mince his words. This was his mate’s life, for fuck’s sake. “If there has been a threatening letter, Miss Brady has to report it to the police. Something I strongly suggest that she does. I’ll drive her to the precinct myself if I have to.” His eyes had found hers on a warning, but she had arched a daring brow at him. “If there is a threat, and you have been made aware of it, as your head of security, I’m telling you that you need to place more security around the show. Specifically, around Miss Brady.”
“This is more trouble than it’s worth,” another of the execs had said. “If we can’t use this shit for the ratings, what good are you to us? We’re letting you go.”
Ember’s gasp and the sharp scent of her sadness and anger had made Kai livid. “You can’t do that,” Ember had said with a calm voice that was tinged with barely contained fury. “I did nothing wrong. I deserve a shot at winning that bakery.”
All three execs had exchanged a look.
Kai knew what needed to be said to wrangle this herd of greedy cats in the right direction. He bit down on his tongue. If he said the words himself, it was sure to put his family business in danger. He willed Ember to read his mind. That wasn’t exactly part of the mate sense, especially not so soon after meeting her, but he had faith that his mate was a strong woman who didn’t back down from a challenge.
Even if he thought she should.
It was dangerous to stay tied to the show now that someone was after her. But if she didn’t want to back down, then it was his duty to protect her, not just as a security expert, but as her mate. More than that, as her mate, it was his duty — and his pleasure — to make sure that Ember achieved her dreams. If his mate was happy, he would be happy.
Ember rolled her shoulders back, took a deep breath, and took on a composed mask. Kai knew it was a facade. He could hear her heart beating wildly and the slight hitch in her breathing. His mate was downright terrified, but she was pushing through the fear, not backing down from the insane challenge that lay before her.
“I really hate to do this, but under the circumstances, I think you have left me no choice. If you do not let me compete and give me a fair go of it, I’ll be forced to bring Greg’s antics to the authorities and the media. I have some pretty good family connections. Ever heard of a little soap opera called The Town? My sister Sparx is one of the leading stars. Oh, and I cannot forget the millions of followers my sister, makeup influencer, Cinder, has. You cannot push me out. And you’ll also accommodate my security needs.”
One of the execs had slapped the conference table with a loud smack, making Ember jump. Kai had almost leaped at him for scaring his mate but managed to keep himself under control.
“Let me finish,” Ember ordered. “You’ll let this man, Kai, be a contestant on the show. That way, there will always be a member of security with me. I’ll feel safe, and the show will go off without a hitch.”
Kai’s face fell. His jaw was on the ground, and anxiety clutched his gut. He could grill a steak like nobody’s business. But baking? That was finesse work he was terrified of undertaking, especially on camera.
Even if his mate was asking it of him, he didn’t know if he could do it.
“Now, look here. We can’t have the head of the network’s security being monopolized by your whims because you know some people.”
“Right.” It was obvious by Ember’s slight deflation that she hadn’t realized that Kai wasn’t just a security guard but the head of the whole department. “Well, those are my terms. Your employee was going to use an accident that could have been fatal to his own advantage. Not to mention the negligence that your crew demonstrated by not using the right bracket to hold up a heavy fixture. The ball is in your court.”
Kai couldn’t quite believe it. It was all a little bit insane. Is this what finding your mate did? It left you in situations that you would never have thought possible?
Probably.
Though he had never seen his parents, brother, or any other member of his pride