. His most recent was Liz Tillman and, as far as Margo was concerned, the woman was a gold digger.
“It’s final. A bodyguard will be here around the clock to protect you until this madness is over.”
Margo didn’t say anything. She wondered if at any time it had crossed her uncle’s mind that they were at her house, not his, and she was no longer a child but a twenty-six-year-old woman. In a way she knew she should appreciate his concern, but she refused to let anyone order her around.
He was wrong in assuming she hadn’t been keeping up with the news. Just because she was trying to maintain a level head didn’t mean a part of her wasn’t a little worried.
She frowned as she glanced up at him. The last thing she wanted was for him to worry needlessly about her. “I’ll give this bodyguard a try...but he better be forewarned not to get underfoot. I have a lot of work to do.” She wasn’t finished yet. “And another thing, Uncle Frazier,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I think you forget sometimes that I’m twenty-six and live on my own. Just because I’m going along with you on this, I hope you don’t think you can start bulldozing your way with me.”
He glowered at her. “You’re stubborn like your father.”
She smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Dropping her hands, she moved back toward the sofa and sat down, grabbing a magazine off the coffee table to flip through. “So, when do we hire this bodyguard?”
“He’s been hired. In fact, I expect him to arrive in a few minutes.”
Margo’s head jerked up. “What?”
Find out what happens when Margo and Striker come face-to-face in FORGED IN DESIRE by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson.
Available February 2017 from Brenda Jackson and HQN Books.
Copyright © 2017 by Brenda Streater Jackson
ISBN-13: 9781488011399
The Heir’s Unexpected Baby
Copyright © 2017 by Jules Bennett
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