Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Why?” My heart beats rapidly.
“Be aware that you can get sucked into it,” Mom says. “I’ve seen things like this. I’ve seen people led on wild chases, running around like rats in a maze at the behest of some unknown entity who simply likes to watch.”
“You’re talking about a sociopath,” Brendan says. “In fact…”
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing. Or maybe it’s not nothing. My mom was telling me how my dad got sucked into the mystery surrounding his uncle’s death at the Steel wedding fifty years ago. He followed every lead and eventually came up with nothing. So I wonder… Was there a sociopath who was sending him on a chase?”
Mom doesn’t answer right away, which disturbs me. It’s a yes or no question, but she seems to be thinking about it.
“Mom?” I finally say.
“I don’t know, Brendan. It’s possible.”
Strange. My mother rarely says I don’t know. Even if she doesn’t know, she usually puts forth some kind of theory based on her years as a detective and investigator. Her intuition.
“You’re freaking me out, Mom.”
She smiles, though it seems forced. “Just thinking about sociopaths. The Steel family has had its share of run-ins with them over the years.”
My skin goes cold. Goose bumps erupt on my forearms despite my long sleeves.
“Mom, you just said that you got the feeling there was no threat.”
“And I still have that feeling, Ava. But I don’t put all my faith in a feeling. Just because I don’t feel my blood run cold when I read this? That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take adequate precautions.”
“Security,” I say.
“Yes. Please rethink your stance on security,” Mom says.
“I’m going to agree,” Brendan says. “If your mom and dad are willing to offer you security…”
“We’ll offer it for you as well, Brendan, if you want it.”
Brendan’s brows rise. “No, I’ll be fine.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You know? That’s great. I will consent to security…on the condition that you do too, Brendan.”
“There’s a difference between you and me, Ava.”
“Yes, there is. Eleven years and a Y chromosome. That’s it. You’re no more bulletproof than I am.”
“Bulletproof? Ava, there’s no reason to believe our lives are being threatened. It’s just a good idea to have someone watching.”
“I agree,” Mom says. “It’s never a bad thing to be prepared.”
I sigh, throwing my hands in the air. “Fine. But no bodyguards. If you want to have someone sitting outside in the car watching the place, that’s one thing. But they better not interfere with my customers and their enjoyment of this establishment.”
“I’ll make sure,” Mom says. “Thanks, honey. This is for the best.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Brendan says. “I can’t take you up on this offer, Mrs. Steel.”
“Please, call me Ruby. And yes, you can.”
“No. I understand that you want to protect your daughter, and she’s an heiress to your fortune. But the Murphys. No. Just no.”
Ava touches my arm. “Brendan, security for you and your father is nothing to my family.”
“That’s not the point, Ava. The point is that we don’t do that. We pay our own way.”
“Fine. Then pay my family back for the security.”
“With what? I run a bar.”
My cheeks warm. How could I have been so rude to Brendan? I’m the one Steel who doesn’t live off her family’s money. I should know better than to assume Brendan can pay for high-priced security.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Brendan. “Please accept my apology.”
“Of course.”
Then I turn to my mom. “No security. For either of us.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
BRENDAN
That’s not the result I wanted. I feel strongly that Ava should have security, but I have to accept her choice as well.
The thing I like best about Ava is that she’s her own person. Totally unique.
So I must respect her decisions.
If I want her to have security, I will have to consent to having security as well. And the Steels will foot the bill.
My father will hate it. We have no issues with the Steels now. But I know my father still thinks that their ancestors had something to do with his uncle’s death. He’ll hate taking money from them, and frankly, I’m not in love with the idea either.
But I need to make sure Ava is protected. I don’t feel an imminent threat, but Ava is too important to me to take any chances.
“All right, Mrs. Steel—”
“Please, Ruby.”
“Ruby.” I clear my throat. “I’ll consent to security, but I can’t speak for my father.”
“Brendan,” Ava says. “You don’t have to—”
I hold up my hand to stop her. “This is the only way Ava will take security. And I think you should have it, Ava. Not that I think there’s anything to worry about, but what if, on the off chance, someone does come after you? I would never forgive myself if I were the reason you didn’t have security and adequate protection.”
Ava rolls her pretty blue eyes. “Fine. I’ll take the security, Mom. But don’t make Brendan take it, okay? I changed my mind. I don’t think he feels right about it.”