Page 80 of Tied Over

“So he’s got the stupid thousand-dollar pin in his hand, but he dropped it,” Kage explained. “And instead of letting it sit there on the ground next to his shoe and grabbing it after he finishes his remarks, because it’s from Celso, without a second thought, he immediately bent to retrieve the pin.”

“And missed being shot,” I said, seeing it in my mind.

“That’s right.”

“Holy shit, does Eli have a guardian angel or what?”

“If one believed in such things, then yes.”

But clearly my boss did, no matter what he said. He knew the archangel Gabriel at least. “Bodhi and I will be on the next plane home, sir.”

“I have no idea what’s going on, and until I do, I want everyone here.”

“Of course,” I agreed, because I could hear the tension in his voice. He wasn’t scared, it wasn’t that, but he wanted all of us where he could see us. And it was weird because Bodhi and I were safer on the other side of the country, but not in Kage’s mind. To him, we were safest if we were close to him. What was even stranger was that I agreed. With Sam Kage watching over you, a guardian angel wasn’t necessary. You had all the vigilance you needed right there in him.

“I want you at the airport now, do you understand?”

“Yessir.”

“I will keep you apprised of the situation with Ian the moment I know.”

“Thank you, sir,” I replied, and the line went dead. The second it did, I got an automated emergency text from the office of the chief deputy that I was sure Bodhi was receiving at the same exact moment. It told us to report in person immediately.

Leaving my room, I walked quickly down the hall to the kitchen, which was empty, and then out into the great room, which was filled with men in summer suits and loafers, and women in flowy dresses and lots of jewelry. People noticed me and turned up their noses, but I couldn’t be made to care. In my T-shirt and jeans, I stood out, but I needed to find Bodhi. When I saw him and Hayden out past the pool, standing apart, but both leaning on the thick stone railing overlooking the lake, I headed toward them.

I was around the pool when Davis stepped in front of me.

“Haven’t you done enough damage?”

He was furious; I could see it all over his face. And I understood, I did. If someone hurt Bodhi, I’d kill them. “Listen, I’m sorry for how everything—”

“Fuck you, Jed. You should have just let them be happy.”

It was exactly what I’d wrestled with for so long, but I’d made my choice, and now I realized it was the best one for Bodhi as well. Because really, for better or worse, no one loved him as much as I did.

Taking a step back because I didn’t want him to try and hurt me and then I would have to defend myself, I tried to go around him, but he put out a hand that came dangerously close to grazing my bad shoulder. “The hell are you—”

“You’ve got Bodhi so turned around that I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s delaying the wedding until later in the fall. What the hell were you thinking?”

I was going to say there wasn’t going to be a wedding, but it wasn’t my place. “Listen, Bodhi and I have been called back to Chicago, so I don’t have time to—”

“Oh, I’m sure. That’s very convenient, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not, it’s an emergency and—”

“Jed,” Hank began, coming up beside me, taking firm hold of my bicep like I was one of his kids. “While I appreciate everything you’ve done for my family, this is actually a very important party to introduce my son to donors who—”

“Hayden is going to run for a Senate seat here in Washington in two years,” Emily railed at me, her voice a harsh whisper. I hadn’t seen her a moment ago, but she was there, suddenly at Hank’s elbow. “I know Bodhi must have told you, so I can only conclude that you’re trying to sabotage his—”

“I’m taking care of this,” Hank informed his wife coldly. “Please let—”

“Wait,” Davis ordered them through clenched teeth. “Hayden hasn’t had time to tell Bodhi about his plans to—”

“It’s Redeker, right?”

All conversation stopped, and Davis, Hank, Emily, and other people I didn’t know all turned to look at the man who had asked me a question. I did too, and though he seemed familiar, I couldn’t place him.

“Yes, it is,” I answered, and when I did, he smiled and offered me his hand.