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TWENTY-ONE
“Iknew he’d be intense,” Parker said as they left the main floor, the DJ starting a fresh round of music, “but yeesh.”
Amelia nodded, barely leaning on her crutch. “He’s really worried about me.” Beatrice had warned the rest of the team they would be turning off their comms for this foray, which Amelia was thankful for. No way did she want a dozen men listening in while she peed. She’d do her business as quickly as possible, knowing this would add yet another layer to Rory’s anxiety. Problem was, there was a line. “Did you know about Moe and his brother?”
Parker focused on digging a lipstick out of her handbag. “Not until you uncovered all this.” She shot a glance to Beatrice. “It does explain a few things.”
“I couldn’t volunteer that kind of information,” Beatrice said quietly. “Not even Rory knew.”
“I’m not blaming you. He should have told me himself. Another example of how he doesn’t ever let his guard totally down.”
Vivi joined them, slipping her earbud into her silver clutch. “Those kids are flippin’ incredible, aren’t they?”
“Aren’t you glad you came?” Amelia asked, letting go of the Moe conversation. It was nice interacting with these women she so admired, and she had faith that Parker would figure things out with Moe.
“Absolutely.”
“Moe and Rory aren’t that different,” Beatrice went on. “On every personality test and evaluation performed on Rory during his years with our military and government, do you know what he scored highest in? Loyalty. And that equates to protection. He’ll do anything to safeguard and defend those he cares about. I hired him to watch over me and my family, but also to extend that level of loyalty and protection to those I hired at SFI. He may be over-vigilant and ornery, but he will do everything in his power to keep each and every one of us safe. Same for Moe. They have their shields—Rory uses anger; Moe prefers sarcasm and pretends to be aloof—but underneath those facades are the bravest of warriors. Courageous, indomitable men.”
“Amen to that,” Vivi said.
Parker stayed silent. Amelia felt proud.
Laughter broke out at the far end of the line. Vivi pointed at Amelia’s crutch. “Sabrina did a bang-up job. Everyone’s talking about you and that bling-y thing.”
“They are?”
“You may have started a new trend,” Parker said with a wink. “Next thing we know, you’ll be looking for investors.”
“I’d much rather be known as the PT who got Rory walking again.” She nodded at Vivi. “Along with your help, of course.”
“He’s definitely nailing his stretch goal tonight,” the psychologist said. “He even trimmed his beard.”
“He has product in his hair,” Beatrice added with a grin. “I can hardly believe it’s the same man.”
Amelia felt her own smile growing. “Loyal and handsome. A winning combination.”
“Not to take the spotlight off him,” Vivi muttered, turning serious, “but Ian’s acting weird. He keeps denying it, but I think he’s got spying in his blood now and he won’t quit. He stink eyes every single person who passes us like they’re a criminal. It’s driving me crazy.”
“The sweet taste of success,” Parker mused. “Let me tell you, it’s a rush. Give him time. He’ll settle down.”
“He claims one of the men at the table in front of us makes his warning bells go off.”
“Half the people here do that to me,” Beatrice confided. “He didn’t say anything on comms.”
“Probably because he knows he sounds paranoid.” Vivi huffed. “I asked him if he thought we should alert you all, but he said no. I hope he doesn’t decide to play hero and blow our cover over nothing.”
Nobody was paying attention as they moved another step forward, the ladies in front of them talking and laughing in Chinese and a tipsy older woman behind them gossiping on her phone to someone named Carl. She kept raising her voice, insisting he needed to get there quick and sponsor a boy who’d created an app to help folks with Alzheimer’s recognize their loved ones.
“Rory will kill him if he does,” Amelia said.
“And then I’ll have to kill Rory.” Vivi sighed dramatically. “Such a mess. I hope there’s plenty of woods at the new compound for the bodies.”
They all laughed and then their conversation turned to the presenters, the food, and the array of designer clothes, shoes, and handbags in the place. Beatrice volunteered that she and Amelia believed Hannah’s agent was in love with her.
“Classic,” Vivi said. “Someone should make a movie.”
“Tonight is a jewelry thief’s dream,” Parker said. “Did you see that emerald Senator Ralston is wearing?”
