Witness Pursuit (Bodyguards #1)

“I’m full.” Nico yawned and slid sideways in his chair.

Tyler caught him and scooped him up. “And you’re almost out for the count. Bedtime for you. I’ve got this, Liam.”

“Thanks.” Liam kissed Nico’s cheek as Tyler tipped him toward him. Nico was one lucky boy with a family who adored him.

Tyler slanted his head toward her as he left the room, his look one of bedtime promises to come for her too. Oh yeah, she would live, even under confinement. Thank you, Ben.

“Let’s play snooker.” Luke thumped the tabletop and stood. “Liam, you want a game first?”

“Sure. That’s if you want to lose first.” The two sauntered away as Dylan came in behind her and pulled out her chair.

“I’ll look after you while Tyler’s gone. Would you like to take a walk?” He offered her his arm, which she took.

“That’d be great. My stomach thanks you.” She patted her full belly.

Outside, the moonlight reflected off the churning waters as they strolled toward the stern. The ship’s wake spread out in a white-capped vee, adding to the serenity.

Dylan undid the buttons of his crisp white cuffs and rolled his sleeves to his elbow. “I’m very protective of all my brothers, particularly Tyler.”

“You mean since the shooting?” Her heart ached that they’d almost lost him.

“It was a close call. We weren’t sure he’d make it.”

“I’m sorry.” She held her breath, its weight heavy in her lungs. No. Sorry wasn’t nearly enough, because if his brothers ever discovered it was her Tyler had protected and taken those shots for, they’d hate her.

Dylan propped a hip against the railing. “Tyler’s been more energized since you arrived, like I haven’t seen in a long time. He lost a part of himself a year ago, and none of us could quite figure out what it was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Between you and me, when he finally awoke after the shooting, he reached for someone. He uttered a name, but I’m not sure what it was, only the pain in his voice was very clear.” He stared at her. “Was it you?”

“We only went out once. This thing between us is just a fling.” She stepped back and shoved her hands behind her. Whatever was between Tyler and her would never go beyond this trip. Tyler had agreed to her deal, and for her, Johnny Taita’s killer had to be found before she ever truly lived her life. “I need to go.”

“Go where?”

“Um, to ring Ben. He asked me to check in with him and I haven’t had a chance. There’s a sat phone, right? In the control room?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve made you uncomfortable, and that wasn’t my intention.” Dylan motioned toward the stairwell. “Ask the captain for the phone. I’ll let Tyler know where you’ve gone.”

“Thanks.” She scampered off. Boy, she’d have to watch Dylan. He was incredibly perceptive.

After collecting the sat phone, she found a private area in the walkway outside the bridge. She punched in Ben’s number.

“Ben Hammers.”

“It’s me.” She sank against the panels at her back.

“I expected a call from you before now.”

“You didn’t tell me exactly when to call.”

“I thought that would have been obvious. I need to hear from you daily.” He groaned, rather loudly. “I also need to talk about Saria. Without you, she’s on edge. She’s even reorganized my closet to keep her hands busy. I can’t find my damn black shirts.”

“You only wear black shirts.”

“Exactly.”

She loosened her shoulders with a little roll. “It’s not that she’s on edge because I’m away. She’s experiencing birthday jitters. I should have told you, but she gets them every year. You’ve got to keep her busy the day before her birthday.”

“Birthday jitters? Shoot. Why does she get them?”

Yeah, she’d pinky-fingered with Saria on their seventh birthday to never speak a word of why. “It’s a sister-til-death thing. If I tell you what she did which caused the jitters, she’ll kill me, and the whole point of our relationship, is for you to protect me against death.”

“Right,” he huffed. “So I just wait this craziness out, and she’ll be all good come her birthday tomorrow.”

“Uh-huh, or at least about halfway into the day. By lunch time she’ll be like her old self.”

“Great.” He sounded anything but great. “Tell me how the trip’s going?”

She eased further into the darkest area where the walkway light barely reached. “Dylan’s very observant, but then so is Tyler.”

“Yeah, I forgot to warn you how intuitive they all are, but you’ll handle them. Tell me how Tyler’s doing?”

“I told Tyler we’d had a meal together, a date before he left for his assignment in Wellington. I had to lie. He sensed some kind of connection between us.”

“Elaborate on this connection.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you really want to know?”

He let out a low hmm. “I get it. Tricky stuff.”

“Lydia.”