Witness Pursuit (Bodyguards #1)

“Yes, you can. Nothing’s changed. I mean, apart from the stick.”


Brigs moved toward the control panel and halted the elevator. “Okay, guys. What’s the stick?” And must I point out we can’t jeopardize Jenna’s re-identification, Tyler. The occasional visit on the down low will work, but speaking to Ronson won’t. He’s ex-Force. He’ll contact Gilchrist.”

“Lydia’s pregnant.”

Brigs’s eyes popped open at his abrupt comment, and then narrowed to slits. “That is not even remotely funny. She’s in The Program.”

“I realize that, which means if I must, I’ll go under with her.”

“You’d have to give up your family. Think, Tyler. Your brothers wouldn’t deal with that, and Nico’s only four.”

Lydia shoved him away. “You are not giving up your family and your job and your friends for me. Not when you can hide out when you come.”

“I’m staying with you, and you don’t have a choice in the matter.”

“No. You. Aren’t.” Her glower was fierce, a firm reminder the woman he dealt with was strong. She had left him once before, and he shouldn’t forget.

“I’m staying.”

“Not a chance.”

“We’re having a baby, and you’re going to have to deal with the decision I’ve made.”

She dropped her head into her opened palms. “I am going to explode, or at the very least my head is.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I’ll talk to Ronson and see if he’ll accept my presence without informing Gilchrist, but I don’t hold out much hope on that. Those who work for the Force are rigid in keeping to the rules.”

“Right now, I really I hate you.”

“But you understand?”

“I understand I hate you.”

Hell, she had his heart in her hands. “You’ll come around, Lee.”

Brigs snorted. “I don’t know whether to congratulate you both, or bang your heads together.”

“The banging of heads would be best,” she mumbled against his chest.

Tyler chuckled, shocked to find her words actually soothed him, or it could be that she was burrowing closer, sliding her arms around his waist and gripping him. “Okay, do you have any idea why Drake was shot?”

“No.”

Brigs hit the release button on the stalled elevator. “Let’s get upstairs and start asking some questions. We need more than a no.”

“Are there any police up there?” Lydia whirled and faced Brigs.

“A detective’s on his way.”

The doors opened on the surgical ward, depositing them right outside the waiting room. Two small children cried, one a boy with sandy blond hair who sat in the arms of his mother, the other an identical child who clung to his father. The children’s sobs wrenched at his heart.

Lydia gasped and dashed past him toward the father who held one of the boys. The man must be Colt.

“Jenna.” He jumped to his feet, holding out a hand to her. “I’ve been so worried. Ronson said I had to keep an eye on you, so I sent Slade to track you down.” Colt glanced at Brigs then him as they followed her. “Brigs there told me you’d met him and his friend in town, and when they saw you on the back of Slade’s bike, they thought they’d make sure you were okay.”

“That’s right.” She stroked the child’s back he held. “Colt, this is Tyler. I was a bit upset and he stayed with me until I calmed. Sorry to take so long.”

“You look all right now, and that’s what counts.” Colt extended his hand to Tyler. “Thanks for looking after Jenna.”

“No problem.” Tyler shook his hand as he stepped closer to Lydia. He brushed up against her back, covering her from behind. Better. Much better.

Then he checked out the others in the room. Two young boys, one Slade and the other who must be Tate, sat quietly talking. He scanned the remaining space, but all was clear.

Brigs jabbed him in the arm. “A word please. Over there.”

With a frown, he followed Brigs across the room, joined him and pressed his back against the wall. Lydia sat beside Colt’s wife and hugged her. “What’s up?”

“You’re asking me? We have to maintain a low profile, and you plastered against Lydia’s back isn’t doing that.”

“I wasn’t plastered. It’s called protection.”

The elevator doors pinged open and an older man strode in. The man surveyed the area, his gaze clashing with theirs between one step and the next. Uh-huh, this was Ronson Brown, his actions ringing of Force, or ex-Force as Lydia had said he now was.

Ronson continued toward Lydia. She jumped to her feet and gave her supposed uncle a fierce hug. They appeared close. Tyler couldn’t halt his low growl.

Then Ronson leaned in and whispered in her ear. She nodded and whispered back, her shoulders slumping a little.

Damn it. Jealousy slapped him hard in the gut. He didn’t care to have his woman whisper to, and trust another man, in any way, and certainly not when it was him he wanted her to come to.