Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

G raham smoothed a hand down his tie. "I know you don't want to talk about this?—"

"You're right." I cut him off. "I don't."

"Sloan," Jasper said from his seat on the couch, his tone a mix of concern and exasperation. "We're trying to help. We're worried about you."

My face flushed with frustration, but I waved a hand through the air, determined not to appear ruffled. Instead, I concentrated on the feel of the plush carpet of the Huxley Grand Los Angeles Presidential Suite. It was soft beneath my feet as I padded across it.

"What's new? You've always been overprotective of me—all of you." I swung my gaze to encompass all four of them, my family.

My eldest brother, Graham. Stoic and definitely overprotective. Probably the most so, even if he wasn't always as vocal about his concerns as my other siblings. Perhaps the fact that he was so adamant this time should've been enough to scare me, but I refused to live my life in fear.

Graham's stern expression was nothing new. I simply wasn't used to having it directed at me. Sure, there were times we argued. We were siblings. We ran a billion-dollar hotel empire together, along with Jasper. We were bound to have disagreements.

But Graham typically stayed out of my personal life, and I stayed out of his. Not that he had much of one. Apart from his dogs—a pair of Irish Wolfhounds named Queen V and Prince Albert—he was a solitary creature of habit.

My other brother, Jasper, could be just as overprotective, even if he was generally more diplomatic about it. And Knox and Nate—my cousins whom I considered my siblings—had always treated me like their kid sister.

It didn't matter that I was thirty-seven. That I was the Senior Vice President of Operations for Huxley Hotels. The four of them would only ever see me as their little sister in need of protection.

Though, this time, they might be right.

I sighed and sank down on the sofa. I didn't want to admit it, but the threatening notes frightened me. At first, I'd brushed them off as a mistake or a prank. I didn't have any enemies that I knew of. I mean, yes, my family was wealthy, which made us an easy target. But I was the only one of the five of us who'd received any threats.

And now… I sighed. Now that it had happened several times over the span of six weeks, I could no longer ignore the fact that someone was trying to send me a message. I just couldn't figure out who it was or why. And why now ?

Their nasty vitriol floated through my mind once more.

"End your subscription to life,

you TOXIC BITCH."

I'd found that one on my desk at the office one morning. It had my picture on the front, my face covered with a large skull and crossbones. When I'd asked my executive assistant about it, Halle had been confused and upset on my behalf.

"You are poison, and you will pay."

That lovely gem had arrived at my home inside a Christmas card. Jasper and Graham had immediately flown to London and insisted on staying through the holidays.

Jasper took a seat next to me, rubbing circles on my back. As children, he'd always been the one to comfort me. I think he needed that touch, that connection, more than my other brothers. Definitely more than Graham, who had always shied away from physical affection.

"I talked to Maverick Hudson," Knox said, referring to the owner of Hudson Security, a company known for elite executive security, among other things. "He offered to send a team back to London with you."

"I have a security team," I gritted out.

Graham narrowed his eyes at me. "Sloan, the Huxley Grand staff is not your personal security team."

"I know that." I dug my nails into my fist until I felt the bite of them against my skin. "I would never expect them to be. But all residents are entitled to security while on the premises. Thus, I'm protected."

"Are you?" Knox asked. "These threats suggest otherwise."

"I definitely question the staff's competence in light of these threats," Nate said, and I had to agree, even if the idea of it being one of my own employees twisted my gut.

"Hudson suggested leaving those employees in place in case one of them is in on it," Knox said.

Great. Just great. That definitely did not help me feel more secure.

Even so, I grimaced. "I don't want to be surrounded by a protective bubble of bodyguards." Hell, that was how I'd felt a lot of my childhood. Suffocated by nannies and staff and four protective older brothers.

It was part of the reason I'd jumped at the chance to move to London years ago. That and the idea of putting an ocean between Jackson and me had been both appealing and necessary. But now, I just wanted to feel safe again. Unfortunately, Jackson was also the only person who'd ever made me feel that way—at least, before he'd broken my heart.

"I don't know what else to do," Graham said, and it was then I realized how exhausted he was. How concerned he was—they all were. "I've tried everything I can think of to determine the fucker's identity."

If Graham didn't have any leads, I didn't know what to think.

My brother might be the CEO of Huxley Hotels, but he was also a computer genius. He could hack in to anything, though it wasn't a skill we advertised.

"Even more reason to be concerned," Nate said, echoing my thoughts. Nate had dealt with his fair share of stalkers and crazed fans. If he was concerned…

"I've set up alerts on all the security cameras around Sloan's home and office," Graham said. "I've tried to have the paper, the ink, the writing—anything—analyzed, but it's like they're a fucking ghost."

"We could swap." Jasper turned to me. "I know that wouldn't be your preference. But I could take over in London for a while, and you could come back to New York—or LA, even."

My brothers watched me expectantly.

I hesitated but quickly vetoed the idea. "What if that's what the person making threats wants? What if my leaving emboldens them? Besides, what about Edward?"

What about Halle, my executive assistant? She was a young, single mom, and I worried for her safety. Even if she hadn't been the one receiving the notes, I didn't like the idea of putting her or her son in any danger.

I could feel my brothers' collective annoyance buzzing. Mentioning Edward had been like kicking a hive, and now the bees were angry and ready to swarm. They were not fans of my boyfriend, never had been. Graham hadn't said it outright, but I knew he didn't like Edward. Nate thought Edward was pretentious and fake. Jasper, well, he said Edward was too cold. And Knox found it strange that Edward and I spent more time apart than together.

I tried to brush off their comments as the misguided, but well-meaning, intentions of protective older brothers everywhere. But deep down, a little part of me hated that they might be right about Edward not being the right guy for me.

I sighed, knowing that what I felt for Edward wasn't much more than companionship. I'd been trying to talk myself into feeling more for him—love, even—but I couldn't. And I hated myself for trying.

"Edward is not the one being threatened," Knox growled, his legendary patience slipping. "And if he cares about you as much as he allegedly does, he should be doing anything to protect you."

I drew a deep breath. It took a lot to ruffle Knox. In that moment, it hit me how afraid for me he really was. How worried all of them were.My brothers had been searching for this creep, calling an intervention to ensure my safety.

Edward had asked me to move in with him, sure. Had suggested that I'd be safer at his London townhouse than at the Huxley Grand, but I just…I couldn't. I'd made excuses, put off answering.

I stood, going over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. I peered out at the Los Angeles skyline, marveling at how different it was from London. It might be dazzling and glamorous, but it wasn't home. And it lacked the character and the history of London.

If I couldn't bring myself to move in with Edward, what was I even doing with him?

I dug in my heels. On paper, Edward and I made sense. He was successful. Understood the demands of running a large family company. Respected my ambition.

But was that enough for me? Was what I had with Edward enough?

There was no passion. No feeling that I'd die without him, as harsh and dramatic as that sounded. I'd told myself that with passion came heartbreak. That sensible was safe. I'd certainly learned that lesson the hard way, thanks to Jackson.

I clenched my fists, knowing what I had with Edward wasn't enough. It hadn't been for a long time. I'd just been too scared or unwilling to admit it. Sometimes it was easier to stand still than to move forward.

But I hadn't been standing still, not really. I'd been moving backward. I'd been losing myself.

He'd been pressuring me to move in with him. And instead of being overjoyed, I'd been making excuses. But did he truly believe that moving in together would solve our problems? If anything, I thought it would only magnify them.

Edward and I were both busy. I was overseeing the Huxley empire with my brothers, heading up the European and Asian operations. Edward had been groomed to run his family's banking company when his dad retired and would one day be a member of the House of Lords.

Plus, there were the incessant demands of his family's social schedule. I stared at my phone screen and the picture of the two of us I'd saved for his contact ID. We were smiling, and yet…that day, I'd spent more time with a team of stylists than with him. And when we'd finally arrived at Royal Ascot—regardless of my making every effort to fit in—his family had still looked down on me.

Despite my fortune, I lacked a title or "genteel refinement," as I'd overheard Edward's sister, Lady Amelia, say once. I tried not to let it bother me, but seriously? She was a decorated Olympic Skeet athlete, but she acted like she was God's gift to humankind.

Graham turned away and uttered a sound of frustration, but it was Knox who came over and took my hands. Knox, who was always kind and nurturing. Who always strove to keep the peace.

"Sloan," he said, compassion lighting his blue eyes. "I don't want you to live in fear or upend your life, but you have to be realistic about the situation."

Nate came to stand beside Knox. Of the four of them, he could probably relate the most to my current predicament. Nate was one of the billionaire heirs to the Huxley empire, like me. But he was a celebrity in his own right, the owner of a Hollywood film production company and an award-winning actor.

Ever since he'd become a household name, he'd had to deal with all sorts of crazed fans who crossed the line. One of his daughter's former nannies had tried to seduce him then sell his underwear on the internet. He needed a bodyguard; I didn't.

Or at least, I hadn't in the past.

My shoulders slumped. "What would you have me do?"

"Come to LA. You can live with Kendall and me, or at the Huxley Grand close to Graham." Knox gave my hands a squeeze, silently pleading with me to agree.

"For how long?" I asked.

"Until the threat is neutralized," Graham said in a menacing tone. I wondered what Graham would do to "neutralize" them if given the chance. I shuddered and Knox released me.

I considered it a moment. Part of me was scared. Part of me knew he was right—they all were, to some extent. But if I conceded now, they'd only push for even more security precautions.

I loved Nate, but I didn't envy him the life he lived. I didn't want to always have to tell someone where I was going. I didn't want someone to have the power to tell me no because of security concerns. I didn't want to lose my freedom.

Jasper sighed. Graham clenched his teeth. "I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this, but…the board agrees. You need a bodyguard."

My eyes widened, and I felt his words like a physical blow. "You went to the board?" I seethed, stepping forward. "This is a private matter."

"You are a public figure," Graham bit out.

"You need protection," Knox said. Way to plunge the knife even deeper. "This has gone on long enough."

I felt as if I was sixteen again and trying to go on a date, only to have my brothers scare off all the guys. I loved them, but sometimes they went too far.

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared Graham down. Just because he was older than me and ranked higher in the company didn't mean he could bully me into doing what he wanted. I knew it was coming from a place of love. I knew he had my back—he always had. But I despised his heavy-handed tactics.

"Sloan," Graham said, annoyance bleeding through his tone. "You're second in charge. You're too valuable to risk such vulnerability."

"Too valuable to whom?" I asked, hurling the words with anger. "The company?"

Graham glowered. But Jasper responded first. "Sloan," he chided. "That's not what he meant."

I knew that, but jeez, would it kill Graham to express some emotion every so often? He was always so reserved. So in control.

Edward wasn't much better. At first, I'd brushed off his lack of affection as a British thing. Or blamed it on his personality. But maybe it was just me.

Or maybe I was expecting too much. Something more. Something he wasn't capable of giving.

I sighed. It was useless—wanting something you couldn't have. Expecting someone to change.

"Sloan." Jasper placed his hands on my shoulders. " Please . The thought of anything happening to you…" He stared at the ceiling, and it looked as if he might cry.

My stomach sank. I hated the idea of hurting my brothers, especially Jasper. Jasper and I had always been close. Maybe it was just who we were. Maybe it was because we'd been the youngest when our parents had died in a plane crash with my aunt and uncle, and our memories of them weren't as strong.

Our grandparents had raised Knox, Graham, Nate, Jasper, and me. It had made us all close.

I gnawed on my lip. I didn't want a security detail, but I knew I needed to do something. The threats were becoming more frequent, and they'd escalated in tone. I couldn't stay in London right now. I was too rattled, even if I refused to admit it to them.

I contemplated my options then said, "I have a better idea. I could take my annual sailing trip a little earlier and for an extended amount of time." When several of my brothers opened their mouths as if to object, I held up a hand to silence them. "You wanted me to get away from London, and I am. My absence will give you and the team from Hudson time to find and neutralize the threat."

Slowly, their expressions changed. And I could see my proposition was winning them over. Hell, I was excited about it, and I could feel my shoulders relaxing at the idea, some of my tension melting as I imagined myself back on the ocean. Back on the Athena .

Blissfully alone.

Away from all the drama and the threats.

I'd had to skip my sailing trip last year because of a broken arm. Time on my sailboat—alone on the open water—was long overdue.

"How long do you think you'd be gone this time?" Jasper asked.

I considered a few routes but knew that I wanted to sail from Florida down to the Caribbean, settling on… "Six to eight weeks."

The company was used to my annual sailing trip, and we had the right systems in place to accommodate my extended leave. In fact, we encouraged all our employees to take advantage of their generous vacation time, and we had an extended new-parent leave policy as well. We wanted our employees to feel valued. Appreciated. We wanted them to be able to feel free to care for their families without worrying about their jobs. To spend time on the things that lit them up so they could come back reenergized.

"An elegant solution," Graham said. "Someone from Hudson can accompany you."

I gaped at him. "You can't be serious."

"As if Graham knows how to tell a joke." Jasper balked at the idea.

"This sailing trip has always been something I do alone. And that's important to me."

"We get that," Knox said in a gentle tone. "But this time is different. Whoever is sending these threats knows your schedule. How to get close to you. I'm not trying to scare you, but they are likely watching you."

I glanced around, creeped out by the idea even though I'd had the same thought myself. Still…my sailing trip? It was the one time I got to escape the pressures, expectations, and demands of my life, and just…be.

"You don't have a bodyguard," I said to Knox. "Why do I need one?"

"I have a residential team from Hudson Security, just like Nate. And Kendall has a bodyguard, as does Jude."

I jerked my head back. "They do? Since when?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "We should probably keep that between us for now."

"Wait." I pointed at him. "You mean to tell me that your fiancée and your adult son each have a bodyguard, and they don't know about it?"

"Ah—"

Jasper smirked. Nate sighed. "I think we're getting off track here."

"What about you?" I spun to Jasper. "You don't have a bodyguard." I turned to Graham. "Or you."

"Everybody loves me." Jasper winked, one ankle crossed at the knee.

I arched my brow. He was so damn cocky. "I have a feeling a few of your former flings would disagree."

Nate snorted. Knox coughed into his hand to cover a laugh.

"This isn't about us." Graham had clearly reached his limit. "It's about you. We're not the ones receiving threats."

"Then shouldn't it be my decision? Besides, I have self-defense training." Years of it, in fact.

"Enough!" Graham roared then turned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Enough," he said again, more quietly.

Silence fell on the room, and I glared at him.

Knox draped his arm around my shoulder. "What he's trying to say—" he glowered at Graham "—is that we love you, and we're worried about you. And we understand that this situation is frustrating and scary."

"We've already lost so much," Nate said, taking my hand.

When I glanced at him, I could see the fear in his eyes. All of their eyes, even Graham's.

"Please." Jasper kept his voice low. "I can't…I can't lose you too."

His alarm, his vulnerability, finally made me stop and listen. The four of them might be overprotective, but I understood their fears. I understood what it was like to lose someone you loved. I sagged, unable to fight them anymore. I took a deep breath and accepted the fact that maybe it was time to hire a bodyguard.

"So…what?" I asked, trying to figure out how this would work. "They'd sail the same route?"

Nate's expression was full of pity and also…understanding. "They'd sail on the same boat as you. Your boat."

I let out a strangled cry. I couldn't imagine sharing my boat with anyone apart from the men in this room or my best friend, Greer, especially for that length of time. I straightened. "It's too small. They'll only get in the way."

"It's a thirty-five-foot sailboat," Graham said. "You have the space, even if it might be a bit cramped."

"Ha!" I pointed at him, childish as it was. "So, you admit it."

Internally, I rolled my eyes. So maybe I wasn't acting like the mature senior vice president of a hotel empire that I was, but sometimes my brothers brought out the worst in me.

"Okay," Nate interjected. "Let's pretend for a minute this was Brooklyn we were talking about."

My chest squeezed, and rage surged through my veins at the idea of anyone threatening my niece.

"Would you be okay with her going on a sailboat, alone , under these circumstances?"

"No," I admitted begrudgingly. "But the guest cabin is tiny." The perfect size for my twelve-year-old niece but not anyone much larger.

"They'll live," Nate said. "Or you can rent or buy a bigger boat for the trip."

"You can borrow my yacht if you'd like," Knox offered.

He didn't get it. None of them did. That was the point—I loved my boat. I could sail it single-handedly. I didn't need anyone else.

I'd been sailing since almost before I could walk. My grandfather had loved sailing, and it had been our thing. When I was barely eight, I'd won a sunfish sailing race. Before college, I'd considered attempting to circumnavigate the globe. Sailing was in my blood.

It was my escape. My solace.

"We can even try to find someone with sailing experience if that'll make the idea more palatable," Nate said.

"It won't," I muttered. But I could tell they weren't going to be dissuaded.

As if to hammer home the point, Graham said, "The board wanted to put you under round-the-clock protection. Police and private security. And they'd have the votes to do it, but I talked them out of it."

"Ugh." I threw my hands in the air. "Fine. One bodyguard. That's it."

"Excellent." Knox grinned. And from the look the four of them shared, I wondered if that had been their goal all along.

I hung my head, resigned to my fate. Hopefully my bodyguard—whoever they were—wouldn't be as annoying and overbearing as my brothers.