Page 18 of Shadow Redemption
“Did your agent handle the arrangements?”
She nodded.
“Send him a text. Tell him you’re going to make alternate arrangements. You’ll fly down on a Fortress jet. I don’t want you on a commercial plane.”
“He’ll want to know why.”
“Tell him you’re flying down with your boyfriend. Word will get around faster. That’s what we want.” Ben handed over her cell phone and grabbed his own, sending a text to Nico about the timeline for leaving.
His team leader acknowledged the text a minute later, promising to relay the news to the rest of the team.
Ruth picked up her cell phone and called her agent. After convincing Rich to cancel her plane ticket, she spent several minutes discussing the upcoming photoshoot and children’s charity event.
Ben frowned. Bad enough that she would be on Casa del Mar’s beach in plain sight of anyone with a scope. Protecting her on that beach would be a nightmare. Now, he had to factor in security arrangements for a children’s charity fundraiser. The only bright spot was the fundraiser was being held at Casa del Mar.
He shot another text to Nico and Zane with the new information. Shadow would be studying schematics for the hotel plus analyzing the route to and from the airstrip, looking for security threats. Ben rubbed his jaw, bristles rasping against his fingers. He’d need an army to do this right and blanket Ruth with enough coverage to satisfy his driving desire to protect her from anyone out to hurt her.
As Ruth ended the call with her agent, her text signal chimed an incoming message. She looked at the screen and gasped, blood draining from her face.
Ben moved to her side and took the phone from her unresisting fingers. He growled.
“What is it?” Cal asked.
“A text from a blocked number. ‘You won’t be so lucky next time.’”
CHAPTER SIX
Ruth patted her face dry and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She flinched. Who was that woman with the haunted shadows in her eyes? She thought when Hugo was locked up in prison that her anxiety and fear would disappear.
Right. The person stalking her wasn’t Hugo or someone in Hugo’s employ. No, this was a whole new nightmare. Lucky her. Standing in the bathroom and brooding wouldn’t solve the problem. She needed to sleep although she believed that was impossible.
Ruth twisted the knob and opened the door. She stopped abruptly when she saw Ben leaning against the wall across from the bathroom. He straightened.
“We need to talk about tomorrow. What’s on your schedule?”
“An appearance at a charity luncheon.”
He shook his head. “The risk is too great. We don’t have time to check the security setup as thoroughly as we need to.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I appreciate that you’re concerned for my safety, but this is part of my job. I make public appearances. In this case, the charity is one I support with donations. I’m not going to hide in my house because a creep has fixated on me.”
“Again.”
“That’s right. Just my luck to have more than one jerk decide I belong to him. This is one of the most important fundraisers of the year for Children’s Rainbow. I’m supposed to deliver a short speech. My participation in this event has been scheduled for months. I’m not going to disappoint them. You’ll have to work out the security arrangements.”
“I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“And I’m trying to live my life without fear that another monster will hurt me.” Her voice broke. Ruth closed her eyes and drew in a slow breath. Yelling at Ben wouldn’t solve the problem or reveal the stalker in the next twelve hours. All she would do if she continued her diatribe was hurt Ben with her lack of faith in him and his ability to protect her. That was the last thing she wanted.
She opened her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.”
He studied her face for a moment. “Are you sure there isn’t a way to bow out of this thing?”
“Positive. This means too much to me, Ben. I won’t cower behind a locked door.”
“Protecting yourself and your security detail isn’t cowering. It’s called being smart.”
She scowled. “Are you calling me stupid?”