Under His Protection (Protect and Defend 1)

They both stood in front of the door, Blake pawing through all the crap she carried in her purse. Damn it, why didn’t she use the little side pocket made specifically for her phone?

“You’re not calling anyone.”

The voice was deep, angry and unfamiliar. Blake stilled, her back to the man who just spoke and Suzanne slumped beside her, shooting Blake a pleading look.

“Hey, ah, Rich. Blake showed up.” Suzanne smiled and nodded toward Blake. “I’m so excited you two get to meet.”

Suzanne didn’t sound particularly excited. More like petrified.

“Blake, meet Rich.” Suzanne nudged Blake in the side with her elbow and she turned to see a very skinny, scraggly looking man standing before her, clad in dirty jeans and a long-sleeved, faded black T-shirt.

He wiped his hand on the side of his jeans before he went toward her, the same hand extended for her to shake. The stench of alcohol overpowered her nostrils and Blake tried not to flinch as she shook his hand.

His grip was too tight and his smile too wide as he pumped her hand. “I’m Amber’s husband. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Amber?” She snatched her hand away from his grip, confusion swamping her. Who was Amber?

“Amber, Suzanne, whatever you want to call her.” Rich shook his head and went to grab a can of beer from an open ice chest that sat on the floor. He cracked it open, the sound violently loud in the too quiet room. “So you’re the vice president’s daughter, huh? What’s that like?”

Blake stiffened, shooting a glance in Suzanne’s—Amber’s?—direction. Her friend wouldn’t so much as look at her. She was married? And she told her husband about Blake?

Odd. And discomforting since Suzanne never mentioned she even had a husband.

“Honestly, it comes with both its perks and disadvantages,” Blake said slowly, not wanting to reveal any more.

The man laughed uproariously, as if she’d told a funny joke. “I bet it comes with perks only, sweetheart. Like a lot of money.”

Blake was silent as she watched Rich pace back and forth. He glared at the two women who still stood by the door, and he waved his hand in the general direction of the couch.

“Sit down. Now. Standing next to the door like that makes me nervous. Like you’re going to escape.” He patted his backside. “If you’re smart, you won’t try. I got something that’ll nip it in the bud real quick.”

Blake followed Suzanne over to the couch where they both sat. Did he have a gun stashed in his jeans? Panic filled her. What the hell was she going to do?

She clutched her purse close to her side, her coat bulked all around her when she sat, making her uncomfortable. Fear kept her immobilized, regret swamping her. Why hadn’t she told Mason she was leaving? She should’ve brought him with her. He would’ve taken care of everything.

Too late for regrets now.

“You got a lot of money, Miss Blake?” Rich leered at her, the look in his eyes wild, crazy. “Because I need a lot of money. We both need a lot of money.”

He nodded toward Suzanne who wouldn’t even look her way.

Dread trickled icy cold down Blake’s spine, accompanied by a healthy dose of disappointment. Her so-called friend had used her, brought her here to talk with her slimy husband so the both of them could…what? Hold her ransom and get some money out of it? Demand she write them a big, fat check?

She had some money that she had easy access to, but the bulk of her trust was tied up in legalities. Withdrawing a large sum of cash would take days, maybe even weeks, and would involve a couple of lawyers and lots of signatures.

“I’m not a bank,” she said coolly, hoping that keeping her wits about her would get her out of this. “You just can’t come to me and expect a large withdrawal.”

“You’re gonna be our bank today,” the man said with certain finality. “And we’re definitely in line for one of those large withdrawals. After what my wife did to me, well, I need to look for a new fortune. And once she told me about you, I knew you were it. The opportunity I’ve been searching for.”

“Rich...” Suzanne started but he wouldn’t hear it.

“Shut up!” The force of his yell made both women flinch. “We already discussed this! You owe me, Amber. After you double-crossed me, I deserve this. I deserve every last dime I can squeeze out of this girl.”

“She has nothing to do with this or with us. Let her go. You’re angry at me, no one else but me,” Suzanne pleaded.

“You’re damn right I’m angry at you. I’ll deal with you later, you can count on it. But right now, I need some quick cash to get the hell out of here. And don’t forget, I’m taking you with me.” Rich grinned, then chugged almost half of his beer.

“I don’t have access to a large amount of money,” Blake began. “I can get you a few hundred dollars, maybe even a thousand but that’s it.”