In A Fix - Mary Calmes Page 0,23

was yet another thing that had gone wrong in Chase’s world.

“Because Croy’s the goddamn bodyguard, if you’d been paying attention.” Dallas was done, his patience dissipating on a wave of frustration that these people could be so obtuse.

And I saw it in their expressions then, the shock followed closely by bewilderment when they realized I wasn’t one of them. They had thought I belonged.

“No wonder you need a bodyguard,” Dallas grumbled to Brig as we all climbed into the SUV. “Everyone in your life is fuckin’ clueless.”

“Why do you need a bodyguard?” Digby asked him.

Brig shook his head. “Do me a favor and never speak to me again.”

“Aww, man, c’mon. I––”

“No,” Brig snapped, looking out the window.

There was silence for a moment.

“So, you were hired by his father to protect him,” Digby surmised, not a question directed at me, but a statement of fact.

I didn’t answer, just stared straight forward.

“Yes,” Dallas answered him, turning in his seat to look at the man who was clearly his asset. “Brig’s father hired Croy, who works for Torus Intercession, to provide protection based on the threats on his sister’s life, which he was concerned would, by association, endanger his son. The board of Stanton-Downey included a stipulation in Brig’s dealings with her that if he were ever in danger, they would pull the plug on financing the shelters.”

“But there are no threats on Lane’s life,” Digby replied, raking his fingers through his hair over and over, like his skin was crawling or he had lice or something. His nerves were getting the better of him, and he was on the verge of crashing. “She made all of it up. All those contracts—the developers, the builders, it’s all bullshit. She was never going to do any of it.”

Poor Brig. First day in Vegas and his life was tumbling down.

“That’s how I knew you weren’t who you said you were,” Digby told me. “You couldn’t be legit since no one associated with the construction of the shelters exists, because the plan for shelters themselves doesn’t exist,” Digby plowed on, glancing at Dallas. He seemed to be looking for validation. He wanted, needed, to make himself useful. That was probably part of his deal.

I crossed my arms, studying him. “So tell me, Digby,” I began, drawing out his name, snide because I could be, and because it would irritate the hell out of him, “what did Special Agent Bauer catch you doing that the only way to get yourself out was to betray one of your oldest friends?”

He hugged himself, distraught, and said nothing.

“I’d like to know that myself,” Brig demanded, his voice shaking. “Was whatever you were going to get out of this worth our friendship?”

Digby shook his head. “They caught me with a lot of blow, Brig. I just got back from Cabo and––”

“Sure,” Brig said, exhaling loudly, turning away, back to staring out the window. “Why the hell is it so cold here? It’s Vegas, for God’s sake.”

I appreciated the griping. It meant he wasn’t wallowing in self-pity, and I found myself liking the man quite a bit, but he couldn’t ignore what he’d just heard either.

“I told them I wasn’t going to sell it,” Digby plowed on, wanting to try and explain it all away so Brig would forgive him. “It was for personal use, and for my friends at parties, and––”

“Enough,” Brig ordered him, defeated, and he let his head fall back, his eyes closed. “Eric told me never to trust you. I should have listened.”

Digby snorted. “Oh yes, Saint Eric. Tell me, Brig, does Astor know that she’s just a high-class beard, or does that stupid deb still think you’re going to marry her one of these days?”

I had to admit, I didn’t think Brig had it in him, not until he launched himself out of his seat. He seemed too proper, too restrained to attack anyone. His composure was impressive, but he was ready, then and there, to do some serious damage to Digby Ingram’s face, and he landed an impressive right jab before I could stop him.

Grabbing him by the collar of his jacket, I slammed Brig back down in his seat. “I swear on everything you hold dear, if you make Agent Tanner lose control of this car and kill me, I will haunt you for the rest of your life,” I yelled at him. “I’m the only one who’s had your back all day.”

“No, I—I’m sorry,” he rasped, face in his hands, tired now, I was