Page 86 of The Forbidden Bodyguard

“Guard is asleep.” Josh thumbs over his shoulder.

The guard wasn’t asleep, but he is now. Technically, he’s unconscious. Minor detail, really. He’ll wake up with a small lump and a headache.

He’ll be fine.

Two guards step up behind Voss, guns visible.

Victor looks flustered. Something has rattled him, and immediately I wonder if Stella is okay. The reality is this man is involved in all sorts of dodgy shit, including selling his daughter in a human trafficking type trade.

So, yeah, he should be rattled.

“We are here to speak to you about your daughter and her marriage to Tony Marino.” Josh plants his hands on his hips, close to his gun.

“I have nothing to say on this matter. Please leave.” Voss turns away. “Someone go sort out the security out there and fire the prick.”

He starts to walk away.

“We have reason to believe she isn’t giving her consent freely,” I call after him.

Voss catches himself and glances over his shoulder at me. Then slowly he returns to the door.

“You” —he points his finger in my face— “were fired by my daughter. If she owes you money, then ring my office and they’ll take care of it. Showing up at my home—”

“I said... I want to speak to you about your daughter being coerced into marriage,” I reply, unconcerned with his proximity.

I could kill the guy in fifteen seconds with my bicep. Oh, how I’d love to.

As he turns red, I continue. “I’d think you’d be more concerned, Mr. Voss.”

Anger simmers dangerously just beneath my skin as he glances between Josh and me with a cursory one at Grayson.

“This has nothing to do with you. Leave.”

“Stella is due here shortly. When she arrives, I’ll show her a copy of some emails that landed on my desk.” Josh pulls out his phone and swipes. “Dear Mr. Marino, once my debt is paid, when you are married to my daughter, I request that you send a zero-balance statement to my office...”

“The fuck? How did you get...” He drifts off, realizing he’s incriminating himself.

Shame we didn’t think to record this.

“You traded your daughter for your fucking debt, you piece of shit—” I must move because Grayson grabs my shirt in his fist, and Josh holds out his arm.

Voss’s guards push him behind them.

“She’s gone. You’re too late,” Voss snaps. “Now leave before I call my lawyer.”

Josh and I look at one another and think the same thing.

Fuck.

They have her.

“Go where?” I demand, my body goes into fight mode. “Where is she?”

“You do not know what you’re dealing with. Who you are dealing with. Leave.”

Did he just fucking smile?

The fucking asshole.