Page 54 of Shadowed Agenda
“Isla was handing out business cards at the afterparty,” Regan said, barely recognizing her own voice. It sounded as numb as her body.
“There was a reason I suggested you and I take a cab back to the hotel,” Pavlo said, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. “Drake and Finlay intend to have a serious talk with Isla in the limo on the way back from the afterparty. We need to know how she got involved in this mess before we can start identifying all the players.”
“It doesn’t matter. If I back out, they’ll harm Emmeline,” Regan said, clutching the pillow tighter. The thought of Emmeline being hurt ripped her apart.
“That’s why we’ve decided on a change of plans,” Pavlo said, and Regan tipped her head up to look at him. There was a lethal calmness in his eyes. “Drake and Finlay are picking up Emmeline from your sister’s place tomorrow morning. They’re bringing her here.”
“No,” Regan said and pushed away from Pavlo. “They’re watching me. I don’t want to allow them to harm Emmeline. You said she’s safe with Mackenzie.”
“Now that we know the extent of the threat, we’ve re-evaluated how we can keep you and Emmeline safe. We can’t protect Emmeline without Mackenzie agreeing to a team in her house,” Pavlo said. “You already told me your sister wouldn’t allow it. We can protect both of you here.”
“She’d accuse me of blowing things out of proportion.” Regan sighed and leaned her head against the couch. All Mackenzie would see was the strict routine she loved to follow being disrupted. It was always about her. Still, Pavlo’s plan wouldn’t work. “The people watching me will notice. They’ll be worried I’m going to back out. It will put Emmeline in more danger.”
“It’s more important we’re able to protect the two of you. Finlay came up with a plan,” Pavlo said.
Regan tucked a foot under her and turned to listen. She considered Finlay her friend. The reporter had earned her immediate trust by approaching her in the steakhouse. She could have used the information she’d gained to scoop everyone else. Instead, she’d used it to help Regan. Finlay wouldn’t place Emmeline in danger.
“Finlay is going to post and write about Emmeline’s heart condition. A reporter is bound to find out about it soon. We’ll explain she is running a fever, and you want to be with her in case it’s more than the flu.” Pavlo outlined the plan. “We’ll place two members of our team in your suite. One we’ll claim is a nurse you hired to look after Emmeline while you attend the remaining book tour events. We’ll sneak the other person in before Emmeline arrives. Javier and Drake are working on how to station two more team members on the floor.”
Regan had to admit it sounded safer than leaving Emmeline with Mackenzie.
“I’ll need an excuse to keep Nicholas from showing up, demanding to take charge.” Regan sighed, doubting it was a hurdle they could get around. “Emmeline’s picture plastered across the Internet has disrupted his plans. I won’t be surprised if he drags someone up here tomorrow morning to witness us sign the marriage license.”
“He won’t be a problem,” Pavlo said.
“You don’t know Nicholas as well as I do,” Regan said. Nicholas didn’t like to lose.
“He has his hands full tonight after his conversation with Javier.”
“What did you do?” Regan’s throat constricted. The few times Nicholas had lost, the payback he meted out had been brutal.
“Regan, he’s still involved with the backers for his first company. They’re using their legitimate businesses to hide their illegal ventures.”
“I know,” Regan said. She’d kept her secret for so long but couldn’t lie to Pavlo. “You don’t know what they’re capable of. They will destroy Shadow Defense if they think you’re a threat.”
“We can take care of ourselves.”
Regan wanted to cover her face with the cushion clutched tight in her hands and scream. Nicholas had killed a woman as if it was nothing. She couldn’t let them destroy themselves because of her.
“Cancel your contract, but please don’t threaten him. If you try to protect me, Nicholas will come after you. Please,” Regan begged him.
“After Javier gave Wyndham notice that we’re terminating Wyndham Global Future’s contract, he also passed on your counteroffer to his custody agreement,” Pavlo said evenly.
“Counteroffer?” Fear knotted inside her. Nicholas had been clear on what he wanted. He wouldn’t accept a counteroffer. “My lawyer never mentioned a counteroffer.”
“You gave him permission to act on your behalf when you spoke to him today,” Pavlo said, glancing at her bouncing knee. He placed his hand on it. “Let me explain what we’ve done, and then you can ask questions or tell me to mind my own business and leave.”
Regan nodded. She at least owed him that for everything he’d done for her. She listened as he outlined their plan. The pressure that had wrapped itself around her like a squid’s tentacles eased. By telling Nicholas they would keep their reasons for terminating the contract to themselves, he could save face and still see his daughter.
“Whose idea was it to offer Nicholas the same custody agreement as he offered me?” Regan asked as her body started to relax. It was a brilliant idea.
“The lawyer I spoke to you about earlier,” Pavlo said, holding up his hands. “She really does not like your ex-husband.”
“You really think Nicholas will sign the custody agreement?” She needed to know if there was the least bit of doubt in Pavlo’s mind.
“Javier planted a bug in his study before he left,” Pavlo said and grinned. “Wyndham called his lawyers after Pavlo left. He’s worried.”
“We’ll hash out details later and figure out our next steps tomorrow morning before Drake and Finlay leave to pick up Emmeline.” Pavlo tugged the cushion out of her hands. He placed it against the couch’s arm. “Lie back. Take two minutes to relax.”