The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (summer beach reads .TXT) 📕

to create this virus so you can create a cure.”

“Dad,” she winced when he squeezed tighter. “You need help.”

“You think I’m imagining things.”

“Mom’s death—”

“Don’t mention her!”

She cried out in pain.

“Charly?” Sandra’s voice asked from the entrance to the break room. “Is everything all right?”

Her dad dropped her wrists and backed away from her.

Her colleague eyed him suspiciously. “Should I call Declan?”

“I was just leaving. No need.” Her father glanced her way. “I’ll be watching.” Then he disappeared.

Charly sank into a chair and brushed the curls that had escaped her ponytail away from her face. Sandra rushed to her. “Are you all right? Who was that? I’m calling hospital security”

“I’m okay. That’s my father. And please don’t.”

“Why in the world did it look like he was hurting you?”

Instead of answering her colleague, she repeated, “I’m okay.” But Charly was far from okay. Both her hands were shaking, but it was more from the encounter than the injury.

“Why did he come here?”

“Because he thinks I’m the spawn of Satan.”

“You’re serious?”

“I try to avoid him.” Charly rubbed her wrists.

“Dr. Bennett.” A security guard who was stationed at the entrance of the high containment floor appeared at the door of the breakroom. “Your bodyguard Declan Roarke is demanding to see that you’re okay.” The man’s brows furrowed. “Are you alright, Doctor? Mr. Roarke said the person who identified himself as your father and had clearance to enter this wing didn’t look right when he left. Did he hurt you, ma’am? Should I have someone detain him?”

“No, I’m fine,” she answered quickly. The last thing she needed was more sensational news and to drag her father into her already complicated situation. She couldn’t face anyone right now. “Sandra, you think—”

“Go home. I have this.”

Charly blew out a breath.

“Thanks.”

23

“I knew Antonio would come for me,” Claudette gushed to a reporter while she was being escorted by Kelso to the awaiting LAPD SUV. Antonio stood beside that vehicle, mostly for the cameras. Garrison was waiting in the Suburban parked covertly behind the other vehicles and spectators. Antonio was surprised at the amount of interest that his former lover generated.

The mic turned to Kelso. “Do we know more about the person who tried to kill Ms. Dumont? Rumors are it was a hit.”

“We have a lead,” the detective said. “But we won’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”

Another reporter targeted Antonio. “There have been attacks on your management team. A Renata Gallo and Pierre Hudson. Is this connected to your XZite pills being contaminated with the man-made Ebola strains?”

“As Detective Kelso has mentioned, I cannot comment on the ongoing situation.”

“Did the LAPD give the gag order? You’re not bound by it.”

“But it’s in my best interest to cooperate with them.”

“All right people, let’s get them on their way.” A penitentiary officer who was controlling the crowd in front of the prison said.

“Baby stealer!” Someone yelled from the crowd.

“Lock her in solitary!”

“Send her back to France!”

Claudette’s eyes met his and she actually smiled. She was enjoying the attention. “Are you not riding with me?”

“That’s a police vehicle,” Antonio derided. “And I’m not the one who’s receiving prisoner transport.”

“You could have asked them to remove my hand cuffs,” she pouted. “It’s not like I’m going to run away.”

“Sorry, Ms. Dumont,” Kelso said firmly. “But it’s protocol during a transfer.”

“Goodbye, Claudette,” Antonio said firmly.

“Wait. Will I see you again?”

Antonio looked at Kelso. The detective shrugged. “We’re using a safe house close to you all.”

“Good, I’ll tell Garrison to follow.” He needed to make a clean break, but in front of the Los Angeles penitentiary and in front of a crowd was not the way to do it.

He turned away from the police SUV, but the back of his neck prickled. Someone was watching, a searing stare coming from the crowd. He zeroed in on a man wearing sunglasses, hair hidden beneath a ball cap, but a thick salt and pepper beard hid his tanned face. He was tall, over six feet and heavily built. Even from a distance, he could see part of his skin was very uneven …scarred or burned?

The man looked familiar, but Antonio couldn’t put a finger on why. A magnetic pull compelled Antonio to walk toward him until a reporter intercepted him, blocking his view.

Fuck.

“Mr. Andrade, how well did you know Raul Ortega?”

“I’m not answering questions,” he clipped as he craned his neck to look for Ball Cap man. The stranger who didn’t feel like a stranger was walking briskly away.

“How about how you and Luis Vazquez ruined several companies in order to build your pharmaceutical empire?”

Antonio clenched his jaw. “Google it. There are many articles about that.”

Shit. Ball Cap man disappeared. Then off to a distance, he saw him again. The man turned partially toward Antonio.

“It’s rumored you carried out hits to get ahead.”

The statement hung in the air, the stranger smirked at Antonio.

Who was that motherfucker?

“Mr. Andrade?”

Someone gripped his arm and Antonio clenched his fist ready to punch the person who dared touch him.

It was Garrison.

“Mr. Andrade is not answering questions.” The CIA officer pulled him firmly away from the crowd.

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Garrison growled.

“I saw someone in the crowd.” A ghost.

“Lev Skoryk?”

“No. He looked …” It couldn’t be. Luis killed him.

Garrison let him go and walked to the driver’s side. “Andrade. What the fuck? Are you getting in or do you need me to put you in your seat?”

Jolted from simply standing in front of the passenger door, he robotically did as he was told.

The CIA officer fired the engine and pulled away from the curb. “Would you mind telling me what has you so spooked?”

“The man … he looked like Marco Cordova.”

“Cordova? You mean Jacaré? Your former boss?”

“Yes.”

“But he’s dead, right? He disappeared a year after Emilio Andrade adopted you.”

“Yes.”

“What happened to him?”

Antonio’s mouth clamped shut. To reveal what happened to that son of a bitch would get him and Luis in trouble.

Garrison cast him a brief glance. “Fine. Chew on it. But if what’s happening now dates back