When Day Breaks (KGI #9)(13)
Author: Maya Banks

“They’re right, Eden,” Micah said.

She groaned. “God, not you too.”

“You almost died today,” David said. “If these people your father is bringing in are the best, then that’s what you need. No one wants you dead.”

“You’re all making a pretty huge leap here,” she pointed out. “From all appearances this is some random shooting and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Any one of those pedestrians could have been killed. Not just me.”

She saw a flicker in her father’s eye but it was gone just as quickly, resolve tightening his features.

“I’m not willing to take chances with your safety,” he said. “Placate me, Eden. Because I’m about this close to hauling you home and telling your agent to call off the whole damn thing.”

In the end it wasn’t the threats that swayed her. When she looked at her father and brothers she saw stark fear in their eyes. And worry. She knew they wouldn’t be swayed and if she refused the additional security, she had no doubt her father would make good on his threat to take her home and keep her under lock and key for as long as it took.

She sighed, massaging her forehead with her fingers, fatigue settling into her bones.

“You’re tired, baby,” Raid said. “Will you try to lie down and get some rest until the Kellys show up? They’re on their way now and we need to make plans since you’re leaving tomorrow evening for Paris.”

David held out the prescription bottle the hotel physician had prescribed when he’d come by to examine Eden hours earlier. “Take it. You need the rest,” he said bluntly.

The room was swimming in testosterone already. She shuddered to think how bad it would be when whoever her father had hired showed up.

Micah shoved a water bottle into her hand and then Raid propelled her to her feet and toward the bedroom area of the suite.

“I hate it when the men in my life handle me,” she grumbled once Raid shut the door behind them.

Raid pulled her into his arms and hugged her fiercely. “We’re scared, baby. Humor us, please? You have no idea what that call did to Dad. It will make him feel better to know you have the best at your back.”

“You totally did that on purpose,” she accused.

Raid pulled back, an innocent look on his face. “Did what?”

“You know damn well what,” she said in disgust. “You’re using Dad against me.”

“Is it working?”

“Yes. Damn it.”

He grinned and kissed her forehead. “Take your medicine and get some sleep, okay?”

“Whatever, big brother. But payback’s a bitch.”

“It will make Ryker and me feel much better too,” he said, his expression growing serious once more.

She sighed. “I agreed, so lay off the guilt trip.”

“We worry about you, baby. We love you and never want anything to happen to you.”

“I love y’all too,” she returned. “Now shoo so I can tackle that bed. I’m about to drop.”

“Not until I see you take the pill,” he said pointedly.

To emphasize his point, he crossed his arms and stared expectantly at her.

“You’re all a bunch of tyrants,” she muttered. But she did as he ordered and swallowed the bitter-tasting pill with a grimace. “There. Happy?”

“Yes,” he said, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

“Wake me when whoever gets here, okay?”

He nodded.

“Promise me,” she pressed. “I’d at least like to be present when my future is decided.”

He rolled his eyes. “Promise. Now get your ass into bed.”

She didn’t need much encouragement. She didn’t even pull back the covers. She did a face plant on the bed and burrowed her head into the sumptuous down pillow with a sigh.

In the distance she heard the door shut behind her and she closed her eyes, exhaustion taking over.

CHAPTER 7

JOE parked the SUV toward the back entrance of the hotel and called up for Ryker to come open the door so they didn’t trek through the lobby with their arsenal of weapons. Seconds later, Ryker opened the door and motioned them out of the vehicle.

They hurried inside, Ryker quickly shaking Joe’s, Nathan’s and Swanny’s hands.

“Thanks for coming so quickly,” Ryker said as they climbed the stairs.

“No problem,” Joe returned.

“Eden’s resting, which is good,” Ryker said as they walked out of the stairwell and into the hallway. “Dad is determined that she not know what’s going on, or at least not everything. Not saying I agree, but we’re doing this his way. He’ll give you the info you need so we can act accordingly.”

He stopped outside a hotel room door and inserted the key card. He pushed it open and motioned the others inside.

Swanny’s gaze swept over the interior, noting an older man he assumed was Eddie Sinclair and a younger man who must be Ryker’s older brother, Raid.

Eddie met them halfway, his hand extended to shake theirs as introductions were performed.

Once they were all seated, Eddie leaned forward in his chair and kept his voice low. He glanced toward a closed door where Swanny assumed Eden was sleeping.

“As far as Eden knows, the shooting was random,” Eddie said in hushed tones. “But I know differently. Just before the shooting took place, I received a threat. It’s a long, convoluted story. It’s . . . revenge.”

Swanny’s eyebrow rose and Joe frowned. “Care to elaborate? Do you know the source of the threat?”

Eddie ran a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with worry. “Years ago when I was in a black ops group, we had a mission that was totally FUBAR. We were supposed to take out Raul Sanchez, a big player in drugs and arms trafficking, with human trafficking as a strong secondary contender. He had his hands in just about everything. We finally got our opportunity. His daughter’s birthday.”

He broke off and went silent a moment, emotion simmering in his eyes.

“His wife and daughter got caught in the cross fire. Sanchez and his son got away.”

“Damn,” Nathan murmured.

“It didn’t end there,” Eddie said tiredly. “Years later, Sanchez came after me where I was most vulnerable. My wife.”

He choked and had to visibly compose himself before continuing.

“He killed my wife.”

“Jesus,” Swanny muttered.