Connor took a moment to search the area. Forge used the front room to entertain guests he didn’t trust. He had the place bugged and usually more than one camera recorded from the entrance to the fireplace in the back.
Satisfied, everything was still in place, he regarded Claire again. “No matter how charming he comes off, remember who you’re dealing with.” He leaned into her ear. “And the room is bugged. Safe to assume the rest of the house is as well.”
Claire’s body trembled when his shoulder brushed hers. It was only for a second, and small enough, he would have missed it if he hadn’t been so close.
“Connor. You delivered.”
Before Connor could whisper a more comforting word in Claire’s ear, Forge showed up at the door, followed by Danny and two other security guys Connor recognized but didn’t know by name. They stopped at the door, but Danny followed Forge into the room.
“Dear, you look stunning.” Forge took Claire’s hand to his mouth and kissed the back.
Connor fought to keep his muscles from clenching.
“Thank you,” Claire answered, no sign of trepidation in her voice.
“I’ve brought a friend with me. I believe you’ve both met already?” Forge motioned to Danny. It wasn’t until then that Connor caught the fear in Danny’s eyes.
He tried to signal Claire by waving his hand low beside his hip, but Claire was entranced in Forge.
“I think we know each other,” Claire answered. “But I didn’t catch his name before. Danny, is it?”
Danny grunted a yes.
“I understand your meeting was less than pleasant, and you had to defend yourself against my employee.”
Blood rushed through Connor’s ears. Fuck. He really was going to do this to Danny in front of Claire.
Only then did Claire seem to recognize the tension in the room.
“We had a misunderstanding, but It’s all been corrected now.” Her voice shook, and Connor didn’t miss the curve of Forge’s lips to hear it.
“I don’t tolerate violence against women in my house, Ms. Wilson. I hope you understand Mr. Nosella’s actions are not of my choosing.”
“I do,” Claire answered.
“Good.” Forge turned to Danny, and Connor’s stomach knotted. “Mr. Nosella would like to make an apology.”
Danny stepped up beside Claire, looking as if he hadn’t a clue what to do or say next but knew it better be something great. “I’m sorry for leading you to the--”
As soon as Danny began to speak, Forge nodded his head, and the larger of the two men came around him to stand next to Danny. He’d been holding a tire iron behind his back and swung it at the backs of Danny’s legs. The sicking thick sound of bone-crushing and flesh buckling followed.
Claire stepped back as far as she could into the wall. Her hand covered her mouth, and her eyes went wide. She screamed into her hands.
Danny sank like a bag of rocks thrown to the ground.
“Apologies are done on your knees, don’t you think Ms. Wilson?” Forge’s voice held no remorse. He studied Claire for a reaction.”
Connor’s body coiled like a snake, ready to strike, but there were two of them, one-armed. He’d be lucky to take down one before the other had him on the ground, leaving Claire defenseless against Forge.
“I believe Danny has something he’d like to say to you, Ms. Wilson.” Forge stepped over Danny’s crumpled body and reached for Claire’s hand. When she didn’t willingly offer it, Forge grabbed the one hanging loosely by her side and pulled her off the wall and closer to Danny.
One hand held hers while the other pulled at Danny’s hair until his face pointed to Claire’s. “Don’t you have something to say to Ms. Wilson?”
Claire glanced at Connor, the fear in her eyes etched like it’d be there for the rest of her life. When Danny began to speak, her attention flashed to him.
“I’m sorry for scaring you, Claire.” The words sounded as if they took every ounce of effort Danny could muster.
As soon as Forge released his hair, the man crumpled in a heap on the floor.
“There. Now that we are all friends again, we should have lunch. I have so many things I want to ask you, Ms. Wilson.”
Forge led Claire over Danny’s body and to the hallway leading past the staircase and into the dining room.
Connor followed, making sure to never lose sight of Claire.
Forge had the table set with two places and only two chairs, making it clear he didn’t intend on anyone else being present, including his staff.
When the guard with the tire iron dropped a hand to Connor’s shoulder at the door, Connor ignored the warning and stepped into the dining room anyway. Hell would freeze over before he left Claire in there alone with that monster after what he’d just done to clearly send her a message.
Hell would freeze over before he let Claire out of his sight ever again.
Claire gripped the arm of the chair Henry led her to so hard she was afraid the wood might splinter in her hand.
Connor’s presence behind her was the only thing keeping her together.
He’d broken the man’s knees. Her stomach lunged upward, and she swallowed to keep from being sick.
A man dressed in the same dark suit as everyone else in the room, including Connor, stepped forward with a tray of soup bowls. He put one bowl in front of Claire, and her effort to keep her stomach calm almost lost out against the smell of split pea soup.
“My chef has me on a diet. I’m afraid you’ll have to indulge Roco with low carb foods.”
Claire didn’t look up from her bowl, too afraid if she did, he’d read the fear in her eyes and take advantage. Instead, she picked up her spoon and pretended to eat what little of the green liquid made it to her mouth. The childlike innocence in his responses made her cold from the inside out.
“You must be wondering why I asked you to lunch today?” Henry folded his napkin and placed it on the table. “Yet, you haven’t asked.”
Claire forced a smile through her cheeks, quivered with the effort. “I was wondering.”
“I don’t like to play games. When you came to my party last week, I found you very attractive. Your running away so soon after made it hard to get to know you better.”
Connor cleared his throat, and Claire jumped at the deep sound, though she played it off by spooning more soup into her mouth. More soup, she had to choke down. “Your bodyguard didn’t think I belonged at the party.”
Henry grinned. His teeth were perfect and white, and his lips thin, but something in the set of his mouth made the hair on her neck rise.
“Connor can overstep at times.” When Henry looked up and over her shoulder, Claire feared she’d just given him a reason to repeat the beating from the front room, only this time on Connor. “But he always has my best interests in mind.”
Claire didn’t think she’d ever breathe again until the tension from Connor behind her eased.
She wanted nothing more than to stand up and excuse herself. She’d ask for the bathroom and make a run for it out of the house.
Yeah. She likely wouldn’t get very far with the army of men surrounding her. Even the chef had enough muscle in his arms to snap her in two if she tried anything.
Claire tried to focus on the reason she’d put herself, and Connor, in this situation. She mentally ran down the questions she’d wanted to ask and names she had hoped to drop, but her nerves were making it almost impossible to recall anything, even her own name.
“I have a favor to ask of you, Claire.” Henry’s syrupy sweet voice brought her back to the table, and her dire situation. “I’m hosting a dinner tonight. Another fundraiser if you want to call it that. My advisors tell me, showing up with a pretty woman on my arm might gain me a few more votes.”
Claire swallowed back her fear and fought the urge to glance behind her for Connor’s reaction. “You’re asking me to attend the dinner with you...as your date.”
“All the dinners,” Henry quickl
y supplied. “You could even move in here if it would make things easier for you. I understand from my campaign team money is a little tight for you right now.”
The blood in her veins turned to ice, and her last breath caught in her lungs. The world came to an abrupt stop like she’d been riding the Whirling Dervish through lunch, and now the spinning had come to a halt. Knowing she’d overextended a few credit cards was one thing, but if his people had looked into her credit, they would surely look into her employment.
The way Henry smiled across the table like a lion giving thanks before taking its prey, Claire couldn’t be sure if the victory in his face was for getting her to lunch, or because he had a reporter trapped at his table. Either way, she couldn’t feel her toes any longer, and if she didn’t find a way to leave the table soon, she feared she’d lose much more.
“You make a girl blush, Mr. Forge. That is a kind invitation, but I’m afraid I must decline.”
Henry’s eyes sparkled, and he tilted his head. “Decline which part. Dinner tonight, or my home for your personal use?”
She could almost feel Connor’s eyes boring into the back of her head. She had to play this safe. “The use of your home is very kind, but with all the election excitement around here, you don’t need another body getting in the way.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she wished she could stuff them back in. An extra body was exactly what she’d be if she didn’t talk her way out of this.
“But dinner sounds wonderful. I’d love to be your date for tonight.”
Henry grinned. “Then that settles that.”
Claire dropped her napkin to her plate. “I guess I’d better get home and change. If you want something pretty on your arm, I hope I can measure up.”
Henry stood and pulled her chair out for her. “You will. I’ve prepared the guest room for you. Stay here and rest for an hour. I have hair and makeup coming in, and your dress is already in the room.”
Claire’s stomach bottomed out as she took Henry’s hand and allowed him to lead her to the front staircase. Connor was close behind, but she couldn’t feel his heat at her back any longer.
“This is all very kind of you, Henry, but I’d be more comfortable getting ready in my own apartment. Mr. Blake could drive me and pick me up tonight.”
The sweetness in his smile vanished, replaced with a cold, calculated grin. “Connor will be busy, and I’d feel more comfortable knowing you’re here.” From his hard tone, she understood there was to be no argument.
“Mr. Blake will take you to your room.” He glanced at Connor. “You know the one.”
Connor nodded. Not a single trace of fear marred his face. Claire clenched every muscle in her body to keep from shivering at the thought Connor had been a part of this the whole time. He’d brought her here and taken her phone. He knew her financial situation. Where she worked.
Cold, she glanced at him and found when he looked away from Henry, and into her eyes, his expression was blank.
“This way.” Connor pressed his hand into the small of her back and led her up the steps.
Claire didn’t say a word. She followed instructions hoping playing along would at least keep her safe for now.
9
How she'd managed to not break down in front of Forge, Connor couldn't guess, but thank God she hadn't. He led her up the stairs, knowing every inch of the house had the potential to be bugged as the front room and dining room were.
Claire started to turn to him at the front of the steps, but when he pressed his hand harder into her back, she seemed to understand the hidden message and kept walking, They passed the guard at the top of the steps and Connor led her further down the dark hallway.
The guest room was the third on the right and joined by a door to Forge's master suite. He kept most of his overnight guests there. Easy access Connor thought, making his lip curve up in a snarl. He pressed his back against Claire to reach for the knob and open the door. As soon as his chest made contact with her back, she shivered against him.
"Ms. Wilson," Connor said formally at the door, waving one hand for her to enter. After she walked in, he gave a sideways glance to the guard, a new guy Forge must have picked up, or taken on as a favor to one of his employers. The guard wasn't looking. His attention was focused on the large window at the top of the stairs that overlooked the front of the house and the driveway. From the second story, he could see almost from the main road all the way down the long drive.
Knowing his attention was on outside security, Connor stepped into the bedroom and let the door half close behind him.
"What are we--"
As soon as Claire spoke, his fingers were on her mouth. He looked around the room at all the usual places, under tables, inside lamps, on the backs of chairs until he located one bug to show her.
Taking her hand, he pulled her into the bathroom and turned on both the sink and shower before speaking.
"You can't stay here."
Claire's eyes grew wide. "I know that, but unless you can make me invisible, I don't know how I'm going to get out."
He didn't either. His SUV was parked in the back. Even if he could get out a window, she'd be spotted by the guard watching the front of the house.
"What do you think his plan is?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Connor grabbed her hand. "Last time Forge came this close to winning an election he was found indicted on drug charges days before the final vote. His legal team penned it all on a female who'd been brought on to work his campaign only a week before the last vote."
Claire's free hand flew to her mouth. "I'm his out."
"Unless I can find a way to get you out of this house without being seen."
"Are you sure that's really what you want?"
Connor narrowed his gaze at her. "What does that mean?"
"At lunch. Henry made it seem you're the one feeding him information about me. Are you sure this isn't all just part of his bigger plan? Are you trapping me for him?"
Connor's chest burned so hotly at the accusation he almost exploded. He bit the inside of his mouth, hard, before responding, knowing it was fear making the accusations and not Claire. "I'm the last person you need to be worried about. Now, quit wasting time, and let's get you the hell out of here."
He didn't miss the second shiver when he took her hand. "I'm going to get you out, but you will have to follow every instruction I give as soon as I give it. No questions. No hesitation. Understand?"
She nodded.
"You may see some things that scare you." He rubbed her hand, dreading her reaction to what she might see him do to protect her. He'd become a monster in her eyes, someone to fear and coil away from, but her safety demanded he dug up that beast he'd buried deep and bring him out for the bad guys to see.
"Stand by the door with it cracked open. I won't be able to talk, so watch for my signal." Connor lifted her chin so her eyes could read his. "Whatever you do. Don't scream or cry out. Silence is our friend."
"I'm not going to scream." her voice sounded stone cold, so much, so he believed every word.
He angled her head and kissed the top of her head. She might see him as a monster after what he was about to do. One sweet memory of the man he could be wouldn't hurt.
Keeping the water running, he slowly moved out of the bedroom door and down the hall. His heart thumped widely though his rib cage threatening to break loose and ransack his body before his first blow to the guard at the top of the stairs.
Connor quieted his nerves with a short intake of air, remembering his training, leaving the civilian world behind him, and returning to the beast he'd been trained to be.
Silent as a whisper, he stepped in behind the guard, pulling the Glock from his side before being noticed.
The guard turned, a semi-automatic nested between his arms, his fingers already working on the safety. He'd have the whole upstairs lit up like Christmas if he got his hand anywhere near the trigger.
Connor sidestepped into
the guard's right shoulder. The force lifted the barrel of the gun skyward, and the guard's finger slipped from the trigger. With his only layer of protection facing north, Connor stepped into the small space in front of the guard and thrust upward into the cartilage of his nose. He'd only be blinded by the pain for a few seconds, but seconds was all he needed to release the guard's radio from his waist and use the hilt of his Glock against the side of his skull.
He fell like a sack of rocks, his body slung over the banister, facing downward into the front hall.
A sharp gasp sounded from behind him, and Connor turned to find Claire standing in the doorway with one hand over her mouth and the other wrapped tightly around her stomach. Even with the distance between them, he could make out the fear flashing in her wide eyes.
He'd never wanted her to see this side of him—the skilled killer. The taker of life who had so many kills under his belt he'd have lost count if it weren't for the vivid nightmares that reminded him.
"Take my hand," he instructed after laying the guard down quietly. When Claire didn't move from the doorway, he backed up to it with his hand out for her. "Take it. We don't have much time."
As if spurred by the words, her fingers wrapped around his, and she sprang from the room to stop at his back.
Connor led her around the guard, not missing when Claire hesitated at the top of the stairs to stare.
"Is he…"
"Just out cold," he answered, anticipating her fear. He'd have stopped to comfort her if they'd had the time, but knowing there were at least three other men in the house who could meet them at the bottom of the stairs, he had to pull her along and leave her comfort for later.
At the bottom of the staircase, the path to the front door seemed clear. Connor stopped abruptly, sending Claire falling into his back. In the lower office, someone was watching camera footage of the house. The guard upstairs was in the alcove away from the cameras installed there, but there were at least three eyes focused on the front door. If he chanced it, they could both be gunned down before he made it to the car.
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