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I’d given it a lot of thought. They were businessmen, first and foremost, and hurting an innocent child would not result in any profit.
But someone had made the threats.
I’d always known the Steels had a few skeletons in their closet. Now it was time to unearth them.
These were my father’s personal files.
All the ranch files were in three other cabinets, none of them ever kept locked.
This cabinet had always been hands-off to everyone except George Steel.
What are you hiding, Dad?
I opened the top drawer. It was stuffed with hanging file folders housing thick manila files. This cabinet had four drawers. Did my father truly have this many personal files?
Apprehension gripped me as I let my hand hover over the sea of manila. Which one should I grab first? And would it lead me down a dark path from which I could never escape?
Didn’t matter.
My wife and son were depending on me to keep them safe, and if knowing what hid in these files could help accomplish that, I had to look at them.
I had no choice.
I’d turn twenty-three in a month. Not even a quarter of a century old. But I felt like I’d already lived a lifetime of threats and fears.
I had to suppress the fear.
My old man hadn’t been afraid of anything—especially not losing someone close to him.
Why? Because he’d never gotten close to anyone.
He loved my mother once, and in his own way, he loved me. He would have loved Jonah, too.
But not the way I loved Daphne and my child.
George Steel hadn’t been capable of that kind of love. I’d learned that kind of devotion from my mother.
Take a file, Brad. You’re procrastinating.
I sucked in a breath and grabbed a file folder.
None of the folders were marked, so I had to look inside to see what the file contained.
I opened the folder…and nearly lost my footing.
This file was all about me.
Chapter Forty-Four
Daphne
Little Joe had gone to sleep after his noon feeding, and I sat in the family room watching game shows. I didn’t want to think about anything serious, so Bob Barker and The Price Is Right were a nice distraction.
My mom had gone to the greenhouse with Mazie. Mom had really taken to the greenhouse. I wished she had one at home. I enjoyed the greenhouse as well, but I hadn’t gotten out there since Joe had arrived.
Belinda puttered in the kitchen.
I jerked when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it, Miss Daphne,” Belinda called.
I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I shivered anyway. I hadn’t been expecting anyone last night either, when that message had arrived.
I peeked into Joe’s bassinet. He was sleeping soundly. Then I walked upstairs to see who was at the door.
A large man—a very large man—stood in the entryway with Belinda. I froze in my tracks.
“This is Clifford Danes,” Belinda said. “He’s here to see Mr. Brad.”
Clifford Danes nodded at me. “Are you Mrs. Steel?”
I swallowed. “I am.”
“Nice to meet you. Seems I’m your new bodyguard.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “My…what?”
“Your husband hired me.”
“He did?”
“I’ll get Mr. Brad,” Belinda said. “Have a seat, Mr. Danes.” She motioned to the formal living room.
I stood in the foyer for a few minutes. Was I supposed to talk to him? This bodyguard? A bodyguard I didn’t want?
Or did I? I’d do anything to protect my child.
So instead of sitting down in the living room, I walked back through the hallway to the family room where Joe slept in his bassinet. That was where I belonged—watching over my baby.
I sat down and glued my eyes back to The Price Is Right.
I’d let Brad handle this bodyguard business.
I hadn’t slept well last night after all the commotion. Whenever I nodded off, Joe woke up. I closed my eyes.
“Baby?”
I jerked my eyes open. Brad stood over me, nudging me.
“I’m sorry to wake you, but there’s someone you need to meet.”
Right. My bodyguard. I peeked into the bassinet. Joe still slept soundly. “I can’t leave the baby.”
“Okay. I’ll bring him down here.”
A minute later, Clifford Danes stood over me. He was a few inches taller than Brad and even more muscular. The man was a mountain.
“We met,” I said.
“Cliff is armed with two weapons at all times,” Brad said. “He’s also a third-degree black belt in karate and a champion kickboxer. He’ll be living in the guest room across from my office.”
“Not right next to our room?” I said incredulously…and a little sarcastically.
“I thought you might want more privacy than that.”
“Thanks.” I resisted an eye roll.
Really, this was sweet of Brad to get protection for me and the baby.
“He’ll be your driver, as well,” Brad continued. “You and the baby aren’t to go anywhere without Cliff.”
I was too tired to argue. I simply nodded.
“Good. I’m glad you agree. Cliff, I’ll show you your room, and you can get settled in.”
I checked on Jonah. He was making those baby oinking sounds that were so cute. I laughed out loud. I’d have to tell Patty. She’d know if it really sounded like oinking. That meant he was waking up, and he’d probably be hungry. I pulled him out of the bassinet and kissed the top of his head. Then I inhaled.
