8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Bri

L unch with Tris, Genny, Duncan, and Marie was perfect. I got the inside scoop on their favorite things to do around Boston, and I heard stories about the company's Fourth of July party, which apparently lasted until two in the morning and nearly caught two people on fire.

Duncan, the company's media network liaison, reenacted the event, which had half the restaurant staring at us while we tried to stop laughing. By the time we head back to the office, my worries about kidnapping contracts and life as a wolf are a distant memory.

By one o'clock, I'm energized with newfound motivation. I've got ideas for current and future clients bouncing around, and I've started scribbling down notes to bring up tomorrow with a few of the associates I met with today.

The conference room is large and easily accommodates the twenty-two staff members. Sixteen chairs are poised around the table, and another ten are along the walls. I sit against the wall nearest the far corner and prepare a new notebook page.

Ethan sits at the head of the table farthest from me, and to my surprise, Vince attends the meeting, sitting at the foot of the table closest to me.

"Good afternoon, everyone!" Ethan begins, cool charisma pouring from him as he quickly gains the room's attention. "Thank you for making time for us to meet today. We have a few items to hit on our agenda today, so please make sure you have the documents either open on your devices or grab a copy from the table by the door so we are all on the same page here."

"Before we start, I'd like to introduce Brielle DelaCourt. She comes to us from Las Vegas, Nevada, through the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and we are desperately trying to convince her to join our citizenship and sustainability team. Please give her a warm welcome today."

Applause fills the room as the smiling faces turn my way.

"Thank you," I say, waving quietly, wishing I could fade into the background.

He quickly shifts the meeting focus back to the agenda items. Watching the staff interact tells me everything I need to know about how this company operates. Everyone has a voice. Everyone is valued.

It's too good to be true.

No. Stop it. That's the trauma response talking.

When the meeting ends, I have an entire sheet of notes with the next steps ready to go, and I laugh at myself because I don't work here—not yet, at least.

I follow Tris back into her office, ready to tackle some of the tasks mentioned in the meeting, when Ethan strolls in behind me.

"So, how is your tour going?" he asks, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms casually.

"Today's been amazing. Honestly, I'm not sure how you have a job opening at all," I say, blurting the question that has been rolling around in my head since lunch.

"Well, that's an easy answer. We're expanding two departments to better handle the volume of new clients we've been receiving and to ensure that as a company, we're staying aligned to our goals for productivity and innovation within the space," he responds.

I nod, feeling better about the lack of turnover, knowing most of the staff has been with the company for years.

"I think you broke her," Tris laughs when I don't respond any further, making me smile.

"No, just processing everything. It's a big move, but I can't imagine finding a more perfect fit," I say.

"Well, that's what we want. This is just as much about you wanting to be here as us wanting you here. In fact, we're heading out for drinks tonight to celebrate a win Genny had with Knight Global. You should join us. See a part of the city. Get to know everyone in a slightly more relaxed environment," he says before returning to his office.

"Tris, can you make sure Brielle has transportation back to her hotel? I don't want her spending money on rideshares," he asks, waiting at the door for her response.

"You got it, Boss," she responds with a mock salute, making him laugh as he heads out. Once he's gone, she turns her attention to me, excitement in her expression. "Guess that means I'm getting a sitter tonight."

She picks up her phone and begins typing out a message. I take a moment to pull out my laptop and send a quick email to Liv and Keith, so they know I'm alive.

At least for now.

The thought reminds me that I currently have a guard dog watching over me, and I'm not entirely sure he's going to love the idea of a downtown bar. Part of me loves that it will annoy him, while the more logical side of my brain knows the risk I will be taking, exposing myself to anyone hoping to get their hands on me.

Well, shit.

I should probably at least let him know the plan.

Once I've sent off the two emails, letting them both know I broke my phone and won't have access until I return, I grab my coat from the back of the chair.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to take a quick walk to work off some of this pent-up energy," I say to Tris before walking to the elevator.

I know Ghost will be outside somewhere. Hopefully, my wandering out will pull his attention so I can talk to him. When we left for lunch, I tried to see if I could see where he was hanging out, but there was no sign of him.

I guess that's why they call him Ghost.

As I exit the building, the crisp cold hits me, and I tighten my jacket, wishing I had a scarf to block some of my face from the chill. The sidewalk is almost entirely deserted at this time of day, but a few people bustle from one building or another. Scanning the area, I know he has to be somewhere that would be able to see the entrance to the building.

Come on. Come on.

I wait there for a few minutes, hoping he will show himself, and I go with plan B when he doesn't.

I spot an alleyway between the two buildings across the street, which appears to lead to the road behind them, so I casually walk toward it.

"Abracadabra!" I whisper.

"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice," I whisper, louder this time, while turning to the other side.

"Bibbity-bobbity-boo?"

"Bodyguardo-appearo?" I try again.

"Damnit, Casper, where are you? I don't have a virgin sacrifice or a Ouija board with me today!" I whisper a shout about halfway through, remembering what Dante told me about their hearing.

"Not sure that's how you summon him, but he's not back yet," a deep voice filled with humor says to my back, and I freeze, instantly recognizing it without turning around.

Cain.

What the hell is he doing here?

I take a moment to prepare myself before I face him.

The moment does nothing to stop my heart from jumping into my throat at the sight of him standing before me. He's got on all black. Long sleeves cover his tattoos, and his cargo pants make him look like he's some kind of SWAT team member. His five o'clock shadow is longer, looking more like a full beard than scruff as if he hadn't shaved it in a few days. The beanie on his head accentuates his storm-gray eyes. The very same eyes are drinking me in like I'm his first drop of water in a drought.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, my words coming out breathy rather than accusatory.

Get it together, Bri.

He doesn't respond immediately, as if he is weighing his words.

"I would say it's because of the contract, but that wouldn't be the whole truth. I needed to see that you are okay. Needed to be close enough to be sure nothing happened to you," he says, not hiding any of the desperation I see on his face.

"How do you know about the contract?" I ask, surprised.

"Ghost informed us once he had you safe. I never would have let you come had I known." There's pain in his statement, regret.

"Let me? You wouldn't have let me?" I say, trying not to get angry but feeling the same emotions bubbling up inside me from finding out all his lies.

Who does he think he is?

"I didn't mean it like that, Firefly," he says, rubbing a hand down his face.

"No, we talked about this. I needed this trip to make this decision on my own. To see what I wanted without any other variables. I would've come even knowing about the contract, and there isn't a thing you could've done to stop me," I say, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.

"I know. I just… You'll never understand the way it felt to lose you, not knowing if you were alive or dead. To know that it was my fault you were in danger. That you still are. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you again, Firefly. I don't want to control you; I just want you safe." By the time he finishes, he's right in front of me. His eyes plead with me to understand, and I can see him forcing himself to keep his hands at his sides. His warm scent fills my nose, and I have to physically fight the urge to lean into his chest.

I miss his chest.

I'm overreacting.

There's literally a kidnapping contract out for me.

Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh, calming myself before I respond.

"Thank you for wanting to keep me safe. I'm sorry I snapped at you, but I have Ghost looking out for me, or at least I did before you got here," I say, opening my eyes to look at him again. "He can keep an eye on me until I return home," I finish, putting more determination into the statement than I feel.

"You trust him," he says, making it a statement and not a question.

"I do," I respond honestly.

"I trust him too, but he's only one wolf. We know of at least two high-level mercenaries who have taken an interest in the contract and several more trying to make a name for themselves. Let us protect you. I promise to stay in the shadows. I won't interfere with your trip unless you're in danger. I just can't leave knowing what could happen if Ghost ends up outnumbered."

"Us?" I ask, wondering if he is referring to his wolf and him.

"I brought a team with me, and we have a few of the local wolves pulling shifts as well," he replies, making me wonder why I've become so important to warrant such a protective detail.

"Fine. You want to stay. Be my guest, but I'm holding you to your promise. Let Ghost know I'm going to a bar with a group of the staff to celebrate." As soon as the words are out, I see his eyes darken, ready to argue, and I lift my hand in a ‘stop' gesture before continuing. "It's called The Tam. I'm riding there with Tristan and her husband. She's making sure I have a ride back to the hotel. Now, before you argue, I'm going. If it's a safety concern, take your team to check it out and post yourselves wherever you want. I will not spend my life hiding," I finish, dropping my hand and sidestepping my way around him back toward the office.

It takes everything in me not to turn around as I cross the street back to the main entrance.

Why does he have to look like that?

As much as I fight him, his protective instincts are really hot, and I love that he has always taken care of me. He walked me to my car after our study sessions, made sure I ate, drove me home when I'd been drinking, flew across the state to rescue me, and flew across the country when my safety was threatened.

He shows up for me.

I file that thought away, heading back to Tris's office to ask for that business cell phone they offered. After all, I will need a way to keep in contact with them, and Ghost can't assume the new phone could be traced to me at all.