Five Dates with the Billionaire - Alyssa J. Montgomery Page 0,64

is minimal, but it’s why Mia will have bodyguards.’

Mia had questions of her own. ‘What exactly are the team in London doing?’

‘They’re tracking the IP addresses of anyone who searches the internet for Connor Stewart or Mia Simms. They’ve already found recent activity on you, Mia,’ the agent paused to shoot Connor a narrow-eyed glare. ‘Stanley informed me that the private detective and security agency responsible for the searches were enlisted by you, Stewart.’

‘They’ve been called off the case now,’ Connor assured him.

Carlisle’s look said they’d better be off the case. ‘If we get any leads—particularly where both searches are generated from the same address—that’ll tell us someone has linked you two together.’

‘I have no internet presence,’ Mia put in quickly. That was one of the other rules that’d been set out in the witness protection program and it’d been easy to follow as she had no social network to speak of on or offline.

The agent nodded. ‘Provided you have no new social acquaintances in common, and you don’t get a promotion and therefore a higher profile at the Stewart Corporation, we can assume anyone searching both names from this point is associated with Giovanni.’

‘Unless the media gets a hint we’ve been away together,’ she said.

Connor looked at her. ‘The reason you hide in the shadows.’

‘Yes.’ Was he beginning to understand?

He was a global businessman. Billionaire. Philanthropist. Eye candy of the most delicious sort. All these factors combined to make him newsworthy and underlined why Mia could never be at his side publicly.

‘Have you been photographed by the paparazzi?’ Carlisle asked.

‘Not as far as I’m aware,’ Connor said.

God but she hoped not. ‘Stanley, you said I have options if I’m identified. What are they?’

‘If you refuse to be relocated and assume a new identity, you have only one option,’ the FBI agent answered before Stanley got a chance. ‘You keep living exactly as you are with your security team in place and we hope to draw out whoever Giovanni sends after you.’

Connor exploded. ‘You want to use her as bait?’

‘We know what we’re doing, Stewart,’ the agent said.

‘Connor, I’ll have security. I want you to have bodyguards too,’ Mia told him.

‘I’ve been telling you and Violet for years that you should have security,’ Stanley agreed. ‘I seriously doubt you’re at risk from Giovanni, but anyone of your worth could be a target at the best of times.’

‘They know Connor’s name,’ Mia pointed out. ‘They could use him to get to me.’

‘And all he has to do is tell them he knows nothing about you except that you’re an employee who assisted on his business trip,’ Carlisle said firmly before looking at Connor. ‘You should be photographed out with other women this week so no one suspects you’re personally involved.’

‘I’m not going to—’

Stanley raised a hand. ‘Connor, get security and make sure you have other dates this week. It could help keep Mia safe.’

‘Please do as they ask,’ Mia said.

He looked as though he’d like to protest but, in the end, he released a pent-up breath. ‘If that’s what it’ll take to keep you safe.’ He turned to Stanley. ‘Do I need to organise extra security at work?’

‘Apart from your own security, leave everything else to us,’ Stanley replied. ‘The last thing we want is everyone on top of one another.’

‘Remember, this is the Mafia, not a terrorist cell,’ Agent Roberts added. ‘When they strike, it’s with a hit man. Individual and direct, all loose ends taken care of. They won’t be bombing Mia at work or home. It’ll be a straightforward, single bullet.’

Shit! Mia knew the score, but his clinical statement still shocked her.

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ Connor muttered as he squeezed one of Mia’s shoulders in reassurance.

‘You’ll have MI5’s finest, Mia,’ Stanley assured her.

‘If there’s nothing else, gentlemen, I think Mia and I should get back to our hotel. It’s been a hell of a day and we have a busy day planned tomorrow.’

‘No more sightseeing,’ Stanley said. ‘Mia needs to be back in London where we can put everything into place for her protection.’

‘But Violet—’ Mia started.

‘She can’t be told about this threat,’ Connor said. ‘Her heart mightn’t stand the worry.’

‘Of course,’ Stanley agreed and offered a plausible explanation for their early return.

‘I’m going to hire a car in my name, Connor,’ Stanley said. ‘I want you to go to your hotel, get your things and then drive to London. Tonight.’

Connor’s displeasure was obvious by the tightening of his mouth and the stiffening of his broad shoulders. ‘Why