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“Why would I make this up?”
“Unknown, and trust me, part of the team will be working to figure that out.”
“I’m not. And I’m not helpless. I know JJ Fitzwallace’s reputation. I figured if anyone would understand, the people that work for her would.”
“Make no mistake, nobody at Cerberus works for JJ, we work for her husband and Dom, Robert Fitzwallace. And you should know that whether or not we believe you, we’ll ensure you don’t get killed.”
“Maybe I should hire someone else?” Cooper laughed and she bristled. “What’s so damn funny?”
“Who would you hire? Some bodyguard or security firm you Googled? Not your best idea. There are very few organizations set up to do this kind of work, and we’re the only ones here in Chicago. If what you believe you found is as dangerous as you think, then you’re talking about taking on one of the largest suppliers of military arms, men, and intelligence in the world. A lot of people at the DoD are going to want to see you proved wrong. In order to take on Blackwood, you’re going to need a firm that has the breadth of experience and finances to keep you safe and lead an intensive and covert investigation.”
“I don’t think I’ll need round-the-clock protection. Maybe just someone to escort me to and from the office. Once inside my loft, I’ll be perfectly safe.”
“You don’t believe that any more than I do. Do you have bulletproof glass? A state-of-the-art security system? Can you fire any number of automatic weapons? Drive a vehicle in an extensive escape scenario? And before you lie to me, let me tell you I know for a fact the answer to all of that is no.”
“I know how to use a gun—I took a training course when I was thinking about getting one.”
Coop nodded. “I see, but have you ever leveled one at someone who was trying to kill you? Ever fired a bullet center mass to ensure whoever it is goes down and stays there?”
Who the fuck did he think he was? She’d been taking care of herself since she was in elementary school. She could make macaroni and cheese from the box before she could even read the instructions. She’d practically raised herself and had started and grown her forensic financial firm into one of the most respected in the world. She didn’t need some ex-special ops guy trying to run her life. In normal circumstances she could take care of herself very well, thank you very much.
‘But this isn’t normal circumstances,’whispered the little voice.‘Someone tried to kill you—not once but twice, if Seth Newcomb is to be believed.’
“I’ve lived my life just fine up until now without some alphahole trying to tell me he’s going to be in charge. In my experience, Mr. McCullough, it’s the one who’s paying the bill who calls the shots, and that’s me.”
Cooper leaned forward, his normally dark eyes that rarely revealed anything now flashing with anger. “And how much experience do you have with paid assassins? Make no mistake, Ms. Foster, if your original theory is correct, someone has been hired to kill you, and they won’t stop until the job is done.”
Anabella was furious. She was seething as he began laying out how things would work: she would be moved to an undisclosed location. They would explain Coop’s appearance in her life as a boyfriend she hadn’t wanted to reveal until the relationship had proven it had legs. Until they could get her set up, she would call in sick to Blackwood, but assure them she could work from home. Seth would set up a secure line into Blackwood that would piggyback on hers and would be working with her here at the office to gather evidence. She would follow Coop’s orders without question.
She was finding it hard to focus on what he was saying, partially because she knew she should be allowing the cooler heads of the professionals to lay out their plan but also because Coop was so damn gorgeous. She’d always gone for men in suits, and while she could imagine him in one—better yet a tuxedo—he seemed more at home in jeans and a t-shirt. A t-shirt that clung to his body like a second skin, revealing all the hard muscle that lay beneath and exposed his massive biceps and forearms. Even his fingers and hands seemed to have muscles.
It was too easy to not look at reality and instead fantasize about what it would be like to have this man want to protect her because she belonged to him as he belonged to her. The idea of belonging to each other was heady stuff, but Anabella forced herself to focus on what he was saying. Did he not understand that she could be throwing away not only her life, but her career? Did he have any idea the sacrifices she’d made to get where she was?
He finished with, “And you’ll quit being a pain in my ass. I get it that this is an inconvenience. I get that this isn’t what you want it to be. Tough shit. That’s the way it is.”
“Or what?” she taunted. “Because I know a threat when I hear one.”
“There’s no threat, Anabella. If you refuse to allow us to provide the service we know you need, you’ll be on your own. Maybe one of those cheap ass bodyguard services who ‘protect’ celebrities can do the job, but if you’re right—and again I think you are—not only will you get yourself killed, but you’ll most likely get them killed as well. Sign the contract, Anabella,” he said, shoving it towards her.
“I don’t think I will,” she said, standing. “I’ll go get my things, and once I launder what I have on, I’ll have it returned to you.”
“What are you going to do for shoes? Those pumps you were wearing aren’t exactly the best footwear with sweats or if you have to try and outrun a bullet. Quit behaving like a spoiled brat, sign the damn contract, and give me a list of what you want from your place.”
“I thought you agreed there was value in me going with you.”
“That was when I thought you would be reasonable and follow the rules. I no longer believe you’re even capable of following the rules, so you’ll remain here at Cerberus.”
“Fuck off, McCullough.”
“I think, Ms. Foster, we are at an impasse. I am sorry to say I don’t think Cerberus will be able to help you. I’ll have someone see you home.”
He turned on his heel and walked out the door. Anabella knew she should be calling him back, knew she needed Cerberus’ protection, and that as the experts they probably knew what was best, but all she could think about was what a rude, arrogant sonofabitch he was. But damn, did he have to be wearing a pair of jeans that emphasized what a great ass he had? And they hadn’t done a lot to hide that his gun wasn’t the only thing Cooper McCullough was packing.
Fine. She’d find another comparable firm to hire. If he expected her just to wait on him, he was fucking nuts. She’d find her own way home and send for her things. If that meant leaving Cerberus barefoot, then so be it. Anabella vowed she wasn’t going to kowtow to such an asshole.
She slipped into the elevator as it started down with just Alicia in it.
“I thought the guys said you were going to be confined to the third floor,” said Alicia as she pushed the button for the second floor.
