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An honor? The fucker was full of himself. I had no intention of ever taking a contract with him ever again. Unfortunately, the current one must be fulfilled. “That is a chat for a later date. Right now, you still have us through to the 17th of September.” He’d originally hired us as security for his public appearances in Oregon while waiting on his state’s government to get their security team together for him. Apparently he didn’t like the first team assigned to him and fired them. “Back to the situation at hand. The police have not discovered any new information regarding the downtown incident nor at the hospital. The hospital itself has hired a private firm to investigate how the assassins got in as well. Have you received any threats or information regarding the incidents?”
“I receive threats all the time. It’s the nature of my position.” Grant’s bored expression pissed me off even further. “At least the hospital is doing something. The police are useless. Private is the best way to go.”
“I would like to have someone get together with the person who handles any incoming messages you receive and take a look at the threats themselves. I’m sure the vast majority are just people ranting, but there could be something your staff missed.”
“Yes, whatever you need.” Grant glanced at his watch. Impatient asshole. We saved his life on two occasions now, and he could barely spare a minute out of his day for this.
I swallowed my urge to snap at him. I was the face of The Praetorian Guard. Integrity and honor. No matter how much I disliked him, I would not fuck this up. “Good, thank you. We have been doing our own analysis of the incidents. The gunmen are all likely former military and highly trained. I’m using my connections to see if there are any mercenaries out there who would fit the bill. Though, we do believe this goes deeper than we originally thought. Have you given any more thought to individuals close to you who might hold a grudge or are jealous of your new position? Since both incidents required secure information of where you would be at a certain time, it has to be someone who has access to it.”
“It could be anyone. Honestly, you can’t trust anyone these days unless you pay them enough.” Grant chuckled, not taking this at all seriously. “You’ve vetted my staff already. I’m sure you’ve done the same with my opponents and all the loud mouthed liberals who preach against me.”
I held his gaze as I posed the next question. “What about Julian Birk?”
There was a brief flicker of surprise, suspicion, and then back to his bored look. “Julian is a good friend. He helped me get to where I am today. He’d have no reason to want me dead.”
“Not even to use your death as a way to get re-elected himself?” I poked at the shaky facade of trust Grant had in regards to Birk.
This time, he took almost ten seconds to reply. Several things flashed by in his eyes. He smiled, not really pulling off his usual smugness. “No, not at all. Julian is comfortable in his position now and isn’t looking to get back into office again.” He gave a tight laugh. “I know how the game of politics is played. I’ve been involved in it most of my life. I’m under no illusions that Julian helped me out of the goodness of his heart. My policies match what he wants to see happen, and that’s why he helped me get elected. I use him to help further my career. We’re both aware of it, and there’s no ill feelings. We even decided that my claiming his daughter would be the next building block in our empire. Julian isn’t fond of his sons, but if I’m part of the family, no one would protest when he leaves his fortune to me via Callista so I can continue leading our country forward to be the best it can be.”
I saw myself punching him right in his pompous face. Again and again. Blood splashing over his expensive rug and bones snapping beneath my knuckles.
Gripping the arms of the chair so I wouldn’t actually beat him into a bloody pulp, I swallowed the snarls and curses which had built up in my throat. I had never hated anyone so much as Grant. Using Callista a building block? Was that all she was to them? Mother-fuckers.
“That makes things clearer then.” So disgustingly clear. “If we may look at it another way, you and Mr. Birk are public allies. Callista has a connection to both of you. Downtown and at the hospital, not only was her life in danger, but we thwarted two kidnappings. If someone were to abduct Callista, would they be able to get you or the Birks to pay them a lot of money? Or to change policies?”
Grant folded his arms and that superior look returned with full force. “Neither Julian nor I would ever give in to any demands from terrorists. We’re made from stronger stuff than they are. Besides,” he grinned. “Callista is not that valuable a pawn. She’s twenty and hasn’t even gone into her first heat yet. As with any Omega, she has one use, and if something were to happen to her, she can easily be replaced. Any which way, she is protected at your safe house. Right, Mr. Wyndham?”
I sprang to my feet as fury flooded my veins. I was going to kill Grant. The bastard didn’t deserve to breathe another breath.
Just as I clenched my fists, the door swung open and the nurse returned with not only a mug of coffee but three of Grant’s assistants. They chattered loudly, all demanding the senator’s attention for one thing or another. Each of them stating their issue was more important.
My heart thumped hard. I directed all my will to not move an inch.
The blonde wiggled her way behind the desk and presented the coffee to Grant with an alluring smile. One of the other women with thick-rimmed glasses babbled about the ratings on social media while another with bobbed hair stated that Grant had two conflicting meetings that evening. Grant had eyes and ears only for the nurse.
Red seeped from my vision. I eased the tension out of my body enough to start walking toward the door. I didn’t know if I trusted myself to speak, but I managed to get the words out. “Thank you, senator. I won’t take up any more of your valuable time.”
I was out before he had any chance to respond. If I heard one more word out of his mouth, I would have turned back around and decked him. Shutting the door behind me, I exhaled and leaned my head back.
Fuck. I almost beat the shit out of Grant. I never let my anger control me, but what he said about Callista….
I couldn’t stand it anymore. Let the prick look down his nose at everyone else, but not her. I didn’t know if I would be able to stop myself next time. The future of my company rested on this contract, and I was willing to give it all up to defend Callista’s honor.
Letting out several more long breaths to calm myself, I headed to the front door when something else hit me. Grant didn’t know Callista was in heat. How could an Alpha about to claim an Omega not know she was in heat? It definitely wasn’t him who triggered it then and, from the scene at the hospital, they were not a natural match.
Something in me purred with pleasure at the fact he could do nothing for Callista, but she most certainly responded to me. And hell, I wanted to eat that sweet pussy again and again as she screamed my name.
I adjusted my hardening cock in my pants. All my life, I’d had complete control over my body and soul, but for her, I would lose myself. As the thought ran through my head, I was shocked by the truth of it. For her, I would give everything.
But in the end, she wasn’t for me, was she? Callista made her choice, and I had to respect it. Even though I hated the thought she would even spend another second in the presence of that deplorable fuck.
Chapter Nineteen
My subconscious hadn’t been wrong. I had one of the best days of my life. Levi actually did give me swimming lessons. I hadn’t noticed, but there was a small open sided boathouse to the side of the beach. It had an open air shower to wash off the salt water, a pile of towels, and a handy bathroom. Plus, there were wetsuits, fins, goggles, and snorkels.
Levi taught me to snorkel, and later in the day, he ran back to the house to fetch us a picnic lunch. We talked and laughed and ate a lot, and while hell, yes, I was aroused by him, my heat didn’t ruin the fun.
I’d never spent the day with a guy like this, and none had ever made me feel so happy and at ease. With Carson, I was always on the razor’s edge. I couldn’t relax. Even the few times I’d snuck out with Kienna during our school years and we hung out with teenage boys, it never felt right.
