The Billionaire's Bodyguard Bride (23 page)

She nodded. “I’ll just be a minute.”

He refused to acknowledge her when she returned with her suitcases. The hurt in her eyes when she left was nearly his undoing.

Although Frank knew Lauren would have given the house a thorough once over, he began a second sweep as a precaution.

“What are you doing?” Rafe demanded.

It was on the tip of Frank’s tongue to tell Mr. Suave and Sophisticated that he was checking the latches on the windows to keep his hands busy so he wouldn’t be tempted to tear into him for the way he’d hurt Lauren.

“I’m keeping you secure. It’s my job, remember? This isn’t a drill, Mr. Dimitriou. There have been two attempts on your life already. Sentinels thwarted them, but the person responsible is still at large. Make no mistake, he’ll try again.”

“I don’t need a nanny,” Rafe growled, unleashing his pent-up anger on the only target available. Opening the front door, he motioned the bodyguard out. “I want you to leave.”

Frank brushed past him and closed the door. “That’s not happening.”

“Apparently you’re not hearing me. I said I don’t need your services.” Grabbing the bodyguard’s arm, Rafe pushed him towards the door. When Frank shrugged him off, Rafe’s anger erupted and he let his fists fly.

Both men landed blows in the heated scuffle that ensued, but the brawl ended when Frank pinned Rafe to the wall. “Playtime’s over,” the bodyguard bit out. “I let you blow off some steam, but taking your anger out on me isn’t going to fix your issue with Lauren. I promised her that I would keep you safe, and whether you like it or not, that’s what I plan to do.”

Rafe wiped blood from his lip and blew out an angry breath. “You and Lauren seem close. Have you slept with her?”

Frank twisted Rafe’s arm with a little more force than was necessary. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask such an idiotic question. Lauren risked her neck to protect you. She did it because it was her job, but she also did it because she loves you.”

“I don’t want protection, and certainly not from Lauren. If I had known what was going on—that she was putting her life on the line for me every day of our marriage—I would never have allowed it.”

“And that’s exactly why she didn’t tell you. She knew you’d refuse. She also knew you were in grave danger. She
asked
to be
assigned to your protection detail. Now if you can keep all that righteous indignation at a low boil, I’ll release you. Think you can do that?”

Rafe nodded, his anger spent and his heart splintered.

“I understand why you don’t want anyone watching out for you,” Frank sighed, dropping his hold to massage his bruised jaw. “I get that. But in this instance, going solo is not a smart move. That pride of yours is going to get someone killed. This isn’t only about you. There are other lives at stake. If you won’t cooperate for your own sake, do it for your father and your sister. Let us carry out the job your father hired us to do.”

“I’m not going to stand by and watch someone put their life on the line for me.”

Frank shook his head in frustration. “I saw the file on your friend, and I’m truly sorry for what happened to him. But protecting others is what he chose to do. He knew the hazards.”

“I can handle this on my own.”

“Maybe for a while. But Mendacci isn’t a saint. Men like him don’t care about the consequences of their actions or any collateral damage that might result from them. They only care about increasing their assets and their power. If you’re serious about not wanting to see anyone get hurt, you need to let Sentinels do what we were hired to do.”

“Fine. I have to go. I’m late for a board meeting.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re telling me I need an escort just to visit one of my offices?”

“That’s right. Unless, of course, you don’t value breathing.”

He wasn’t sure he did any longer.

Back at Sentinels’ headquarters Lauren was doing her best to put on a brave face for Liz and Stephanie. It wasn’t an easy feat when she was dying inside. “I really thought Rafe would understand that I only hid the truth from him to protect him,” she sighed.

“I’m so sorry, Lauren,” Liz commiserated after hearing Lauren’s explanation of how her cover was blown. “I don’t know how Milton Payne managed to ID you and Frank, but if I find out the leak came from inside this organization, I guarantee I’m going to give the term ‘heads are going to roll’ a whole new meaning, and it isn’t going to be pretty.”

Lauren attempted a smile. “I have a feeling Milton has friends in low places. Regardless, the damage is done. The only thing that matters now is that we remain effective in protecting Rafe and his family.”

Stephanie’s forehead creased in concern. “Has it occurred to you that Rafe’s family includes you, too? Milton may have stumbled across your true vocation, but Mendacci doesn’t know you’re a bodyguard. All he knows is that you’re Rafe’s wife. And that makes you the nearest and dearest thing to the heart of one of his targets.”

Lauren waved away her friend’s concern. “Mendacci isn’t interested in me. The only thing he’s focused on is using Philip Dimitriou’s children to bring him back into line. But I’ll be vigilant. I promise.”

Stephanie gave Lauren’s hand an encouraging squeeze. “If Liz doesn’t mind, how about if you and I take a break? We can walk down to Joe’s Java and wash away your sorrows.”

Liz nodded. “That’s a great idea. And of course I don’t mind. Actually I insist that you both take the remainder of the day off. I’m meeting with a potential new client tonight, and I have a three-hour drive ahead of me, so I’m going to head out. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Lauren recognized the expression in her friends eyes, later, when they were seated at a corner table in their favorite coffee shop. There was no mistaking Stef’s heart-to-heart look. It was the one that said she was offering a shoulder to cry on, and if Lauren knew what was good for her, she’d darn well better take advantage of it. “That little act back in Liz’s office didn’t fool me, you know. You can pretend to be okay, but I can tell you’re hurting. You don’t have to put on a brave face for me.”

“You’re an awesome friend, Steph. But it’s okay. I’ll bounce back.”

Brave words when her world would always begin and end with Rafe. In time she’d move on . . . she’d have to. But there would never be another man who would leave such an indelible imprint on her body and soul. She’d destroyed her chance to be with him when she decided to hide the truth from him. She knew how highly he valued honesty. The end result—spending the rest of her life exiled in this horrible chasm of emptiness and despair apart from him—was her due punishment for her deceitfulness.

Stephanie squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. “It will be okay. Rafe just needs some time to come to terms with everything. It’s a lot to take in all at once.”

Lauren’s cell phone chimed, announcing a new message. She scanned the text, shaking her head in disbelief.

“What is it?”

“It’s a message from Rafe’s secretary. She says he’s in a board meeting right now, but he’d like me to meet him for dinner at Marcelle’s.”

“See? I told you he’d come around. Granted I didn’t think it would be so quickly. You’re going to go, right? You have to!”

“I guess so. But don’t get your hopes up. I’m sure the only reason he wants to meet with me is so he can present me with divorce papers.”

“Or maybe he’s finally smartened up and realized he can’t walk away from the best thing that’s ever happened to him. I’ve got an idea. How about if I text Frank and invite him to grab a bite to eat with me while you and Rafe talk? That way you can have some privacy. And it will give me a chance to explain to Frank why I wasn’t forthcoming about my real career. I’m getting frostbite from the ice in his voice every time he has to speak to me.”

“Okay. I just hope you fare better when you explain things to Frank than I did when I came clean with Rafe.”

Rafe found getting through the board meeting while thoughts of Lauren’s deception dominated every brain cell was like slogging through quicksand. He wrapped up the meeting as expediently as he could and adjourned to his private office.

He rolled his eyes when Frank entered the room first, making certain it was secure before motioning him in with a sweep of his hand.

He speared Frank with an incredulous glance before taking a seat at his desk. “You seriously think I’m in danger?”

“Yes I do,” he asserted.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Rafe rubbed at his temples. “Fine. I’ll let you do your thing.”

“It’s good to see you’ve come to your senses.”

“I’m allowing you to do your job. That doesn’t mean I’m pleased about it. I’m only begrudgingly accepting protection for my sister’s and my father’s sakes.”

“I was referring to Lauren, actually. I’m glad you’re having dinner with her. When did you find time to arrange a date with her, by the way? You didn’t have a chance to come up for air during that meeting.”

Shrugging out of his blazer, Rafe paused. “What are you talking about? I haven’t made plans with Lauren.”

“You haven’t? That’s odd. Why did Stephanie message me and ask me to grab a bite to eat with her while you and Lauren are at dinner tonight?”

“Did she say when and where this supposed meeting is going to be?”

“Yeah. That little French restaurant across the street from here. Marcelle’s. At six.”

Rafe glanced at his watch.
5:45
. “Apparently Lauren’s groveling has evolved from the last time she burned me. Instead of an endless stream of phone calls and text messages, she’s dreamed up some convoluted plan to get me to meet her. Well, it’s not going to work.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way. I can assure you Lauren isn’t a game player. Why don’t you shove that pride of yours aside for a second and take a look at what’s right in front of your face. It’s plain to see you care about her. And she’s crazy about you. You’re a fool if you walk away from her.”

Plain to see he cares
.
Was it true?
Even as he asked himself the question, he already knew the answer. Despite Lauren’s deception, he still needed her . . .
loved
her. And apparently it was obvious to everyone but him.

He was about to reply when Frank shifted his focus to the window, peering out intently.

“What is it?”

“A vehicle matching the description of the one that tried to force you and Lauren off the road just pulled up outside the office.”

“There must be a thousand black SUVs in the city. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“In my business
everything
is something until proven otherwise. Lauren said she caught the last three digits of the license plate number. Do you remember what they were?”

“Five-one-one, I think.”

Pulling a pair of compact binoculars from his blazer pocket, Frank trained them on the license plate. “It’s a match. Come on. I’m getting you out of here. We’ll take the back exit.”

Rafe ignored him, too caught up in absorbing the realization that had just struck him like a sledgehammer.
Theos!
The men in the black SUV weren’t here for him. They were after Lauren. Mendacci had set up the false dinner date to get to her.

Barreling out of his office, Rafe raced down the hallway, ignoring Frank’s order to stop. Oblivious to the stunned expressions on his employees’ faces, he headed for the stairwell.