“I went after him,” Eddie said in a grim voice. “I couldn’t just let him get away with it. Not when I knew. So I tracked him down, called in someone to help and we took him out. And now . . .”
He rubbed both hands over his face and when they came away, tears glistened in his eyes.
“The cycle of revenge continues. The son now wants to take from me what was taken from him. His mother, sister, and then his father. He sent me pictures of Eden. Told me he would take from me what I loved the most. And God, just hours later, someone tried to kill her.”
He leveled a hard stare at the members of KGI.
“She has an important shoot that begins day after tomorrow. It’s inside, which is the only reason I’m allowing her to go. No way in hell I’d have her in open air where protecting her would be a nightmare. But this is huge for her. I can’t shut her down, not when she doesn’t have the full story, and I don’t want her to know.”
Joe lifted an eyebrow and Swanny could see the disapproval on his face. Swanny was having similar thoughts.
Eden’s family was treating her like a pampered, sheltered princess and it would get her killed.
“The story is that I’ve called you in because I’m worried after what happened today and I want her protected. And I do. She has to be safe at all times.”
“Where is this next shoot?” Nathan asked.
“Paris,” Eddie replied. “It hasn’t been publicly announced that Eden is heading Aria’s new cosmetics campaign. So if we keep her off an official airline and don’t leave a paper trail, then hopefully by the time this guy catches up to her, the shoot will be over and she’ll be back home.”
“We can fly her on the KGI jet,” Joe reassured.
“So you’ll do it?” Eddie asked hopefully. “You’ll take the job?”
Joe’s gaze narrowed. “We wouldn’t be here if we were merely entertaining the idea, sir.”
“Thank you,” Eddie said sincerely. “But I want your word. Eden is not to know what I’ve told you. I don’t want her to be hurt by the knowledge that her mother’s death wasn’t an accident. It was bad enough my boys had to know.”
Joe sighed. “She won’t hear it from us.”
“Daddy?”
Swanny turned in the direction of the hesitant, feminine voice to see Eden standing in the now-open doorway to the bedroom. She was wearing a large man’s button-up shirt, and though she was taller than the average woman, the tails clipped the tops of her knees, baring a good portion of the expanse of her shapely legs.
She sent an accusing look in Raid’s direction. “You promised to wake me when they got here.”
“They just did get here, honey,” Raid said in a placating tone. “I was just about to go wake you. We’ve only finished introductions.”
He didn’t even blink over the lie.
Swanny’s gaze was riveted to Eden. Tousled hair, sleepy eyes and legs to die for. As if realizing she was only wearing a shirt, she pulled at the hem, attempting to cover more of her legs, but the action tightened the shirt over her br**sts, outlining them with clarity, and just a hint of her nipple was discernible through the material.
“I’ll, uh, just go get dressed,” she said, discomfort evident in her voice.
She quickly shut the door.
“You look at her and give me one good reason to break her heart,” Eddie said in a low voice. “She sees the good in everyone. She’s too soft for her own good. I don’t want to ruin that. Not if I can help it.”
Swanny shook himself from his reverie, glancing at his teammates to make sure no one had seen him looking inappropriately at Eden. If they’d noticed, they didn’t make it obvious, thank God.
Quiet descended and then a moment later, Eden reappeared, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and her hair was pulled into a ponytail. She hadn’t bothered with makeup, but Swanny had seen the pictures of her all glammed up and he preferred the more natural Eden. She was beautiful no matter the trappings. Perhaps he was less intimidated with the person instead of the supermodel.
“I’m Eden Sinclair,” she said unnecessarily. She offered a smile to each of the KGI members as introductions were performed by Ryker.
Swanny tensed when Ryker got to him, and as was his habit, he turned the scarred side of his face to the side so she wasn’t staring at it.
But her smile was warm as she shook his hand, her fingers squeezing his tightly.
“Swanny, of course I remember Ryker talking about you. And Nathan and Joe as well. I’m so glad to finally meet some of the men he served with.”
She took a seat next to her father, her expression one of unease. “So what’s going on, Daddy?”
Eddie sighed and took Eden’s hands in his. “I’d feel better if you had more protection for this next shoot. I know how important it is to you, so I won’t ask you not to do it. But for my peace of mind, I’d like KGI to take over your personal protection, at least for this shoot.”
She glanced around, her lips pursed, as if she’d only just realized that David and Micah were no longer present.
“I sent them home. They’re long overdue for a break,” Eddie said, correctly reading the question in her eyes. “KGI will take over from here.”
She sighed. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a little?” she asked gently.
“No.”
That immediate denial came from Raid, who up to now had remained silent. Eden sent her brother a startled look.
“I’d much rather us overreact than underreact when it comes to your safety,” Raid said. “If a few is good, then more is better.”
Her shoulders sagged and resignation reflected on her features. “All right. But I can’t have the set overrun with five hulking bodyguards. The photographer will have a cow.”
“He’ll get over it,” Joe said bluntly. “I’ll have a talk with all the people associated with the shoot and explain the necessity of our presence. We’ll come to an understanding. You won’t have to worry about us being in the way. But we will be there. Your protection is our number one priority and we don’t care whose feet we step on in the process.”
She blinked in surprise. “Well, okay.”
“Now, I’ve ordered room service so you can eat, and then I want you to get a good night’s sleep,” Eddie said in a firm voice. “Your flight leaves tomorrow, but you won’t be taking a commercial flight. I don’t want a paper trail that would make it easy for someone to track you.”