Page 126 of Protecting Love

He was shaking his head. “No. There is no danger. It won’t get out where the file came from. Debra will be questioned. She knows that and she’ll have to answer for more than you. It went a long way that you decided not to press charges against what she did to you.”

“It didn’t feel right after I heard it all. She was scared, she was trying to help, just went about it wrong.”

“Agreed. But you’re part in it, getting the file, that will be redacted from the case. Your name will be removed.”

Which was what Robbie had promised once Paris was interviewed and in the clear.

“I’m glad. I really am. But that doesn’t stop headlines. Or assumptions. It could come out that they were our client just recently. That maybe I had something to do with it. The timing of it is going to bring speculation.”

“No. It won’t. That’s why we get ahead of it. They don’t know which of the owners this is. Remember. Michael is going through a divorce. His wife’s attorney is combing through everything. Several staff that were let go are talking and will be questioned. There could be a lot of sources. But in the end, this was still open and you don’t need to know tips that come in and how the FBI can watch people for years. The case hasn’t gone to trial yet; they are still building it. Lots of balls in the air. It could be months before anything happens. Trust me. No danger. You’ll be out of the picture.”

“So it’s not about banging down their doors for arrests?” she asked.

“From what I could see of the file and my conversation with Robbie, whatever they were doing for this case actively stopped months ago.”

There wasn’t any activity. This was more about closing the case for good and getting witnesses for the prosecution. Not anyone’s problem in this room.

She turned back to him. “We. You said ‘we’ get ahead of it.”

“Yeah,” he said simply. “We.”

Her expression softened just a fraction, then sharpened again. “My father is going to want to meet you when he gets here. I know for a fact he’ll come.”

He almost smiled. “I assumed that was coming eventually.”

“Not like this,” she muttered. “He’s going to see you as the former FBI agent who brought federal attention into my life.”

“I didn’t bring it,” he said calmly. “It was already there. I’m making sure it doesn’t spiral.”

She stared at him. He couldn’t read the look in her eyes.

Not fear. Not caution. Not even wariness.

More like... humor.

“He’s going to grill you,” she warned.

“I’ve been grilled before.”

“This isn’t interrogation-room grilled,” she said. “This is protective-father grilled.”

“That’s fine.” His voice stayed steady. “If sitting across from him means protecting you properly. I’ll do it.”

Her eyes flashed at that. It didn’t seem as if he could say anything right when she shoved another piece of chocolate in her mouth.

“I don’t need protecting.”

“No,” he said, sighing. “But you deserve backing.”

Her shoulders dropped slightly, tension bleeding out in tiny cracks. “I hate you went to West first. Just making that clear.”

“I know.”

“And I hate that you’re right.”

He gave her a faint smile. “I know that too.”

She stepped closer again, but this time it wasn’t playful. It was vulnerable.