Billionaire Bodyguard - Kendra Mei Chailyn Page 0,2
lot watching people go in and out of the diner. At first, I told myself I was waiting there to see if someone had followed me to the meet. Then I realized I was stalling. I was trying to suck in enough courage to tell Montana that Joseph had screwed up again and I needed his help—
Again.
How do I tell Montana that I once again stepped in to help my brother and wound up on the wrong side of some very dangerous people?
Holding my breath for a second, I checked my face in the mirror then slid my sunglasses over my eyes. Once I pushed myself out of the car and slammed the door, I looked around to ensure I wasn’t being followed then jogged across the parking lot.
Inside, I ignored the hostess and fell into the booth across from Montana. For a silent second, I did nothing—hell, I didn’t think I was even breathing.
I used those moments to adjust my shirt and removed my sunglasses.
If I was to be honest with myself, I would admit he was sexier than I remembered. But Hank and I had been there, done that and as good as he looked, I didn’t want to go there again.
He was a good man.
I was an idiot and from the ring on his finger I knew I would be barking up the absolute wrong tree.
Swallowing the jealousy that formed a lump in my throat, I exhaled and lifted my eyes to him. His brown eyes were suspicious, hard—almost cold.
I licked my lips.
“How are you, Montana?” I asked.
“Why don’t you tell me what you want?” He cut to the chase. “You only come around when you want something.”
“That’s not my fault. The last time I saw you.” I glanced around then back at him. “The last time I saw you, you said to only call if I was bleeding to death or dead.”
“Well.” He folded his arms across his massive chest. “I guess I wasn’t clear enough. You’re not dead. And you’re definitely not bleeding to death. So, I’m going to ask one final time—what do you want?”
“Why’re you like this to me?”
“Because you’re my past and even though I’m over you, I don’t want to keep seeing you.” He growled. “Because you and Joseph should come with a warning label.”
The waitress appeared at our side. I ordered burger and fries and a cola. When she was finally gone again, I rubbed the back of my neck and continued. “I’m sorry about—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” He told me. “I think we’ve figured out years ago that your apologies mean nothing. So, again—what do you want?”
“Joseph is dead.” I told him.
Montana said nothing. He was still crossed with me.
“You don’t look surprised.”
For the first time, he quirked a brow at me. “Joseph had a habit of kicking people when they’re down. He likes stabbing them in the back and making off with things that doesn’t belong to me. It was only a matter of time.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“When have I ever lied to you?” Montana countered.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “He pissed off some people in Toronto. When he called for help, I tried helping, even though I knew this could only end in my tears, he was my brother, and he was in trouble. But he said he’d call me back with more info and the next think I know, I’m on a flight into Toronto to pick up his body. Then, I barely had time to put him in the ground before the people he crossed came calling.”
“What do they want?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did I tell you about lying to me, Tianna?” Montana leaned forward.
“I’m not lying.” I promised. “I don’t know what they’re after. Before that recent call, I hadn’t spoken to Joseph in about six months. The last time he showed up at my place here he brought some chick with him saying she was pregnant.”
“Was she?”
“Was she what?” I asked.
Montana gave me a look that told me he was ready to burn my world to the ground. And it wasn’t in the way I wanted him to—with his beautiful eyes and that well toned body. No, he wanted to literally throw gasoline on it and set it ablaze.
“No. She wasn’t pregnant.” I exhaled and offered him a sheepish smile. “They were trying to get me to lend him some money so he could invest in some company out of Indiana. I didn’t give them any money. I didn’t even