Page 63 of Carte

“Please, don’t joke about slipping past your security. I’m on edge enough that I won’t be here today.”

Early this morning, the label called me into a meeting. I didn’t want to go, didn’t want to leave Harley’s side, but maybe they had a lead on who was after her. For that possibility alone, I couldn’t miss it.

Harley got up on her toes and kissed the underside of my jaw, “I’ll be fine. You put an army around me to keep me safe.”

I dropped my forehead to hers for a moment, needing that physical touch before forcing myself to take a step back, “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Don’t go anywhere alone, and keep your eyes open.”

She just shook her head and smiled, “Go. I’ll be here.”

I sent one last look her way.

God, she was beautiful.

I turned and walked out of the room.

Matt was already standing on the other side of the door, making sure that no one could walk in who didn’t have access to her.

“Keep her safe,” I said looking straight ahead.

Matt grunted, “You know I have her.”

That was the thing, I knew Matt. I knew what he was capable of, and knew that he would lay down his life to keep Harley safe, especially now that she was mine. But still, the fear bubbled just under the surface of my skin. I didn’t trust anyone completely. Not when it came to Harley’s safety.

I didn’t say anything else before I strode down the hall.

I pushed the door open, slid the shades on my face and got behind the well of the car.

“You ready?” Max muttered from the passenger's seat.

“Not in the slightest,” I grumbled but still fired up the car.

“Let’s just get it over with, and you can go back to your girl.”

Yeah.

Frank, the same man who tried to keep Harley on the tour a month ago, slid the papers over the tabletop in front of me, “See here’s the thing. We called you in today because we got some disturbing information.”

I looked around the conference table. Nine men in suits who looked like a carbon copy of each other were sitting around it, with Tim and Sloane coming to each end of it.

My gut churned as I reached over and took hold of the papers, “What information?”

Frank smiled an oily smile, a glint in his eye. “Two weeks ago, one of Harley’s tracks was leaked. And the trace leads to one of your devices.”

I scowled, my eyes going over the papers, “That’s impossible.”

“Now, Mr. Ryan," Frank chided. “We had put a lot of resources into trying to figure out who cost us money. And we don’t mess around when it comes to leaked music here. I can assure you we used the best there is. And it all points to you.”

Tim frowned, “But what would Carter possibly gain with leaking Harley's music? He was the one that twisted all our arms into stopping the tour in the first place.”

“Money, control,” Frank shrugged, something ugly swimming in his eyes. “He already has her under his thumb. A few more strokes and our Harley would be under his total control. It really doesn't matter, what's important is that we think about Harley, about what's best for her.”

My jaw locked, I had trouble pushing the words out, “And what would that be?”

“For her to continue her tour. To get back to work. There are a lot of people waiting for her to deliver what was promised. And that means that we need to eliminate distractions.”

“But-” Tim started but I held my palm up.

I pinned Frank with my stare, “You know damn well that leak didn't come from me or any man from my team.”