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“I’m taking a huge risk with this,” the woman said to the man. Sonya peeked out at them. The woman, although Sonya didn’t recognize her face, wore a badge pinned to her hip. She was an employee of the company. The man, dressed in black slacks that could use a good pressing, a button up shirt, and a tie, seemed more relaxed. She couldn’t see a badge on him, which she knew was against company policy. Badges needed to be worn at all times. Maybe he was a visitor.
“I know you are,” he said. “And you’ve been compensated. Just point me in the right direction. You’re sure he’s here?”
“He’s here, and you’re in luck. His son is with him.”
Sonya stiffened. They couldn’t be talking about Romy, could they?
“I’m not going to go with you because that would be too obvious. You’re going to use this badge to get through the doors right there. Then go right. His office is the third one on the left.”
Panic stirred in Sonya’s belly. Her directions led directly to Romy’s office. There was no mistaking where she guided the man. The thing was, when she left Romy’s office after dropping Arron off, Ezio, Shakarri, Catarina, and Ezio’s newborn son were also in there. This man’s target might be Romy or Ezio.
She pulled her cell phone from her pocket but then hesitated. If she alerted one of the bodyguards and this was just some misunderstanding, she’d look like an idiot. Then again if she did nothing and one of them was hurt, she would never forgive herself.
The two shared a few more words, and then the man started for the doors leading into the executive suite. Sonya let the woman disappear around a corner before she was hot on the man’s heels. He reached the stretch of floor leading toward Romy’s office. She could see the family standing around. Romy’s aunt Livia held Arron in her arms while she chatted with Shakarri who held her son. Romy and Ezio spoke to each other while their mother sat at Romy’s secretary’s desk, and the guards stood not far off conversing with one another.
The suspicious man halted and dug into his pocket as he watched Romy. All Sonya could think about was that he was about to hurt Romy, and she lost it. A cry of warning left her lips as she jumped on the man’s back. With the force she hit him with, he went down and smashed his face into the carpet.
“Sonya!” Romy shouted, seeing her tackle the man, and Sonya thought she heard someone snap their fingers. In seconds Jody was on them, hauling Sonya off the man and pinning the man’s arm behind his back.
“Are you crazy, lady?” the man demanded. “Get off me!”
Romy called her again, and she found him behind her, tugging her away. “What were you thinking?”
She looked around. Ezio was just shutting Romy’s office door, and Shakarri, Aunt Livia, and the babies were nowhere in sight. She assumed he had propelled them into the office to protect them.
“He doesn’t belong here.” She pointed to the man. “Someone let him in, and he was looking for your office, Romy. Plus he was digging in his pocket for a weapon.”
His eyebrows rose. “And you decided to take him down? Ever heard of bodyguards? You could have been hurt.”
“Search him,” Ezio ordered, and Jody hauled the man to his knees.
“I don’t have a weapon! This chick is crazy.”
“Shut your mouth,” Jody said. “You only speak when you’re asked a question.”
Jody searched the man’s pockets and brought out a set of keys, a cell phone, and a digital camera. The tense atmosphere eased. Sonya couldn’t figure out why until she realized what the man probably was—a reporter.
“You don’t have a right to hold me. I’ve done nothing wrong.” He glared at Sonya. “I can charge her with—”
“What’s that?” Romy looked ten times taller, and the man cowed.
Ezio barreled past the group. “My office, now. We’re going to find out who let you in here.”
The bodyguards dragged the intruder with them as they followed Ezio. Sonya started after them as well, but Romy blocked her advance. She looked up at him. “Move, Romy. I’m going to give them a description of the woman I saw helping him.”
He shook his head. “You can tell us later, but I’m pretty sure the guys will get it out of him. What I still want to know is what you were thinking attacking him like that? You thought he had a weapon, and you risked your life.”
“He was looking for you and…” She stopped. The way she’d been about to describe her reasoning, it sounded like she cared about Romy. “I only did what any human being would have done.”
His large hand cupped her jaw, and he raised her chin. “No, they wouldn’t.”
She pulled away and averted her eyes. “I was worried about Arron. What would he do without his papà?”
“Ah.” Disappointment filled his tone. Better that than the alternative.
“Anyway, I should tell them what I know. That man bribed one of the women who works here to get him in.”
“Now we know that much we can narrow it down. Sonya, look at me.”
