What the hell is wrong with me taking this job? She doesn’t need me, she just needs someone.
Despite having a list of alternatives for her, Bennett accepted the assignment. He’d done extensive research on the family when he took his first protection detail with Brice almost two years ago. The brothers all were hard asses who crushed anything in their way. They were exactly as he expected after reading about them. Although the Hendersons might disagree, he could usually predict their actions quite well.
Zoey wasn’t as easy to figure out as her brothers. She stayed out of the spotlight. What he was able to find on her was disturbing. She was a wild child who’d seen more action than the Marines. It was a reputation that still seemed to follow her. There was only one problem. All his research and data had no evidence backing it up, not one inappropriate photo or anything.
There was no doubt in his mind that all men wanted to be with her. Hell, count me in on that list. Yet he’d never seen her with a man. It made him curious. Was she so good at hiding her love affairs that even he couldn’t track them down? The answer had nothing to do with him doing the job he’d been hired to do. But it was eating at him.
She didn’t put up much of a fight when I suggested we pretend to be lovers. Although I’d like to sample what she has to offer, I don’t sleep with my clients. Not even someone as sexy as her.
It explained Dean’s over-the-top reaction last night. Zoey was about to bring a man home to the family, and from his findings this was the first time ever. He knew she hadn’t thought through the long-term consequences of doing this. There’d be the initial shock at who her lover was, but in the end they were going to believe it. What would she do after, when it came out it was all a lie?
Don’t worry about it, Bennett. Not your concern. Bennett had never had regrets about his decisions before. He wasn’t about to let this be his first.
Instead of stopping to see her, he sent a text message. “See you in Boston at the party.” Instead of heading straight to Boston, he was going to need to make a detour and pull in a few favors. The Hendersons were a powerful family, and he needed to find the right person who’d help keep this on the down-low. If her brothers caught wind of the DNA testing, without their permission, there’d be hell to pay. And although Zoey thought she could handle her brothers, he knew she was far from a match for them.
Picking up his cell, he dialed the number.
“Davis here.”
“Trent, it’s Bennett Stone. I’ve got a favor to discuss with you.”
“What can I do for you?”
“This is highly confidential.”
“That’s my life, Stone.”
“This is personal.”
Davis paused then asked, “For you?”
“No. I can’t give you the client’s name yet. You have the contacts I need to help with a DNA case.”
“I do. My friend, Jon Vinchi. He’d never divulge who he sent the information to, and I’m not sure he’ll do it for you. Jon would want details before getting involved.”
“Can he be trusted?” Bennett hated putting his faith in anyone he didn’t personally know. But if Trent trusted him, then he would as well.
“He’s one of my best friends. I trust him with my life.”
That was good enough for Bennett. “Okay. Give him my number. I’ll have the samples ready for him in a few days.”
“Samples? How many are we talking about?”
“Six.”
“Should I even ask whose?”
You can, but I’m not going to tell you. “Best not for all involved.”
“I’ll give him your information. If he’s willing to help, that’s between the two of you. But I hope you know what you’re doing. People think they want the answers, Bennett, but sometimes the truth is uglier than they can imagine.”
Bennett understood that more than he’d like to admit. Over the years, he’d helped so many people, but that didn’t mean they liked the outcome. “My job is only to get the answer, what they do with it is up to them.”
As he disconnected the call, he leaned back in his chair and thought of Zoey. He still knew there was something she wasn’t telling him. Before he sent the DNA samples to Vinchi, he was going to find out exactly what that was. I’ve just altered my own contract. Nothing wrong with adding a couple stipulations of my own.