Jared.
She gaped—her father was standing next to the shifter, speaking in calm tones. A buzzing sound filled in Grace’s head, and a hundred thoughts ran through her mind, but they all settled down to one thing—Jared was a spy for her father.
Her world was about to crash down around her ears.
She almost turned and fled—the only thing stopping her was the fact that her knees were locked, and her hand gripped the doorknob so hard, she wasn’t sure she could like go.
“Grace.” Her father beckoned her over. “I’m glad you’re here. I have something to discuss with you.”
She made a horrible squeaking sound, deep in her throat. Jared finally turned to look at her with cool, calculating eyes. He was even more gorgeous in his dark tailored suit and polished black shoes than he had been the night before in all his nakedness… but the look in his deep brown eyes was inscrutable.
There was no running away from this.
With great effort, she forced herself into the room, one awkward step at a time. She almost forgot to let go of the doorknob.
Say nothing. Admit to nothing. Don’t tip your hand.
Her mind was reeling, but she managed to reach her father’s enormous desk, where Jared and her father were standing, without passing out.
“I know you like your independence, Grace,” her father said, calmly, “but I hope you’ll consider this with an open mind.”
Grace stared at Jared. He held her gaze, unblinking. No smile. No emotion. Nothing to give away what was going on.
She forced herself to drag her gaze to her father. “Consider what with an open mind?” Her heart was pounding so loud, she was afraid they both could hear it.
Her father sighed. “I’m going to make my announcement for re-election soon, and you know that’s going to be a somewhat contentious announcement.”
Contentious. As in, extremely controversial. The shifter legislation was designed to be exactly that—a call to arms about the shifter menace among them, and the determined Senator who was going to do something about it. They had been arguing last night about it, but it was supposed to still be top-secret—had he told this shifter about it? Something wasn’t right here.
“As we discussed before, it’s not too late to change course with that,” she said cautiously. What was going on here? Did her father know she was a shifter, or not?
Jared didn’t move a muscle, but his eyes lit up at her words. He couldn’t possibly know what they were talking about—could he?
Her father cleared his throat. Only she would be able to detect the disapproval in that small noise, but it was there. Only it was nothing like the level of raging disapproval, not to mention stunned anger, which would come if he knew what she was.
“And as I said, it’s the key part of the platform.” Disapproval that she’d brought it up; also a touch of impatience. “And I have even more plans beyond that as well.” A warning. “But there are some risks inherent in this course of action. Ones I hadn’t fully considered.”
Grace narrowed her eyes—what was her father talking about? “I don’t think we should—”
He cut her off with a raised hand. “I’m not talking about political risks. I’m willing to take those—that’s what a good leader does, taking the risk to do what’s right. What the people need, even if sometimes they don’t always understand that. Although some certainly do. No, Grace, I’m talking about the kind of risk I really don’t like to take.”
Grace’s head was still swimming. He doesn’t know. He wouldn’t be standing calmly in his office if he did. He’d be throwing a fit or throwing books or throwing her out.
Play it cool. Figure this out. “What kind of risks are those?”
“The kind that threaten my family.” He gestured to Jared. “I think it’s best that you have a personal bodyguard from here on out. At least through the campaign.”
Her eyes widened, and her heart climbed into her throat. “Bodyguard?” Her eyes flicked to Jared—again with the inscrutable face, but she detected a hint of humor in his eyes. A tiny crinkling around the edges.
Her father folded his arms, as if he was expecting a fight from her on this. “This is Jared Bachman. He’s one of Garrison Allied’s top personal bodyguards. They’ve heard some chatter on the street, especially among the shifter gangs, that hinted you might be a personal target. A way to get at me. I don’t know how they know about the legislation, but it’s obviously already leaked in some capacity. And they see you as my soft underbelly. I don’t want you endangered in any way, Grace.” He took a breath. For patience. “Please. I know it will be inconvenient, and I know you’re against this in the first place, but I’m moving forward regardless. And I’d feel much better if I knew you were protected at all times.”