Page 10 of Christmas in Quincy (The Edens 0.50)

“No! I’m not leaving!” Her voice shook. “I’m an adult. I’m a grown woman. If I want to take a vacation for Christmas, I have every right. I don’t have to explain myself to my father. Or to you.”

“You’re right.” I nodded. “But I’m still taking you home.”

“How much is my father paying you to babysit me?”

“We’re not babysitting you.” I scowled. “We’re doing our best to keep you safe.”

She knew just how much I hated the word babysitter. She threw it in my f

ace when she was particularly angry. I was here to protect her. I’d put my life on the line to keep hers safe. To compare me to a teenage babysitter was the ultimate insult.

“Pack.” I pointed to the suitcase.

Cleo rolled her eyes and drained the champagne flute dry. Then she turned, filling it once more. At this rate, the bottle would be empty within ten minutes. Maybe if she was drunk, she’d be easier to convince.

“Protecting me from what?” she asked. “I’m not in danger. Especially here. Unless you think the bellboy might try and smile me to death.”

“There are evil people in this world, Cleo. Your father is doing what he thinks is best.”

“He’s unilaterally making decisions for my life. And I’m well aware there are evil people in this world, so please save me the lecture.”

Christ. Why had I thought this would be an easy day? The minute I’d been told Cleo was en route to the airport, I should have expected this showdown.

I rubbed the back of my neck as she gulped more champagne. Just as her glass emptied, a knock sounded at the door. I took a step to answer it, but she shot me a glare and tried to beat me to the knob. She wasn’t fast enough. I checked the peephole, seeing the kid from earlier, and opened the door.

“Hi.” She sidestepped me, smiling at the kid. Then she slipped a twenty-dollar bill from her pocket, trading him the cash for the fresh bottle. “Thank you.”

“Have a good night, Ms. Hillcrest.” He bowed, refusing to look my way, then closed the door.

Cleo turned and shoved the champagne into my gut. “Make yourself useful.”

Fuck, this woman made me crazy.

I opened her bottle as she marched to the chest of drawers and flung one open.

Finally. She was packing.

A pair of crimson silk pajama shorts and a matching top floated through the air as she tossed them over her shoulder and onto the bed. I expected more to follow, but she stood, snatched them up, cast a sneer at the suitcase and yanked the fresh bottle of champagne from my grip. Then she marched to the bathroom, kicking the door closed and flipping the lock.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” I muttered. “Seriously?”

The only response was a string of muffled noises from the other side of the door.

I dug the phone from my pocket and pulled up Ray’s name, ready to dial. But before I could bring myself to call and give him an update, I shut the screen off and tucked the phone away.

Ray’s primary concern was his family’s safety. I didn’t fault the guy for it. After what had happened to his wife, I understood why he went overboard.

His first wife and Cleo’s mother, Janet, had been murdered.

Ray had amassed a fortune while Cleo had been a baby. Though according to his long-time assistant, Ray and Janet had lived humbly. Apparently, it was night and day compared to the lavish lifestyle Ray had bestowed upon his second wife, Selene.

Years ago, when Cleo had just been a little girl, Ray had fired a guy for misconduct. That employee had then made threats not only against Ray, but also against Janet and Cleo as well. Ray hadn’t thought much of it, chalking it up to a disgruntled former employee who was mouthing off and would eventually disappear.

He’d been wrong. Terribly wrong. And his wife had paid for it with her life.

Janet had left home to run an errand one day. Ray had been at work. Cleo had been in preschool. The guy had stopped Janet six blocks from home and shot her twice in the heart.

Since, Ray had taken security to the extreme.