Next of Kin by James Tucker

Author:James Tucker [James Tucker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifty-One

Mei saw the office towers of Manhattan come into view above the horizon. She turned around in the front seat of Ward’s Range Rover to look back at Ben. His expression was anxious. He was sitting quietly in the plush black leather, well dressed but small and fragile. He was only ten, but he wasn’t stupid. He was aware of the risk they were taking by returning to Manhattan. But the events of last night had shown that nowhere was safe. Danger made Mei yearn to be in the same city as Buddy, even if he spent all day and even into the night at work. Ben, she knew, wanted the same.

“You okay?” she asked Ben, though his face gave her the answer.

For a moment he was quiet. Then his eyes brightened as he said, “Do you have a gun?”

She shook her head. “No.”

Ward said, “You will.”

She turned to him—he was in the back seat, behind the driver—and studied his face to see if he was joking, but his expression was grim, determined. She said, “I don’t know how to use a gun.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I’ve never even held one,” she told him. “I can’t be like you, rushing down a hallway in the dark and firing at someone.”

“You don’t have to be like me,” he said. “But you need to be able to defend yourself. I’ve brought a gun for you, a small .38 caliber.”

She looked at him. “Where is it?”

He patted the messenger bag between his feet. “Here. I’ll give it to you when we’re at your place.”

“I won’t accept a gun,” she said. “And that’s final.”

Ben’s voice filled the SUV. “But Ward saved us with a gun.”

Mei hesitated.

Ward glanced at her, saw her expression, changed the subject. “Ben,” he said calmly, “would you like to go back to school this week?”

Ben nodded. “I want to be in school, but not my school. Everyone will ask me about what happened, and I won’t know what to say. And how can you and Buddy protect me?”

Ward reached over and put a hand on his arm. “I know of a great school for kids like you. Top-notch security. I’ll call and see if we can visit later today. I’ll hire two bodyguards to take you there and back. And they’ll guard Mei’s apartment, one in the lobby, one in her foyer.”

Mei didn’t like how Ward offered something or made a decision and expected everyone to agree and accept it. She felt herself stiffen. She said, “Bodyguards are appreciated, but I won’t have one inside my apartment. I don’t have room for them, and I want some privacy.”

“No,” Ward said, all the fingers with his raised hand extending outward. “You’ll be much safer with one guard in the building lobby and one in your foyer. It’s absolutely necessary to have a guard with you, Mei.”

Mei saw the logic, but she wouldn’t live in a prison. She didn’t like Ward’s hand so near her face. And she didn’t care for his controlling tone.

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