Nolan sipped his coffee.It wasn't unusual for clients like Yvonne to hook up with one of their guys. It also wasn't against the rules. A lot of women liked the thrill of screwing their bodyguard. But Nolan had never liked mixing business with pleasure.He hadn't done anything wrong, and he could be inviting more problems if he volunteered his past relationship with Yvonne. The downside was that Nolan couldn't ask to be reassigned without offering some kind of explanation.The best thing to do would be to take this up with Yvonne. They could either agree to play nice or he could come up with a reason to get his schedule changed. But he had to do it now.He had an idea...Nolan turned toward Grant and thumbed down the hall where Yvonne had headed. "Hey, did we ask about where to put the crates?""Shoot, no we didn't." Grant scowled."I'll ask." Nolan circled the seating area.Melody scowled. "I don't think-""I'll just take a second." Nolan darted down the hall before
Friday. Tech Conference, Kyoto, Japan.YVONNE SAT ON THE floor of her friend's bathroom, her face pressed up against the tile wall to cool her heated skin.She could not be sick.The keynote address was in an hour. She'd fought tooth and nail with Theodore about allowing her take part in it. Right now she was one third of the family equation with Theodore and Dad behind the company. She would not be cut out of this opportunity.Heels clicked on the tile. Her best friend Tabby Grissler came to a stop across the spacious bathroom, face creased in concern. She was a beautiful woman, far more socially poised than Yvonne. They'd been thrown together at a young age since their families were peers, not competitors. The Grissler companies were all about things that flew, planes, guidance systems. With the lack of competition between them, Tabby had grown to be one of the few women Yvonne could be completely open with. They might be utterly dissimilar-Tabby partied, Yvonne didn't; Ta
NOLAN STOOD BACKSTAGE WATCHING Yvonne and Theodore toss lines back and forth.They were good.Theodore had charm while Yvonne played the role of expert. She was looser, warmer than he'd seen her through the day. Though he'd only really gotten a glimpse of her as they walked from meeting to meeting. He didn't have clearance to be in the same room while discussions were going down.Was this her public persona? The face she put on for the world?If that were the case, what side of her had he met in Vegas?Why did he care?Their lines were drawn. She didn't like him. He didn't fool around with assets. Just a few more days and they'd never have to see each other again.Yvonne turned her head, and the light caught in her hair, making it glint. Tabby had turned the conservative woman Yvonne presented to the world on a daily basis into this creature. She was stunning.Had Tabby worked her magic on Yvonne when they'd met?Nolan wasn't going to ask because he was fairly certain
Friday. Tech Conference, Kyoto, Japan.YVONNE TICKED OFF ANOTHER item off the agenda. The meeting was moving right along.She glanced at the time.What were the chances she'd have a break before the luncheon to rush back upstairs?Melody had brought back the pregnancy test last night along with half a dozen other medications to help with her stomach and if Yvonne was simply sick. She'd chickened out after keeping the soup down and gone to sleep without doing the tests.This morning she had to know, but wading through the instructions had taken too much time. She'd barely been able to take the test and stash them before running out the door. Which meant she'd been thinking about the results instead of her meetings all morning.She was not doing her best that was for sure.The conference room door opened.Yvonne glanced up and caught a glimpse of Nolan standing across the hall, staring straight at her. She shivered and was grateful for the wall between them.What if
Saturday. Ito Family Home, Kyoto, Japan.SAMUEL ITO COULD DO with a beer. Plain, unassuming-beer. But his half-brother Sota wouldn't have such low-brow drinks here.Too bad.It would make what came next that much more painful for Sota.Samuel continued to stare out on the ornamental garden surrounding the paved patio area. It was one of the few places in this house he remembered from childhood. The latter years. His father had allowed his first wife, Sota's mother, to remain here after the divorce. Which was probably why Sota assumed he had a right to it. Just like everything else.Samuel slid his hands into his pockets and pressed his forearm against the gun concealed under his jacket. He wanted things to be different, but history had proven time and time again that he wasn't good enough for this family.Well, he was done playing by their rules."You didn't come just to admire the view." Sota stopped next to Samuel, staring out over the garden, the high-rises of Kyoto
NOLAN SLID THE MODIFIED mob holster on then his jacket. Since they couldn't carry guns in Japan, they had a range of back-up tools to serve the purpose of protecting themselves and their clients."What can you tell us about the drone?" Melody's focus was on Theodore, who'd shed his coat and was pacing."It's a toy still. It flies around, takes pictures and fires rubber bullets. It's a concept Doug is dicking around with so it looks like he's trying." Theodore wheeled away from them and strode toward the windows.Melody glanced at Nolan.Rubber bullets were easy enough to swap out for real ones.Why had no one mentioned this?"Guys?" Vaughn turned from the computer, one hand mashing an earpiece to his ear. "There's been a high profile homicide. Someone got shot at their home.""Do they have the shooter in custody?" Nolan asked."Not that I can tell, but I'm listening to them through translating software. It's not perfect.""Go," Melody said. "Take the gear, meet the ot
Saturday. Tech Conference, Kyoto, Japan.YVONNE SAT ON THE floor, her back braced against the bed, and stared at her toes. They still had a tiny bit of polish on them from that spa day Tabby had taken her on the week after Vegas. That was the last time Yvonne had done anything for herself.Her life was work. It was the business. She couldn't be pregnant. She couldn't have a baby.The tests were wrong. They had to be.Why should she trust a drug store test? This was the kind of thing that needed a professional.But that meant doctors, and she'd gone to the same family practice her whole life. Even her doctor in LA was cousins with her doctor in DC. If her physician knew she was pregnant, there would be no keeping that from her family.A sharp knock at her door broke the circle of thought.She briefly considered ignoring it, but Douglas was out there. Probably doing something stupid.Yvonne pushed to her feet, straightened her blouse then opened the door.Melody stoo
Saturday. Private Airport, Kyoto, Japan.FUCKING HELL.Lee's plans were dissolving, and he had no clue why.He eased the bike to a stop outside the fenced off area of the private airport just outside Kyoto. He'd been hard pressed to follow the SUV without getting too close. With any luck the bodyguards hadn't spotted him.The family was supposed to remain at the conference for the duration of the event. Only once that was over were they to leave, at which point Lee's people were supposed to grab them."Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Lee balled his hands into fists.His plans were blown until he knew where the Kriegers were going.The way his luck was going, they were en route back to the states, and that would really suck. Lee operated mostly on foreign soil. He stayed out of the US, but this job was too big. He couldn't fail.He tipped his head back and sucked in a deep breath.He could be flexible. He knew their habits, their routines. He'd been studying them in preparation