“What do you mean?”
“Well, I assume, being as good as he is and given your initial concerns and financial investment, he’ll go to ground to ensure her safety.”
“What are you talking about? He’s not there with you?”
“Why ever would he be in the offices? I assure you, he’s far from a desk jockey.” Sahara propped her shapely ass on the edge of the desk and crossed her long legs, letting one high heel dangle off the tips of her toes.
How she walked in those things, especially in the winter weather, Leese had no idea.
“But...I thought...”
“Mr. Nicholson, you sound alarmed. If there are new concerns I need to know about, please let me know and I promise to share them with my guy as soon as he checks in.”
Muffled whispering came through the line, then Nicholson asked, “When do you expect him?”
“I assume when he feels it’s safe. No idea when that might be.”
Impatience crept back into his tone. “There’s no damn way you don’t have contact with your men!”
The smile faded off Sahara’s mouth. Her foot stopped swinging. Slowly, she slid off the desk to stand looking down at the phone. “Body Armor is by far the best agency you will find in the States, possibly in the world.”
“I never said—”
Lacerating him with contempt, she cut him off. “I don’t babysit my men because they don’t need it, and further, if they did, you wouldn’t have come to me.”
After a gruff, “Harrumph,” Nicholson said, “I apologize for losing my—”
“I understand. You’re rightfully overwrought given your concerns for Catalina. Let me assure you, no one wishing her harm will get anywhere near her. Absolutely no one. You have my word. Now I must go. Have a good evening, Mr. Nicholson.” And with that, she hit a button and ended the call.
Impressed, Justice applauded.
“This is awful,” Cat whispered.
Wearing an evil smile, Sahara paced the room. “You should know, Catalina. I am a mean, mercenary bitch.”
Intrigued by that, Justice leaned forward. “Really?”
“No, she’s not,” Leese stated. “Sahara, take a breath.”
“Mean,” Sahara insisted, still moving angrily around the room. “Mercenary. Bitch.” She strode over to stand facing Cat. “And you need to understand that I will use this to my advantage.”
Again, Cat glanced at Leese. When he shrugged, she turned back to Sahara. “How?”
“I’ll ensure that you’re protected,” she promised. “And I’ll do everything I can to see that Georgia Bell gets justice.” On those insane heels, she crouched down beside Cat. “But that also means exposing every bastard involved, including, if necessary, your stepfather. The entire world will know what happened, the men—their livelihoods, their businesses—will likely be destroyed in the process. And this agency will take full credit for bringing them down. I will scrape up every bit of promotion I can to further our reputation as the best.”
The overwhelming possibilities left Cat wide-eyed and shaken, but she didn’t falter. She accepted that Georgia deserved retribution.
But Cat didn’t yet realize that she did too.
“Anyone and everyone involved in hurting that girl needs to pay the consequences,” Cat whispered. “Whatever they are.”
“Excellent! Then we’re in agreement.” Rising gracefully again, Sahara smiled. “Now share the other names.”
Pale, Cat shook her head. “I...I don’t remember.”
Sahara gave it quick thought, then shrugged. “Fine. I can start with your father.”
“Stepfather.” Appearing both fearful and guilty, Cat nodded. “And...okay.”
Sahara turned her flinty blue eyes on Leese, taking note of the way he continued to hold Cat’s shoulders. “Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”
He shrugged. “You’re astute, Sahara. Do I really need to spell it out?”
She sighed. “And if I had a problem with this—”
“Then I’d understand and move on.” But he wouldn’t abandon Catalina.
“Don’t be so dramatic. I have big plans for you.” With a look of acceptance, she warned, “I’ll want a full report. Soon.”
To keep the peace, Leese nodded. But before he verbally made promises, he’d see what Catalina had to share. She knew the other men, he was sure of it. Would she trust him enough to tell him everything? And once she did, what then?
No idea. He knew what Sahara wanted, but he’d do whatever was best for Cat.
“They know you’re here. Both of you. That much was clear.” Sahara paced away, a vibrating bundle of energy. “Even though it’s secure, we’ll want to throw them off to give you a little breathing room. So I have an idea.”
Very unsure of any plan she might contrive, Leese said, “Care to share with the class?”
“We’re going to get each female employee to hide behind a scarf and glasses, then scatter in different directions—” she fluttered her fingers “—to all corners of the city and beyond. How fun will that be?”
“Fun?” Cat twisted her hands together. “Not fun at all. More than anything it sounds dangerous. I don’t want to risk anyone else.”
“We’ll take care. Don’t worry. And unless they have a lot of people out there watching us, they won’t be able to follow everyone.”
Cat asked, “How many female employees do you have here?”
“Counting me?” Sahara grinned. “Ten. But currently in the building? Only seven. It’ll have to do, even though they’re not all bodyguards. For a case like this, we need everyone on deck.” Before anyone could question her participation, she went to the door and summoned Enoch. “Could I beg an enormous favor from you?”
Already to his feet, Enoch said, “Of course. What is it?”
“I need you to round up all the ladies, and then you’ll need to run across the street to that decadent little boutique and do some fast shopping.”
*
TWO HOURS LATER, Enoch escorted them to the penthouse apartment. Leese wasn’t sure what to expect, but he could tell that Cat was at the end of her rope. She needed some downtime, so the accommodations no longer mattered.
Trembling from head to toe, Cat entered the private elevator. “You’re sure she’ll be okay?”
Enoch looked as worried as Cat, so Leese reassured them both. “She has Justice with her.”
Using an exclusive keycard, Enoch pressed the button to access the penthouse. “You said he’s new.”
Enoch stood a foot shorter than Leese, and probably didn’t weigh a whole lot more than Catalina. But he had a keen intelligence, an aptitude for fast learning, was loyal to the core and often seemed to know what needed to be done long before being told. Leese liked him, and better than that, he trusted him.
“Justice is new to being a bodyguard, but he’s a veteran at kicking ass. He can handle things, believe me.” Justice might not have been refined enough to win a title belt, but few could ever reach that elite status. Match him up to any four or five street fighters, and he’d annihilate them.