Rich (Benson Security #5) - Janet Elizabeth Henderson Page 0,105

Rachel was keen to get back to TayFor. At least that building was populated by adults. “Julia, why are you hiding? You know everyone in this room. I thought we got past this?”

“I’m not hiding,” Julia said. “I just like sitting in the corner. And the plant smells nice.”

“It’s plastic,” Rachel pointed out.

“I like the smell of plastic.”

“Julia’s right,” Harvard told Lake and Callum. “You can’t kill Terrance. But if need be, I could make him disappear.”

“I didn’t hear any of this.” Noah put his fingers in his ears.

“One thing’s for certain,” Rachel said. “We can’t keep him in the basement forever. His wife’s been calling Jonathan daily to ask when her husband’s top-secret work trip will end. At some point, she’ll stop calling TayFor and start calling the police.”

“Let him go,” Harry said from the floor. “We have enough evidence to hand over to the police once we catch the blackmailer. Terrance isn’t going anywhere in the meantime.” His cheerful grin appeared over the edge of the table. “I canceled his passport and added his name to every no-travel list in the UK.”

“Hackers rule.” Elle patted Harry’s head, and he beamed up at her.

“Plus,” Ryan added as he pushed away his empty plate and reached for a donut, “we could microchip him, like they do with all dogs.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s illegal too,” Julia informed them.

“Yes,” Noah shouted, his fingers still in his ears even though that was obviously proving useless. “It is.”

Her smile sad, Elle caught Rachel’s eye. “You’re going to miss this.”

“Yes,” Rachel agreed. “In much the same way I miss the bout of chickenpox that hospitalized me as a child.”

“Right.” Callum stood. “If nobody has anything to add, we’re done here. Ryan, you’re staying at TayFor until the blackmailer’s found. Your priority is to keep your ears and eyes open, and to watch Rachel’s back.”

“Why me?” Ryan asked no one in particular.

“Elle, Harry, get us something to go on,” Callum continued. “I’ll set the bastard in the basement free once I’ve had another wee word with him. In the meantime, you can all get back to work.” He looked at Rachel. “Except you.”

As the room cleared, Harvard leaned in to whisper, “Do you want me to stay?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll meet you downstairs in a few minutes.”

With a nod, he headed for the door. He closed it quietly behind him, leaving only the three partners behind.

“Are you going to try to talk me out of this?” Rachel asked Lake and Callum.

“Hell no,” Callum said. “Do I look like an idiot? I’m more than happy to find out what life will be like around here without you arguing about every bloody little thing.”

Lake’s lips twitched as his icy blue eyes met hers. “You sure this is what you want?”

“Yes.” Did he expect her to break down in tears about leaving Benson Security? She’d felt more upset when she missed a hair appointment.

“Okay,” he said. “But remember this. We’re like the mob. Once you’re accepted into our ranks, you can never leave.”

“Unfortunately, he’s right,” Callum said. “We’re family. Whether you like it or not. Expect to see a whole lot more of us until your blackmailer’s behind bars. Or buried. Because you don’t leave family hanging when they need you. Isn’t that right, Rachel?”

If he was referring to the times she’d pulled his head out of his backside and forced him to stop feeling sorry for himself, then he was wrong. That wasn’t about family. It was about having had enough of his endless self-pity. Honestly, the man had plenty going for him but was too damn stubborn to see it. Somebody had to shake him hard. Now that he had Isobel, there was no need to keep an eye on him. Isobel wouldn’t suffer through his introspection any more than Rachel had.

“Are we finished here?” She stood and picked up her bag. Although she was just being polite, as she’d already decided it was past time to leave.

“Yeah,” Lake said with a rare genuine smile that almost blinded her for a second.

“I’m going back to bed.” Callum strode from the room.

When Rachel followed him out, she ran straight into Elle, Julia, and Isobel.

Elle held up her phone. “She’s here,” she said to whoever was on the line.

“I hear you’re getting married.” Megan Raast’s voice burst from the speaker, making Rachel groan. Megan and her husband were on bodyguard duty in the Middle East, and she’d hoped to avoid the reckless Scot’s opinion on her life,