Chapter 15
When Blade and Sierra arrived at the castle a little after ten that night, Skylar and Rio were there to greet them. Skylar hugged Sierra and hoped she didn’t look any different. She and Rio had spent a good part of the evening in her bed. She’d fed them only one truffle before she’d decided nibbling on him was much better.
“I’m so glad you’re all right,” Sierra said.
“Thanks to Rio,” Skylar replied, glancing around at Rio.
Blade slapped Rio on the back. “He does come in handy.”
Rio grunted. Blade laughed. “Let’s go into my study and we can talk.”
Blade and Rio followed the women inside. They met Patterson in the entryway. The older man wrung his hands with obvious unease.
“Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Navarone. I’m so sorry about what happened while you were gone,” he said.
Blade stopped in front of his house manager. “Not your fault. Sierra and I still trust you to run the house for us.”
The servant let out an unsteady breath. “Thank you, sir. I’ll see that your luggage is attended to. I don’t see Martin and Jenkins.”
“We dropped them off in Dallas,” Sierra replied. “The two were meeting some friends. They’ve become as thick as thieves and are flying in early tomorrow. Before breakfast.”
The women laughed.
“I’ll see to your things and make sure everything is in order.” The house manager moved toward the front door.
Blade lifted a brow. “I wonder if you would have married me without Martin to cook for you and Jenkins to keep house for us wherever we go.”
Sierra went to Blade and kissed him. “Yes, but one of us would have had to learn to do those things, and I don’t think it would have been me.”
Blade’s grunt was an exact replica of Rio’s. He continued into his office. He sat behind his desk, and Sierra perched on the arm of his plush executive chair. Rio seated Skylar in an armchair in front of Blade’s desk and stood beside her.
Rio spoke first, telling them about the intruder being from Chicago, Matt Hampton’s visit, and Rio’s growing suspicion that Tennyson was behind the attacks. He finished by saying, “Tennyson is supposed to be in his office all day tomorrow. He’s desperately trying to raise capital and stay afloat. Some of his financial deals have fallen through.”
“Imagine that.” Blade linked his fingers on the desk as he and Rio shared a look.
Skylar saw it and wondered why any sane person would make an enemy of Blade Navarone. He was fair and honest, but if you went after him or hurt what was his, he went after you fast and hard. With his billions and his connections, and Rio’s keen intelligence and dogged determination, there was no place you could hide.
“The jet takes off at eight in the morning for Chicago.” Rio folded his arms. “I’m looking forward to meeting Tennyson.”
Skylar’s head jerked up. Rio’s expression was devoid of warmth. She reached for his arm before she thought. “Please don’t do something you’ll regret.”
“I won’t be the one regretting it.” His voice was deadly quiet.
She stared at him, then pulled her hand back. Rio would follow his own counsel. She could only hope that Shane or Blade would step in if Rio went too far. She faced forward and froze. Sierra gave her a teasing smile and Blade looked surprised. She wasn’t sure how Rio felt about anyone besides his men knowing they were involved.
“Ten extra men are coming in from headquarters. I want one of our men on every entry of this house and the other buildings. The gunman had to have been smuggled in and have inside information to know the location of Skylar’s bedroom. We’re rechecking everyone.” Rio briefly placed a hand on Skylar’s shoulder. “Creating a diversion at another site would be a good way to take the focus off keeping her safe.”
Skylar relaxed. Rio wasn’t the touchy-feely type of man unless they were alone. “But if it did happen, I’d have my ankle holster and the gun you provided me with.”
Sierra came off the arm of the chair. “Rio is going to let you have a gun?”
“After she demonstrated her knowledge of weapons and placed nine out of nine bullets exactly where she wanted them.” Rio crossed his arms again. “You have yet to show me you can use a handgun.”
Sierra’s chin lifted. “You should take my word.”
“I didn’t take Skylar’s and I’m not taking yours,” he came back.
Sierra glared at him. Rio remained expressionless.
“If I did, could I ditch the bodyguards?” she asked.
“No,” Rio replied.
“Absolutely not,” Blade responded.
Sierra sat back down and crossed her arms. “Then what’s the use of showing you I can shoot?”
Skylar realized at that moment that Rio and Sierra liked sparring with each other. She did things to annoy him and he knew it, but he wouldn’t give an inch.
Blade cleared his throat. “Since I’ll be with you, you won’t need a gun, Sierra.”
“I wanted a holster a bit higher up, but Rio nixed that idea,” Skylar said.
Sierra lifted a brow. “I just bet he did.”
“There were logical reasons,” Rio told Sierra, then spoke to Blade. “We’ll leave here at seven thirty since we don’t have to worry about loading luggage.”
Sierra’s arms uncrossed, her eyes narrowed.
Blade glanced at her and got to his feet. “I’ll be ready. It’s been a long day. We’ll go on up to our room.”
Sierra waited until they reached the door. “You know I’ll think of a way to pay you back.”
“Let’s go, Sierra.” Blade gently urged his wife out of the room, closing the door after them.
Skylar was up and in Rio’s arms in an instant. “You and Sierra like teasing each other.”
“I don’t tease,” he said with a straight face.
“Hmmm,” she said with a smile and sobered. “I mean it, Rio. Don’t let Tennyson push you into doing anything that will get you in trouble and have me flying up there to show him the error of his ways.”
His lips curved as he brushed her hair away from her face. “You would, too.”
“In a heartbeat. No one messes with what’s mine,” she said.
Mine. The single word reverberated in his brain. His hand stilled in her hair just as she did in his arms, her expressive eyes wide.
He didn’t know if the admission caught her off guard just as it did him, or if there was another reason. He just knew that it felt right hearing her say the word.
“Mine,” he repeated and kissed her until she trembled in his arms, until he banished every thought from her consciousness except him.
She was his and anyone who tried to harm her had a ticket to hell.
* * *
Shane Elliott was waiting for Rio and Blade at the downtown Chicago office building that housed Tennyson Corporation. Shoulder-to-shoulder, the three well-dressed men, each over six feet, with dark, piercing eyes, swept through the glass door and headed straight for the elevator. Neither looked to the left or the right. However, the interested or curious looks of those in the lobby followed them until they stepped on the empty elevator.
Rio, his eyes hard, jabbed the button for the forty-ninth floor.
Shane glanced at Rio, then Blade, then back to Rio. “What changed?”
“Skylar,” Rio answered. The three men kept no secrets from one another. They’d been through hell and back together and would remain lifelong friends.
Shane grinned and slapped Rio on the back. “About time.”
Rio didn’t comment. Shane might have resigned from his position as head of security to live in Atlanta with Paige, but the three men always managed to get together monthly. They never planned to let their friendship take a backseat to anything, except their wives. Luckily, Paige and Sierra got along well so they didn’t mind entertaining themselves while the men did their thing. Rio couldn’t help thinking that maybe Skylar could join them.
Two women got on the elevator and spent their time going three floors up eyeing the men. None of the men even glanced at them.
When the elevator was empty again, Shane said, “You’d think Tennyson would have learned by now.”
“He will this time,” Rio promised.
“Skylar told me to make sure you came home with me,” Blade said. “Sierra also extracted the same promise. She said I might hire someone else who was even more difficult to deal with.”
“I’ll do what has to be done.” The elevator doors opened on the forty-ninth floor. Rio stepped off first and went down the plush carpeted hallway. Blade and Shane followed.
Up until he’d tried to smear Blade’s name and reputation nine months ago, Tennyson had almost the entire forty-ninth floor, Rio remembered. Since that time his business had steadily declined. He’d had to let employees and office space go. Presently, he had only ten employees. He’d kept his lavish office suite, but the rest of his employees, other than his executive secretary, were in a smaller office suite down the hall.
“For a braggart like Tennyson, this has to hurt his pride,” Shane sneered. “Couldn’t happen to a more well-deserving man.”
“He tried to put the word out that he’s looking for office space on the Magnificent Mile or even thinking of building and intentionally downsized,” Blade said. “No one believed the lie.”
They stopped in front of a polished wood door with TENNYSON CORPORATION—SHERMAN TENNYSON PRESIDENT on a plaque. Rio looked at Blade and Shane. “I handle this my way. No one touches Tennyson except me.”
“Rio—” Blade began.
Rio ignored him and opened the office door. His gaze took in the office at a glance. A woman sat behind a U-shaped desk on the phone. To her left, a large man slowly rose from a seat on a plush sofa. The rise hadn’t been easy for the bulky man, who had a sixteen-inch neck and bulging muscles that stretched his jacket and revealed the weapon beneath.
“Gotta go,” the woman whispered and turned to them, her smile slipping. “May I help you?”
“I got it. Thanks.” Rio kept walking.
The muscle-bound man moved to block the door to Tennyson’s office. “Mr. Tennyson is not seeing anyone today.”
“I say he is.” Rio stepped to one side as if going around the man.
The man jabbed an elbow toward Rio’s face. Rio went low and punched the man in the gut. He staggered back an inch, then lunged. A hard kick to the chest sent him crashing against the door. He shook his head, his face enraged, and reached for his gun.
“Unless you want a broken wrist, which will put you out of work for a long time, move your hand. Now,” Rio ordered.
The man hesitated, his gaze going beyond Rio to Shane and Blade, who hadn’t moved.
“Last chance and the clock is ticking,” Rio said.
With a sneer, the man plunged his hand deeper into his jacket. Rio moved, grabbing the man’s right wrist and twisting it backward. Bones snapped. With a cry of pain, the man crumpled.
“My wrist! You broke my wrist,” he moaned. “I’ll kill you!”
Bending, Rio removed the gun, put the safety on, and tossed it several feet away on the carpeted floor. He rose to his feet and opened the door of Tennyson’s office. He found another man, this one thirty pounds leaner and, from the squinted eyes, meaner, waiting for him.
“Better and better.”
The man ran at Rio, then high-kicked. Rio dropped and sent his booted foot straight into the man’s knee. He went down, moaning and holding his leg.
Tennyson shot up from his desk, his face enraged. He had added the second bodyguard two days ago. He was running scared.
Rio had given Jason the code to place a bug on Hampton’s phone. He hadn’t contacted Tennyson and, as Skylar had suggested, Hampton had taken his wife to St. Croix.
Rio straightened and went to Tennyson’s desk. The middle-aged man’s thin lips tightened beneath his mustache. Behind the guise of a businessman was a poisonous snake. His eyes were filled with hate. He picked up the phone. “I’ll have you arrested for breaking and entering, and for assault.”
Shane held up his iPhone. “That might be difficult to prove when the authorities see he was attacked first, see the weapon your first guy had, and hear Rio warning him to not reach for said weapon.”
Tennyson slammed the phone down. He looked beyond Rio and Shane to Blade, who stood in the doorway near the first bodyguard, sitting on the floor rocking with his hand in his lap.
“Your secretary promised to hold all calls.” Blade leaned against the doorjamb.
“You bas—”
Blade slowly straightened. “Say it and give me the pleasure of stuffing your teeth down your throat.”
“He’s mine,” Rio reminded Blade.
“Remember, Rio,” Shane said.
Tennyson’s gaze snapped back to Rio. “I’ve heard that name before.”
“You’ll hear it again, and you won’t like it unless you call your dogs off,” Rio told him.
Tennyson straightened the jacket of the five-thousand-dollar fine wool suit and took a seat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re lying.” Rio leaned across the desk. If he were closer, no power on earth would keep him from beating the living hell out of Tennyson. “If you send someone else, once I finish with them I’m coming for you.”
“I’m a respected businessman.” Tennyson idly picked up a gold pen on his desk. “You know the way out.”
Rio straightened. “You’ve been warned.”
Tennyson’s hand tightened on the pen. “I’d heard that you were some kind of Rambo. Guess you aren’t so much if you have to threaten an innocent man.”
“You’re going down, Tennyson,” Rio threatened. “I’m going to see to it.”
Slowly, Tennyson came to his feet. “You know nothing of what I’m capable of. In every war, there are innocent causalities.” He smirked. “Retribution is a son-of-a-bitch, isn’t it?”
Rio jerked Tennyson by his silk tie and hauled the man halfway across his desk. Blade and Shane rushed to grab Rio’s arms. “Harm her and I’ll unleash hell on you and there’ll be no place to hide.”
“That’s enough,” Blade said. “Remember the promise.”
“His eyes are rolling back, Rio,” Shane said.
Rio shoved Tennyson away as if he were distasteful.
“What’s going on here?” a male voice asked. “Mr. Tennyson, your secretary called.”
Blade turned to see a wide-eyed security guard. Extending his hand, Blade went to greet the gray-haired man. “Blade Navarone. We were engaging in a security practice drill with two of Mr. Tennyson’s bodyguards to test their abilities.” He bowed his head briefly. “I’m afraid they forgot we were doing a practice drill and…” Blade looked down at the two injured men. “Suffered the consequences. Perhaps you should call an ambulance.”
The guard pulled out his radio, then paused when he saw Tennyson sitting behind his desk, his breathing labored, his tie loose, and his shaky hand at his throat. “Mr. Tennyson, are you all right?”
He leaned forward in his chair. “You fool! Do I look all right?”
The security guard flinched as if he’d been struck. “I’m sorry, sir. I—”
“Dammit, man, call us an ambulance,” the second bodyguard cried. “I think the bastard shattered my knee.”
The guard looked overwhelmed.
Blade took out his cell phone and dialed 911. “Perhaps you should go downstairs and wait for them.”
“I’ll do that.” The man left in a hurry.
Blade saw that the secretary was gone and came back into Tennyson’s office. “We probably have ten minutes max before an ambulance arrives. Probably the police as well. I say we make good use of the time so we won’t have to come back and have another…” He paused meaningfully. “… practice drill.”
Tennyson glared at Rio, but he kept his mouth shut.
* * *
Blade was right about the police arriving with the ambulance. So did the head of building security. It helped that the man knew Shane and obviously didn’t like Tennyson. Once the police officer realized Blade’s identity, he called his sergeant who called his captain who called the chief of police who called the mayor.
Tennyson and his two bodyguards corroborated the story Blade made up. The mayor and chief of police barely glanced at Tennyson. Their focus was on Blade and the two men with him.
“I’ve always heard you had top security,” the mayor said. “Seems I heard right.”
“Thank you,” Blade said, trying to keep an eye on Rio.
“Since you’re in town, why don’t we all go out to lunch? A good friend of mine has a small yacht and an excellent chef,” the mayor urged. “Maybe this time I’ll be able to convince you to build here.”
“Chicago is a great city,” the chief of police said.
Blade smiled. “Never hurts to talk.” Or to show Tennyson who held the trump card. “We accept the invitation to lunch.”
“Mayor.” Tennyson got to his feet behind his desk, but after a glance at Rio the man didn’t move toward the city official. “I’d like to take you to lunch or dinner anytime your schedule is free.”
The mayor never lost his jovial smile. “I’ll have my secretary check my schedule.” He turned to Blade. “Let’s go. Nothing like eating on the water.”
Blade wanted to laugh. The mayor had just blown Tennyson off—and from the man’s angry expression, he knew it. “Sounds good. Our car is downstairs. After you, Mayor.”
Shane, having kept himself between Rio and Tennyson, followed Rio and the other two men out the door.
Blade looked over his shoulder to Tennyson. Pure hatred stared back at Blade. “Come after me or mine again, and you won’t know what hit you.” He left the door open and joined the chattering group of men.
Except Rio. He stared straight ahead, his eyes cold. Blade, Shane, and Rio knew that Tennyson might be their man, but they had no way of proving it.
* * *
As soon as they were seated in the back of the limo, Rio pulled out his phone. Blade and Shane did the same.
Skylar answered before the second ringtone. “Please tell me you’re all right.”
“I’m all right,” he told her, still trying to control the urge to stop the car and go teach Tennyson a lesson he wouldn’t forget.
“You don’t sound all right. Was there trouble?”
“Nothing to worry about,” he told her, unsure if Blade would tell Sierra everything or not. They didn’t keep secrets from each other.
“Well, I am, and I won’t stop until you’re back here holding me.”
Warmth replaced some of the anger. “We’re having lunch with the mayor and, if I know the mayor, it will be a long one.”
“As long as you’re with the mayor, I feel better. Thanks for calling. I was worried.”
“You shouldn’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“I know that, and I still worry. Hurry home. I have something to show you. Bye.”
Rio’s mind went into overdrive as he thought of what Skylar might be talking about. Probably something to tempt— He slowly turned to see Blade and Shane studying him. “What?”
“You had this look on your face I’ve never seen before,” Shane said
“Your voice changed,” Blade added.
“So?” Rio looked at them sideways.
“So, we’re happy for you,” Blade said as he and Shane both caught Rio around the neck and laughed.
* * *
If was after nine that night when Rio pulled up in front of the castle. Blade was in the passenger seat. Rio had been right about the long lunch, which included a cruise and late cocktails.
“That bastard Tennyson is going to keep coming,” Rio gritted out. “He’s probably going after her because he sees her as the reason his plan to sneak in didn’t work.”
Blade laid a hand on Rio’s tense shoulder. “And we’ll stop him. He won’t get by us. He’s not going to get anywhere near Skylar. She’s a strong woman.”
Rio nodded. “And stubborn.”
“And you wouldn’t want her to be any other way,” Blade said. “Sierra is the same.”
“You have more patience than I do,” Rio told him.
“You’ll find out that when you really care about a woman, you’re capable of doing a lot of things you once thought impossible.”
“We’re having dinner with her parents tomorrow night,” Rio said slowly, trepidation in his voice.
“You never cared what other people thought about you, unless it was important to me. Now it’s important to you. I’ve seen you with Skylar. You’re different, happier, and so is she.” Blade laughed. “A woman can sure change a man’s outlook on life.”
“You can say that again,” Rio said, his brows bunched.
Blade opened his door. “Let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”
Rio got out of the Jeep and pocketed the keys. Once he saw Skylar and the surprise, he’d come back and put the Jeep in the garage.
Blade punched in the code and opened the door. Rio entered behind him. He saw Sierra in a large terry-cloth bathrobe and flat sandals. He frowned when he didn’t see Skylar.
“Hi and bye, Rio.” Sierra caught Blade’s hand. “I missed you. We’re going to the grotto.”
“Good night, Rio.” His arm around his wife’s waist, Blade kissed her on the cheek.
Sierra stopped at the top of the stairs heading down to the heated underground pool and snapped her fingers. “I almost forgot. Skylar went to get something in her room. She said if she wasn’t back down when you arrived, you should go up and knock.”
She clearly hadn’t forgotten, but Rio was already hurrying for the stairs. He took them two at a time. Conner was standing guard at her door. “I’ll take over from here.”
Conner nodded. “’Night, Rio. I’m turning in. See you in the morning.”
“’Night and thanks.” He waited until he could tell by the sound of Conner’s boots that he was off the stairs. He knocked on Skylar’s door.
“Come in.”
He opened the door, saw Skylar standing at the foot of the bed with her left arm propped against the bedpost, and knew his Jeep wasn’t going to get moved for a long, long time. Shutting the door without taking his eyes from her, he reached for the button of his shirt.