The Assassin’s Billionaire Bodyguard
Chapter 36

Isabella hadn't heard from Cam since he left her at the deli the day prior and as she and her father pounded the glass in front of her, her eyes kept going to the boxes high above the rink to see if she could locate his box and him.

Mickey had told her Cam and Gideon had run into a situation, they were safe but were having some issues and would be back home as soon as possible. She had asked Clara if she knew where he was, but she didn't and she told her, she would not resort to hacking into Cam's system to replace out where he was. The man was a pro and Isabella needed to trust him to be able to do his job. If Mickey was saying he was in danger, lost or his team had been taken, then Clara would intervene on Isabella's part but for now, she had to respect the man's position as a businessman.

As the refs pulled the two fighting men apart, she and her dad took their seats again.

"You keep looking up Isabella. Looking for your boyfriend?"

"Yup, he said he'd see me today, but he got caught up in work."

"You think he avoided you and just went to the game instead?"

Her father's words made her pause as she realized what he was suggesting and she shook her head, "no. I was more hoping he was there and safe, I guess." She gave her dad a sad smile, "he provides security services Papa which means sometimes his work can be dangerous. When he's having a bad day at work and gets caught up, it could be he's in a bad situation."

"You're worried for him," Hugo wrapped his arm over his youngest child's shoulders and kissed her temple. "He seems to me the kind of man who can take care of himself and you. Don't you worry about him. He'll be home to you soon."

"I know," she kissed his cheek, "thanks Papa."

They watched the game and then jumped up as the forward intercepted the puck, skated on a breakaway, and slapped the puck between the goalie's legs for a goal. "Five-hole goal!" Her father yelled as he slapped the plexiglass.

The goal was the game winner and they high fived as the clock wound down. She noted the security detail team watching her intently from the top of the stairs and she grimaced. She was getting really tired of them. Since Clara had returned Evgeni to his father earlier in the week, she hadn't had any word from him. None of his friends were calling, he hadn't shown up at her house or work and he was leaving her family alone. She hoped he'd learned his lesson and because of it she was tiring of the security hovering. She got to the top of the stairs and waited for her father to tell her he needed the bathroom. She knew he was not going to like having to take security with him to the bathroom. He made a face but didn't argue and she made her way to their designated spot. "Hey beautiful," Cam's voice broke into her thoughts, and she looked up in surprise. "Sorry I'm late. I thought I'd be home by this morning..." he trailed off as she flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his middle hugging him tight. He groaned and buried his face in her hair, "I heard you were a bit worried."

"Don't give me a time if you're not going to make it. I'd rather not have a schedule than one you can't stick to," she whispered in his neck aware she was behaving erratically. His arms were wound tight around her waist crushing her to him painfully and she didn't

care.

He pulled her face off him and searched her face. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"I'm glad you're okay. You're okay, right?" she questioned seriously.

"I am," he said as he studied the concern in her face. "I missed you." He whispered quietly. "I feel when I left yesterday, we were off, and I didn't like it. I won't do it again. We make up before I go anywhere from now on."

"We can make up now," she offered with a warm smile.

His lips claimed hers. He slid his mouth over hers, his tongue gently sliding along her full bottom lip. Isabella decided he smelled of the fresh crisp air, his coat cold against her frame but the heat of his body penetrating through to envelop her in delicious warmth. He tasted of coffee and bourbon and her tongue met his as she longed to be closer to him.

"I leave you alone five minutes and catch you making out with the first rich man you replace," her father's mocking voice called out from behind them.

"Jesus," she broke the kiss off abruptly, aware instantly she had forgotten all concepts of time and space the moment Cam Torres had touched her. She was in Madison Square Gardens kissing a billionaire for all the world to see. "Papa," she turned and faced her father, her cheeks flaming.

"Cam, good to see you." Her father reached out and shook his head noting the man didn't relinquish his grip on his daughter. "Did you enjoy the game?"

"I didn't see it," Cam admitted. "I got home a short while ago, checked in with my daughter and headed straight here to see if I could catch Isabella."

"We're going to the pub," Hugo tried, and Isabella pointed at him.

"No, we are not. Mama will have my head. She's already told me if I don't have you straight home after the game, she's going to come replace us at the pub and make a scene to make Quentin Tarantino show up with a video camera."

Cam chuckled at her words, "did she use those exact words?" He couldn't wait to meet Carolina Ruiz.

"She did and said something about Kill Bill but changing the name to Kill Hugo."

Isabella's father shrugged, "I had to try."

"Come," he motioned to the man, "I'll drive you both home." He paused as both his phone and Isabella's rang at the same time.

She opened her phone as Cam opened his. She watched as he spoke to whoever it was and turned his back to her.

"Hey Clara, what's going on?"

"Evgeni is missing."

"What the hell do you mean he's missing?" She looked to her father and sighed, "where did he go?"

"I don't know," Clara was clearly frustrated. "According to Mikhail, he's been gone about two hours. He only thought to let me know now because one of his friends called him and said he was acting funny and was worried about him. Cam still has people watching your mom and dad, right?"

"Papa is with me and there is someone watching the house," she saw Cam nod and confirm for her. "Clara, replace him. I'm going home but you need to replace him."

She hung up the phone she pointed at Cam. "You get out there and you replace that i***t and you make Mikhail listen."

"I want you to go the house." Cam ruffled his hair impatiently.

"No, I'm going to my house with my dog. Your guys can stay outside all they want but I'm going home. I have things to do and I'm not changing for Evgeni Andropov." She motioned to the guards and looked at her father seriously aware he was looking a bit grey. "Papa, I don't want you to worry. I want you to go home and stay with Mama until they get him. I'm going to stay home. It's possible he may come look for me at my house and if he does, then one of Cam or Clara's guys will get him." "You're hoping he comes to your house," Cam hissed at her.

"Yes," she admitted it fully, "I want him to. I hope one of your guys grabs him and takes him away before I get him." She regarded her father carefully, "Papa, go with Cam's men and stay home until Clara tells you it's safe otherwise." "You call me when you get home." He said before pulling her into a tight hug. "Maybe you should listen to Cam and go to his house."

"No," she kissed his cheek, "the best thing for me to do is go home and wait for him to show up and then let these guys do their job. Please Papa. I need you to trust me."

She watched with a sick feeling in her stomach as Cam's guys led her father away.

"I don't like this, Isabella."

"I don't like how your friend," she waved her hand around angrily, "decided to wait two f*****g hours before letting Clara know his son was running around Manhattan and acting funny to the point even his friends are calling Mikhail to question his behaviour." Gideon approached from behind, "I hate to admit it Cam but she's right. If we wait at her house, he's bound to show up."

She gestured at Gideon, "even he knows I should be bait."

"F**k." Cam shook his head. "I'm going with you."

"No, because if he's watching and he sees you in the house, he's not going to come. He's going to go into hiding and his cronies are going to keep him hidden and safe from being dragged back to daddy."

As Gideon opened his mouth Cam growled, "shut up Gideon. Shut up. I hate this."

"You don't have to like it Cam but it's how it is." She turned and looked at Gideon. "I need to go home now."

"Let's get you home then," he motioned for her to follow him. "Cam and I will drive you home. Our team will meet us there. Cam can go in. He can then come out and then he will go home." He instructed Cam. "Right Cam?"

"Yeah," his tone was begrudging at best. His green eyes were concerned as he didn't take them off the set countenance of Isabella. "If you're scared or - "

She slapped the air around him, "I'm not afraid of Evgeni. I told you a hundred times. I think he's nuts, and I don't want him near my family, and I'm really pissed off. Scared is not the emotion I'm feeling."

It took nearly an hour to get to her house in Queens and she quickly called her father to reassure him she was safe as Cam and Gideon both did a sweep of her house to make sure Evgeni wasn't hiding anywhere. She made a face as Gideon checked the broom closet. They had no idea of the amount of security her house entailed. It was the safest place she could think of for a reason. Had he pushed the clip holding the broom it would have opened a panel behind the closet leading to a safe room. She watched from the corner of her eye pretending to be disinterested in his movements as he closed the door behind him.

"It's all clear," he reached out and scratched Casper's head. "I'll be outside." He didn't even look at Cam as he squeezed her shoulder and then let himself out of the house.

"I don't like this Isabella," Cam repeated his thoughts for what felt like the millionth time. "He's unhinged."

"Cam, I told you before, my house is safe. I have windows rivaling the ones used in the president's car. Evgeni can't get into the house without a biometric scan of my palm." "What?" He stared at her incredulously.

"You never noticed I grip the whole doorknob when I turn it? I know most doorknobs are decorative when there are deadbolt locks but mine serves a purpose. I had the guys in Draxton Innovation create it for me." She motioned to the living room, "Casper and I are going to sit here, watch a game from the West Coast and eat popcorn. We're fine. When he shows up. You can grab him and deal with him however you see fit."

"I might kill him. If he weren't the son of a dear friend, I'd kill him without a second thought."

"Is that a professional hitman talking or just the rantings of a madman." She held his gaze and waited for his response.

He took her by the shoulders, his eyes boring into hers, "both. I won't lie to you Isabella. I am not sane where you're concerned. You mean so much to me."

She reached up and touched his cheek softly, "Cam, please go catch this maniac before he does something stupid? Then come and get me."

"I know you said the file you have on me says I've never been with someone more than a month and it's not wrong but Isabella, I want you for the long haul. Please know I can't walk away from you, not even when this s**t with Andropov is over. I want you in my life Isabella." He grabbed her and held her tight to his chest, rocking her gently in his arms. "It goes against all my better judgement to use you for bait."

"The longer you stay here, the longer it takes for him to come." She kissed his knuckles as she removed his hands from her shoulders. "Please Cam. Let's end this now."

"Okay, I'm going. You call me the minute he reaches out to you."

"I will."

Her breath caught as he got to the door and turned back to look at her, his eyes betraying how much he disliked leaving her alone with Casper. She stood for a long time after she bolted the door with her back pressed against it wondering exactly what Cam meant when he said he wanted her for the long haul. Would he want her if he found out her truth?