But even so, it’s nice to know I was right.

“Okay, hold up,” Lyle says. “What do you mean, Riley of all people? You two barely spoke twelve words to each other the entire time Riley was consulting.” What he doesn’t add is that those twelve words mostly consisted of me saying no to his repeated advances.

I look between the two men, both of whom I respect, and feel my shoulders go slack as the fight drains out of me. “Dammit, Lyle. Why’d you pull Blade into this?”

“He didn’t,” Riley says gently. “He called to ask me to recommend a bodyguard. That’s all.”

I scowl at him. “Then recommend somebody, dammit.”

“Come on, Natasha,” he says. “You know what an arrogant son-of-a-bitch I am. Do you really think there’s someone in this town I trust more than me?”

The answer, of course, is no.

I run a finger through my hair, tucking one long strand behind my ear in frustration.

“Let’s sit,” Lyle says. “We’ll bring Riley up to speed, and then we’ll figure out what to do next. And if you want to take pity on me, you can explain to me why you two know each other a hell of a lot better than I thought you did.”

“My dad and Riley were part of the same FBI SWAT team,” I explain grudgingly once we’re settled. I’m on one section of the L-shaped sofa, and I slip my feet out of my heels and tuck them up under me, then pull a pillow into my lap, as if somehow that will keep me safe. Then I draw a breath and look down, my focus on the geometric pattern of the area rug. “I don’t—The memories,” I say, switching gears. “It’s not a time I like to think about.”

I glance up to see Lyle nod from where he sits in an Eames chair, his back against the buttery leather. He never knew my father, but I told Lyle about my dad one long night when he was shooting The Price of Ransom, a true crime movie about a horrific kidnapping. Since my father had been killed in the line of duty during a nightmarish raid in a human trafficking case, I’d been more than a little edgy during filming, and I’d shared more than I usually did with my boss. Lyle had been kind. He’d thanked me for sharing, told me that I’d helped him center the character, and then offered his condolences for my loss.

That night, honestly, had been a turning point for me. Before, I’d liked my job. After that day, I knew my boss would have my loyalty forever.