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“How are you part of this?” I think to ask. “Is Mr. Delancey in on this too?”
“No, Everett and I work for the same parent organization, Black Swan Protection Agency. Our boss saw that Everett wasn’t following normal protocol with you-”
“How so?” I cut in.
“He never took time off, he refused to show up for annual training in person, he insisted on being the only one assigned to your detail.”
“I guess I just thought that was all normal bodyguard stuff. That he was just doing his job really, really well.”
Ainsley laughs and shakes her head. “And you thought it was normal to be waited on hand and foot? That he would have your favorite coffee for you at 2 p.m. every afternoon? That he would ask me to put fake meetings in your calendar that were always canceled so you could have some downtime? That he would always hold your coat for you, carry your stacks of files, get every door and elevator for you? You think that’s what bodyguards do for their bosses these days?” She’s not irate, she’s genuinely curious if this is how I think. “Laina, he worships the ground you walk on.”
“Don’t say that,” I whisper. I don’t want to hear this from Ainsley. I want any conversation about this to be between me and Everett, alone. We deserve that.
Ainsley must not have heard me, because she presses on. “Anyways, once Everett was too deep in his feelings to be your security, he was essentially compromised. So when your executive assistant position opened up, my boss put my name forward as a candidate and we just hoped and prayed you’d pick me.”
“And Everett never knew?”
“Nope. I played up my crush on him to throw him off guard, because I do have a crush on him. He’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my life, and I lived in Seoul near the Blue House. Have you seen the presidential bodyguards there? They’re hot, but Everett’s hotter.”
I give Ainsley a look of sheer incredulity. She’s talking about my husband and how attractive he is while he’s in surgery for a life-threatening injury. She catches my look and hunches her shoulders in apology.
“Sorry,” she says sheepishly, “Got carried away there.”
“How did you get the laptop in the first place?”
“Your dad was old friends with my boss. I think my boss was your dad’s security detail at one point in his life.”
Of course. My dad and his old friends.
“My boss gave the laptop to me when I came to New York and said that I was to keep it safe and hand it off if I ever got a text about it. I didn’t know what was on it until after I brought it to your house, then I got the whole spiel from Boss. Big stuff.”
“So what happens now?” I ask.
Ainsley eyes me in my bloody, frazzled state. “How much do you want to finish this? Because there’s always the option to not go any further.”
I shake my head. “It’s not an option.”
“I assume you know there are huge risks involved with trying to end a criminal group,” Ainsley says.
I knew, but there was no way to truly know. If I could have foreseen this, would I have made a different choice?
Guilt presses on my chest for what it’s cost Everett. Even with the blood transfusion, even if he’s stabilized, is his shoulder going to be okay? Is he going to have full mobility? Or will nerves and muscles and ligaments be severed beyond repair?
“Okay, well, I’ll go back to the house, deal with the clean-up, and get the laptop.” She stands and I nod my approval of her plan.
I close my eyes, but all I can see is Everett’s pale face, his eyes rolling back in his head. I shiver, haunted.
Ainsley reaches for my hand and gives it a warm squeeze, then leaves.
Silence descends and now I notice my ears are ringing. Probably from shooting a gun without hearing protection. I check my watch. What time did we get here? How long have I been awake? It doesn’t matter, I refuse to rest until I know Everett’s okay.
* * *
A nurse shakes me awake.
“Mrs. Park?” she asks. I look up at her in confusion. Oh, yes, I’m Mrs. Park. I sit up fast, seeing stars for a moment.
“Is he okay?” I ask, my voice hoarse from lack of proper sleep and an excess of crying.
