Chapter 48
Bradley’s POV
I know that I sound like a possessive arsehole, like a freaking cave man when it comes to Anna. I am so concerned for her physical safety, as well as her mental and emotional health. Seeing her reaction to finding sawdust in what is supposed to be her mother’s urn shook me.
That damn NDA! Making us all keep secrets. She has every right to be mad at me, at Sean, at Spencer and Tony, and even a bit at Victor. To be fair though, Victor was only drawn into this mess because he is my PA/bodyguard.
I will do everything possible to keep her safe, make her happy, make sure she knows I love her. And I do. If it were up to me I’d tell her everything and let her decide if she wants to walk away from Graystone International. She doesn’t need the noney. I have enough for both of us, and future generations.
The issue is not with her keeping Graystone International for the money, power and prestige. No, it’s about making sure certain people don’t get their greedy, evil hands on the
conglomerate. Thousands of employees, and their families, would be negatively affected if
Anna walked away. Up to this point, Graystone ran a very ethical business, treating the
employees as valued assets.
That would all change if the four conspiritors are able to take control. The responsibility of
protecting Anna, and the livelyhood of thousands, is a heavy burden. But between me, Sean,
Spencer and Tony we are handling it. Now we count the days to December thirty–first. Until
then, I am taking my woman, and getting out of Dodge.
After Anna retired to the bedroom, and Jenna went to join her, the rest of us moved to Anna’s office to discuss Anna’s concerns. And to discuss plans to keep her away from Halifax, and the vipers, as well as the other person involved. The one I consider the deadliest and have
nicknamed ‘king cobra‘.
“Sean, to bring you up to speed, Anna and I are getting married on Friday at my home. Because we need to keep it quiet, the only ones attending will be my parents, Victor and Jenna, Spencer and Jill, Tony and Tara, and you, hopefully. We will have a video recording of the wedding, as we will need proof of the marriage. Mom has arranged for Judge Thorne to
perform the ceremony, making it impossible for anyone to question the legality of marriage.”
Sean looked a bit sad. “I really wish Iris could be there to see her only child get married. It was always a dream of hers.” His sigh of sorrow and regret was painful to hear.
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“Maybe she will be able to watch from heaven.” Victor murmured so quiet that I think I’m the only one to hear his words. “You just never know.”
Hearing Victor, I smiled to myself. “That’s a distinct possibility, my friend,” Leave it to Victor to think along that line. Who knows, maybe Iris will be watching from heaven.
“Bradley, you mentioned you and Anna are taking a month long cruise after the wedding. What day are you leaving? And what are you thinking for after the cruise? Any ideas on keeping her location secret?” Sean questioned.
“The cruise starts on the Thursday following the wedding. Originally, I had thought of flying to the cruise port the day before, but now I think the sooner we leave the better. I have to consider Victor and Jenna’s schedule too, as they are coming with us. My concern if the three months following the curise.”
“What about taking her on a world tour? She and her mother always talked about going to Europe, and the UK. I know they have a list of European countries they wanted to visit. Maybe spend a week in each country?” Sean suggested.
“That’s a brilliant idea, Sean. I, too, can work remotely.” I addressed Victor, needing his input. “Victor, you know I need you to travel with us. I also know you don’t want to let Jenna out of your sight for that long.” I grinned at my PA/bodyguard, also known as my best friend. “Has Jenna said how committed she is to her new job? Do you think if she was offered a position with similar or better salary and benefits that she would travel with us?”
Victor looked happy at my suggestion. “What position are you thinking of? The real estate division is fully staffed so that wouldn’t be an option.”
“I was thinking that Anna needs a PA. Anna mentioned that Jenna has a black belt in both Taekwondo, and Krav Maga. She would be able to protect Anna if the need arose.” I am hoping Victor would be okay with that, though it’s not his decision. He may be head over heels for Jenna, but he doesn’t have the right to tell her what she can and connot do.
“I think she would be tempted to take the position of PA/bodyguard. But don’t sell Anna short on her ability to defend herself. Jenna tells me that Anna also has a black belt in both, same as Jenna.” His snicker at my jaw drop amused Sean and the other two.
Sean proudly boasted of Anna and Jenna’s skill. “I started teaching both of them when Anna moved back to Halifax for university. Both of those girls are naturals. Two of the best students
I’ve ever had the privilege of teaching. They can kick some serious butt. So you two had better treat those young women right, or face the consequences.”
Spencer and Tony were laughing at our expense upon hearing Sean’s lighthearted warning, while Victor and I looked at each other wide–eyed.
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A thought occurred to me. “Do you think any of the vipers know about this? It not, it would be
best they don’t find out. Their lack of knowledge could prove to be a life saver for Anna.”
A sideways look from Sean got my attention. What has he done?
“Well, we should be able to know a bit more about what the vipers do know, and plan. I did a
bit of a sneaky thing to the phone we gave Adam. Limbedded a program in all the communication apps. One that would automatically be sent to four contacts we found on the
phone he handed to me this morning. The program will run in the background of the receipents devices, and will send me a copy of all their communication. And once on the receipents phone, it will be sent automatically to the devices of the other vipers. I have a small team monitoring everything that comes in from them.”
Spencer and Tony didn’t question the possible illegality of what Sean had done. They, like me, glossed over that, knowing no knowledge of his actions would ever be leaked. This was so
that Anna’s protection team had a heads–up regarding imminent threats to her safety. Too
much was at stake to worry about the niceties. We had a job to do, and would do whatever it
took to do it successfully.
“Since we’ve got our plans in place, I think it’s time we called it a night.” Sean yawned as he
said this. “I need to get some sleep so we’re ready for the moring and getting Jenna’s
belongings packed and moved here. So I’ll say goodnight. Spencer, Tony, you two ready to go?
I’ll drop you off.”
The three of them popped up to their feet like a jack–in–the–box. When they were ready to go
they didn’t waste any time doing just that. They were out of the apartment withing five
minutes. No long ‘Maritime‘ goodbye, where you stand at the door and talk for another fifteen minutes. Nope, they were gone with a ‘see you tomorrow‘ and a salute of the hand.
Closing and locking the door behind them, I turned to find Victor picking up dirty glasses and
putting them in the dishwasher, then wheeling the bar cart back to it’s designated spot. His
actions were automatic, the sign of a man that had been raised well to be self–sufficient and
considerate.
Which wasn’t surprising, considering his mother, though married, had raised him on her own
for the most part. Victor’s father was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Navy. He was
usually at sea six to twelve months at a time leaving his family behind in Halifax. I had met Victor when I moved to Halifax at age fourteen. We became fast friends and have remained so. His father finally retired late last year, and he and his wife moved to Toronto to be closer to
Victor.
I was turning out the lights as I went, making my way to the bedroom, Victor a couple of steps
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behind me. I softly knocked on Anna’s bedroom door, and getting no response, opened the
door. Anna was in bed sleeping. There was no sign of Jenna. “Check and see if Jenna is in
your room, Victor.” I whispered so as not to wake up my bride.
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Victor opened the door to his room and gave a soft chuckle. “She here, Brad. Taking up all the
bed, little minx. See you in the morning, my friend.”
I responded with a goodnight of my own, then entered the bedroom closing the door quietly
behind me. I was ready to snuggle.
