Fully awake at the mention of an intruder, he steps aside. “Yeah, of course. Come on in. Are you sure? I don’t mean to question your judgment, but does this have to do with why everyone wants you to have a detail or something?”
My hands are shaking and I want to throw up. “Yes. It’s a long story, but I’m a whistleblower to the FBI. I have a problem going on with one of the investors at my old employer, and I’m positive somebody was in my apartment this evening, and maybe still is. I smelled cigarette smoke, and you know as well as I do that my house never smells like cigarettes.” I’m scared, but I need to pull myself together.
“Do you want me to go down and look around?”
“No, please stay with me.” The last thing I want on my conscience is something happening to Todd. I want to curl up in his big strong arms and have him take care of me. Tell me it’s going to be okay. I’m fighting the tears when I finally realize I still need to call the FBI.
I pull up Agent Baron’s contact on my cell phone and place a call. He answers on the first ring. “Hello? Cynthia, are you okay?”
“I don’t think so. I’m positive that someone has been in my apartment this evening. I just got home from meeting with my lawyer, and my house smelled like cigarettes. It’s as if either someone was there and smoking, or they were such a heavy smoker that they left that smell behind. Was anyone on your team in my apartment?”
“No, absolutely not. I’m sending your detail in. Where are you?”
“I’m at my neighbor’s, in the penthouse. I’m okay right now. I dropped my things and ran out. I don’t think I even shut the door behind me. I’d really appreciate it if your guys could check my apartment and make sure no one’s there, that it’s safe for me to return?”
“We’ll look around and do a bug sweep. Are you sure you don’t want to come under protective custody?”
I look up and see Todd has pulled on a pair of jeans. He has the perfect amount of hair on his chest, and his happy trail line below his six-pack is incredibly inviting. He pulls a black T-shirt over his head and gives me an encouraging smile as I return to my phone call. “No, I still think that would be jumping the gun. I think you’ll find when we talk on Thursday that I don’t have a lot of the answers you’re looking for. I only know the broad strokes—nothing that has much bearing on anything.”
“I’m on my way. I’ll come up to the penthouse once my team has done a sweep and we sum everything up.”
I hang up and drop the phone beside me in shock. Todd sits next to me and puts his arm around my shoulders. I collapse into him, scared yet comforted that I have him here with me.
“Would you like a cup of coffee, or a glass of bourbon?” Todd asks.
“Both.” He attempts to stand. “Wait. Stop, I’m only kidding. Neither. I don’t want anything.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod. “I think so. I’m sorry. I woke you, and I’m probably overreacting.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He reaches for me and brings me into a comforting hug. “Someone being in your apartment uninvited at any time would be reason enough to panic.” He puts his arm around me and rubs his hand across my skin to create friction heat. I didn’t even realize I was cold.
We sit in the quiet for a few minutes before there’s a knock at the front door. I jump at the sound, and he motions for me to stay seated. “It’s okay. I’ll get the door.”
Todd and whoever’s at the door are talking to one another, but I can’t quite make out what they’re saying. I keep running through what I might’ve done wrong and second-guessing myself as to whether or not I shut all the windows. I’m not even sure how they could’ve gotten in.
Todd escorts Agent Baron into the living room. “Miss Hathaway, it looks like someone was in your apartment,” the agent tells me. “We’ve located two bugs, and we found a bowl of ashes in your bedroom with only one cigarette filter, which we’re sending to the FBI lab in Quantico. It looks like they may have ransacked your bedroom as well.”
I barely manage to hold back the tears as Todd sits next to me and puts his arm around my shoulders “I need to find a place to stay.”
“No. Stay with me. I’ve already discussed it with Agent Baron, and you can stay here. I have a guest room,” Todd’s quick to volunteer.
“Does that work for you?” Agent Baron looks at me and waits for me to respond.
I nod.
“You have my number. Call me if anything feels off. I’ve discussed this with your boyfriend already, but your detail’s going to move into your apartment. They won’t be sleeping, just closer to you. You’ll stay here with him. We’ll set up cameras in the lobby, elevator, the fifth floor, and the penthouse. They’ll be in your apartment watching the feeds and ready to be here in less than thirty seconds.”
He’s not my boyfriend. It’s the only thing I can think when he’s done talking. It’s so much to process; I’m not sure I’m catching everything he’s saying. Exhaustion pulls at me, and all I want to do is run. But run where?
He hands me a necklace like I’ve seen on television for older people who’ve taken a fall and need help getting up. “This is a panic button. You can wear it around your neck. You press it and our team will be at your side. We’ll see you on Thursday. Please take this time to reconsider your coming in under our protection.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.
Panic button? This is too much.
He leaves, and Todd cups my hands in his. “I think it may be time you tell me what’s going on.”
I take a big breath. “There’s not a lot I can tell you, but what I can say is that my former employer is suspected of committing treason with a foreign government. I didn’t realize the implications or what it meant when I first figured it out, but I reported it through my lawyer, and now they consider me a threat to their organization.”
“I remember reading something about things like this happening. I swear the truth’s stranger than fiction.”
“You have no idea.”
“But you have a good lawyer?”
“I think so, yes.” I pick at a hangnail on my right thumb. “She was recommended by a friend of a friend who had some problems in the same area.”
“I’m sure she’s told you that reporting it as soon as you know makes a huge difference.”
“I’m affecting everyone around me. My friends and colleagues at SHN, you. I’m sure my parents and brother will get visits from the FBI. What a mess.” My dinner is sour in my stomach, and I feel like I’m going to vomit. My head feels like it’s going to explode, and I’m seeing double.
“Is this the mole issue you mentioned before?”
“Believe it or not, this treason stuff is something entirely different.” I begin to cry at that, big ugly tears.
“It’s okay,” Todd keeps repeating while he rubs my back and lets me get it all out.
“I’m sorry. I won’t stay. I didn’t want to go to my apartment until they went through it and made sure there are no bugs or intruders. I’ll find another place to stay. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Cynthia, you’re not a burden. Stay here, please,” he begs. “You’re welcome to stay in the guest room.”
“It’s too much. I don’t want to inconvenience you or put you out.”
“You’re not inconveniencing me or putting me out in any way. Shit, I’m the one who’s making you tour around the city. That’s an inconvenience. Plus you promised to hit the Castro with me this coming weekend.”
“That’ll have to wait until Halloween. That’s the time to go see the Castro.” I giggle at the thought of him in costume. “We’ll find a few good neighborhoods to explore this weekend.”
“Please come with me.” He takes me by the hand and leads me back to a spare bedroom. My free hand trembles as we walk. I’m frightened. I don’t want to be alone.
“I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to sleep tonight.”
I feel tired, lost, and confused. I want him to hold me tig
ht and tell me everything is going to be okay, but I don’t want to freak him out.
“If you feel comfortable, you can always stay with me.” He leads me by the hand to his bedroom. Now I feel as if I’m asking for trouble on a whole other level. He smiles at me, and I know he’s just trying to be reassuring. I sit on the corner of the bed and pick at an imaginary string on the comforter.
“You can stay here if you’d like.” He walks away and returns with a large T-shirt. “This will be more comfortable than your suit.”
I look down, noting that I don’t look nearly as crisp as I did when I walked out the door this morning. I’m exhausted after such a long day with a traumatic ending to boot.
I stand and, not caring that I have an audience, pull off my pants, watching him watching me as I take off my shirt and unhook my bra. My nipples immediately pebble at the cool air, but I feel nothing sexual about stripping in front of him. Pulling his T-shirt on I crawl into bed and hear Todd’s jeans fall to the floor behind me. He climbs in and pulls me to him, and we spoon. I feel his erection poking me from behind, but I don’t do or say anything. I’m too tired to care.
Instead, for the first time in weeks, I feel safe.
Chapter FIFTEEN
Cynthia
An alarm on my cell phone sounds. Glancing at it, I see it’s 5:30 a.m. I’m groggy from the lack of sleep, but I’m cold from the loss of Todd in bed with me. I don’t know what I was dreaming, but my heart’s racing.
Todd arrives with a cup of coffee that smells divine. “Good morning, sleepyhead.” His hair is wet and combed back, and he’s dressed in jeans and a blue button-down shirt with a white T-shirt underneath, the shirt sleeves rolled up. His feet are bare, and I have to admit, I find them sexy as hell.
Covering my head with a pillow, I muffle, “It’s five thirty. This is still night.”
“You set the alarm on your phone, not me.” He removes the pillow and kisses my forehead. It’s an intimate gesture, but it feels right, safe.
He swirls the cup and hands it to me. “Let’s figure out what our plan is for today.”
Slowly sitting up, I hold my throbbing head. “My head’s killing me.”
“Here. Drink the coffee, and I’ll get you some ibuprofen.”
He leaves and returns with two orange pills and a big glass of water. “Make sure you drink all of this. We don’t want you dehydrated today. We’ve got a lot to take care of.”
“What do you mean? I’m fine.”
“I had a conversation with Mason a short time ago. We’re meeting Jim Adelson, the security guy, about getting you a security detail to complement your FBI detail at ten o’clock here at my place. The FBI contacted your lawyer and gave her my number. Marci will be coming by your office this afternoon to meet with you there. You’re going nowhere without me, somebody from SHN, or a member of the security detail along for the ride. There’s no reason you need to be alone right now. These guys, whoever they are, have been in your place, and they’re trying to intimidate you. According to Jim, they did a ‘soft intimidation’ last night, whatever that means. It’s only going to get worse, and it’s going to become increasingly scary.”
I’m on high alert. It’s too early in the day for him to have already accomplished so much. Fighting back tears, I beg, “You need to let me manage this. I can’t bring you into this mess. You don’t deserve this.” So many people are stepping in when I’m sure this is going to blow over.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve already talked to my East Coast office and explained to Angus what’s going on, and he was good with me taking care of you for a few days.”
“What is Angus going to think if you drop work for some girl you just met? I’ve got this covered. You didn’t need to call in the cavalry.”
He doesn’t get mad or even become patronizing. Instead, he’s patient with me and my stubbornness. “Putting your head in the ground like an ostrich is not taking care of yourself.”
I know he’s right, but I don’t want to give him the win. “I’m no threat to these people. Once they figure it all out, they’ll leave me alone.”
“I hope you’re right, but in the meantime, let’s get dressed and head down to your apartment. We need to see what the feebs are up to.”
“Feebs? Who are you?”
“A guy who’s probably read too many crime novels.” He smiles, and those dimples melt my heart.
“You should read romance. Maybe you’ll get somewhere with the women that way.”
“You’re the only one I want to go anywhere with. Now get dressed.”
I’m a bit taken off guard by his remark. He’s never made a move or indicated that he is even remotely interested, but I don’t have time to figure him out right now.
I turn and notice a neatly folded pile of clothes—a fresh pair of jeans, a black sweater, some La Perla panties and a matching bra, and a pair of come-hither Jimmy Choo stilettos. These are all from my apartment. “Where did this come from?”
“I went downstairs to introduce myself to the guys in your place and grabbed the clothes while I was there. I hope I did okay.”
He stands with his arms across his chest, watching me with a playful smirk. He doesn’t move to leave, so I figure I don’t need to be shy. Pulling the T-shirt off, I begin to dress. His eyes become hooded and his dick tents in his pants; it’s turning him on to see my naked body. I look through the clothes, and I’m missing my bra. It was just here. “What did you do with my bra?”
“Is that what you call that thin piece of lace you wear to hold your tits?”
“You picked out the sexiest piece of lingerie I own. I would’ve been fine with the white Jockey cotton panties and my big ugly bra for my ginormous boobs.” I put my hands on my hips. “Do you like what you see?”
In a husky voice, he rasps, “Very much.” He points to the chair behind me, and I see my bra laid over the arm.
“Oh, thanks.”
After I’m dressed, we head out to the elevator, and he grumbles, “I’m going to have a hard-on all day thinking of you in your panties and bra and those shoes.”
“Where’s this coming from?” He’s had ample opportunity to make a move, and he’s doing it now?
He smiles and backs me into the wall of the elevator, persisting in a low voice, “I’ve never claimed to not be attracted to you. You were the one with the walls. I’m only helping a damsel in distress.”
My pulse quickens, my panties are wet, and I can’t quite catch my breath. I’m completely disoriented when the elevator stops at my floor and Todd leads me into my apartment.
The FBI detail walks me through a few things I can expect. They’ve already been in contact with Jim and his team, and I know I’m in good hands. The FBI will camp out in my apartment moving forward and will monitor the surveillance in the hallways, fire escape, and the main entrance. Jim and his team will cover me with an armed guard from the moment I leave Todd’s apartment until I return. A weight lifts off my shoulders that I didn’t realize was there.
Todd stays with me and spends the morning working from his home office. I fire up my laptop and try to catch up on my work, but I can’t help thinking about Todd telling me I was the one with the walls. He’s never made a move. Sure, we often hug a few seconds too long, but he’s never tried to kiss me, and until today he’s hardly even flirted with me.
Jim arrives to drive me to work, but before we go, we work out the plan. Someone will be with me all day. Todd agrees to meet me after work here at his place, and they decide on a time.
“Wait, what if I want to go out with my friends?” I ask. “Or what if I need to go visit a client?”
“No going out with friends, and we’re holding out on you visiting clients. Mason is in complete agreement until we’ve had enough time to fully assess your situation.”
“I didn’t agree to that,” I say, on the verge of tears. I can’t afford all of this.
Todd comes over and pulls me in for a hug. I don’t hug him back. “S
weetheart, I know this is a lot, but we just want you safe. It’s only for a few days, and then they can assess what’s going on and you’ll get your life back.”
I’m not happy with the solution, but when I think about it, I’m most unhappy that everyone has decided for me. I’m fully capable of making my own decisions.
Then the little voice in my head reminds me that I was ignoring it all. Damn it! I hate this.
Jim escorts me to a waiting Cadillac Escalade with dark-tinted windows. I’m instructed to move to the middle between two huge guys. “Is this really necessary?”
“Yes, ma’am, it is.”
I can tell by their not-so-friendly demeanor that they won’t be expanding their explanation.
This is going to fucking suck. I swear, if I ever see Ethan Sommers again, I’m going to kill him.
When I arrive at work, the receptionist tells me, “Mason has asked for a partners’ meeting in ten minutes in his office.”
“Thank you.” I smile and pretend everything’s normal when it isn’t even close.
I dump my things in my office and walk into the kitchen. What’s the most fattening thing we have today? I see a breakfast burrito and take one. To hell with my figure! I search for the biggest mug I can find and fill it with coffee.
I walk into the meeting and see Jim and two guys from his team are joining us. With my coffee and lukewarm burrito in hand, I take a seat next to Mason, who starts the meeting with some of the changes we’ll see around the office. Everyone stares at me, knowing it’s because of my mess that he’s making these adjustments.
“I don’t want this to impact all of you,” I say solemnly. “I’m incredibly sorry.”
“This is not your fault. You’re just unfortunately caught in the middle,” Greer stresses.
Jim’s team walks through their plans for taking care of me. They’ll be downstairs and accessible at any time I need to leave the building. They’ll meet me here in the office and take me wherever I need to go, then bring me back. Within the office, we set up a security guard at the front desk, and I also have a panic button that I’m to carry with me at all times.
Obsession: (Billionaire Venture Capitalist #5) A Billionaire Russian Mob Romance Page 10
