as he knew it would be and her questions about the security system proved as much.
“Her position might give her more freedom to search the house or overhear something about our mark. Trust us.”
“Got no choice now, do I? Besides, I never would have sent you in there if I didn’t know you’ll do the job you’re there to do.”
Boone bowed his head at his brother’s words. In the past year or so since the inception of WEST Protection, he and Ross had grown even closer than the brothers they already were. Their genes joined them as family, but their work forged a new brotherhood of trust and reliance. Ross knew Boone always had his back, and vice versa.
Even checking in with him now, though it wasn’t entirely necessary since they didn’t have new intel to swap, fortified Boone and set him on the race to find Black’s wife and rescue her.
“How is Lauralee holding up?”
“She’s nervous, understandably, but stronger than I thought. She’ll be all right.” As he stated this, his mind shot to the “morning after” scenario he’d completely avoided by slipping out of bed before she woke. Sure, his job called for early hours, but he could have woken her and kissed her goodbye.
Was that acceptable behavior after what they’d shared? Or was it simple lust and being thrust together that sent her into his arms?
“Look, I’ve gotta check in with Black. I need a blueprint of the house from Silas ASAP. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before we left.”
“I’ll get him on it. Watch your six and look out for your wife.”
He straightened as if someone had poked him with a branding iron at the mention of his wife. Glancing down at his ring finger, he saw more than the hindrance he’d first expected by having Lauralee with him. Somehow, knowing that platinum band gleaming on his ring finger matched the set Lauralee wore roused a deep emotion in him he couldn’t explain.
To hide it from Ross, he forced his voice to sound bland as he ended the call.
Whatever Lauralee stirred in him, he needed to ignore for the moment. After this was all over and they sought their divorce, he’d follow the tangled threads to the knot inside him and unravel it.
He made a sweep of the security footage from last night and what was filmed this morning. All seemed quiet, as Grant said. When he went out to meet Black in the designated spot to receive orders and information about the man’s movements for the day, Boone donned his actor’s robe.
He stepped into the man’s office as Brodie Marks, new head of security.
“Good to see you’re prompt, Marks.” Black didn’t look up from his computer tablet when he spoke.
Boone positioned himself in front of the desk and braced his legs in a wide stance while secretly studying Black. Were the hollows under each eye there the day before? Or had he experienced a sleepless night, perhaps due to the stress of locking up his wife?
At last, Black placed his tablet aside and set his eagle eyes on Boone. “I require a bodyguard today.”
“Sir?”
“Change of plans today. I’ll be taking my private chopper to a meeting in Colorado Springs.”
Over five hours, by his guess.
“Of course, Mr. Black.”
“You’ll be accompanying me.”
He gave a solemn nod. “Should I make any arrangements?”
“The chopper’s already arranged. We lift off in twenty minutes. If you need to make safety precautions for our arrival, do that.”
“Yes, sir. May I ask our time of return?”
Black arched a brow.
“So I can inform my wife, sir.” He offered the smile of a man devoted to his woman’s happiness.
“The meeting should last about three hours.”
Boone nodded again. “I’ll make arrangements with Grant to return to duty. If I hurry, I’m sure I can catch him before he falls asleep.”
Things were falling into place—Grant was tired enough that he may let something slip. Now he just needed to talk to Lauralee and let her know what area of the house to search for Black’s wife.
Boone started to turn for the door.
“Not Grant. Get Thornburne.”
He stopped and pivoted. “I’ll do that, sir.”
Boone quickly went in search of Thornburne to take over for him. The man gave Boone a smug smile before wordlessly heading into the surveillance room and closing the door.
Boone stared at the door for a moment, his creep vibes climbing the charts when it came to that guy. But he didn’t have much time to dwell—he had to get to Lauralee,