Page 58 of Mile High Baby

“I’ve met Pitney. Maybe that will give me an advantage.”

"What about Banion's daughter?”

I thought of the safest, quickest way to deal with her. "We take her back to her father’s.” It was the right move as long as I could convince her to go along with it.

“I thought she didn't want to stay there anymore."

“It's just a day, maybe two." That was true of the case, but not of my time with Victoria. This had to be it. I had to end it now to save my heart, my soul, and my job.

"Alright. Do you want me to set up the transfer?"

"Would you? And let’s keep the extra surveillance, moving them with her to her father's. If someone is scouting Henry's place, something might be up."

“Got it."

When I hung up with Dax, I left the bedroom where I'd taken the call and went to the living room where Victoria sat at her disk on a video call.

For a moment, I watched her, wondering how she'd he gotten so deep inside me, especially in so little time and with the big problem of her being Henry's daughter. Yep. I was fucked if I didn't get out now.

I went to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee, checking my email while I waited for her to finish her call. As she and her team wound down their meeting, I brewed another cup for her. By the time it finished brewing and I brought it to her, she was off the call.

"Such service. I might have to keep you around." She gave me a flirty smile that sent a wave of panic through me because my first thought to her words was that yes, she should keep me around.

I pushed that back. I pushed it all back and forced myself to be no-nonsense, professional. "Something’s come up that I need to deal with."

She quirked a brow over the rim of her cup. It made me wonder if my voice sounded as desperate and terrified as I felt.

"Is someone coming to replace you?"

“There will be someone else, but also, it will be better if you go to your father's." I braced myself for her response, expecting her to fight me on it.

She sighed in resignation. "For how long?”

"A day. Maybe two." I kept my eyes on hers so she wouldn’t suspect my deception.

“Can you tell me what's going on?"

I leaned against the back of her couch, wanting to look calm. I didn't want her to worry. “We picked up someone outside your dad's place last night."

Her brows shot up. "Is he okay?"

"Yes. He’s fine.”

Relief shone on her face. "Is it safe for us to be there if someone is casing the place?"

"Yes. There will be extra security. No one is getting into his place without serious injury.”

"Okay.” She stood and moved toward me. I wanted to grab her and pull her close but forced myself not to.

"So, what do you have to do? Will you be safe?" She looped her arms around my neck because I wasn’t strong enough to stop her. Her nearness and concern for my safety did strange things to me. Things I liked. Things I shouldn't feel.

"I want to talk to him. See what we can find out about Pitney’s plans toward your father or anything else we could use to get him off the street.”

“Does it have to be you?”

It didn't. "I'm in charge of this for the time being, so I should go.”

"Time being.” Her arms loosened and I didn't like it. I held her tight and looked at her, not knowing how to respond without giving in to something I couldn’t or hurting her.