Page 25 of Protect Me

I turn to catch sight of an older man who looks just as I pictured for a reclusive eccentric.His hair is to his shoulders and bushy, his face covered in a grayish-white beard.His jeans are old and faded, a plaid flannel shirt covering a T-shirt.And probably because he didn’t expect this urgent meeting, he keeps looking over his shoulder and glancing around.

He steps inside and Talia shoots out of her seat.“Jonah!”

The big man sweeps her into a hug, confirming their close relationship despite not having seen each other in a while.

He ends the embrace and meets her gaze.“Who’s this?”He gestures to me, hovering protectively nearby.

Talia steps back.“This is Shane Landon, my bodyguard.”

Goodwin narrows his gaze.“You need protection?What’s going on?”he asks without acknowledging me or shaking my hand.

“Let’s sit,” Talia suggests.She gestures to the table and chairs behind us.

He pulled out a seat and settled into it.Shane and Talia did the same.

“Talk to me,” Jonah says, never truly relaxing.

“Okay, so the good news is that Christopher and I were finally successful in working out the right treatment.We were ready to go into the testing phase, and the company knew it.Next thing I know, someone wiped my lab clean, took the computers and equipment, and I’m sure they assumed they’d gotten the whole formula.Of course, they didn’t.”

“Because you listened to me and broke up your results,” he says, nodding as he takes in her story.

She rubs her palms against her leggings.“Someone’s been after me ever since.They want the rest of the formula.”

“And the only reason for that to happen is if someone wants to keep the medicine from ever getting to market.”He rubs his beard thoughtfully.“You have your part?”

“Right here.”I pat the duffel I haven’t let out of my sight.

“And I assume you have a plan?”

I lean in.“It requires your trust.”

“And you can trust Shane,” Talia assures the older man.“I’ve known him practically my whole life.”

Jonah scowls.“I don’t trust anyone.Well, very few people, anyway.But if he’s kept you safe, he has my thanks.What do you need from me?”

I lean closer to the older man.“We need the first part of the formula.And that means we need to go with you to your cabin,” I say.“Look, I work for McKay-Taggart Security in Dallas.”

“I’ve heard of them,” Jonah says, his facial expression less harsh now that he thinks I am legit.

“Eventually, whoever’s after Talia is going to realize I sent them in the wrong direction this morning, or they have someone following Talia.Either way, we might have a tail as we go to your cabin.”I place a hand behind Talia’s chair, my fingers brushing against her back as I speak to the doctor.

“I want to give my people your address and set a trap for whoever’s been after her,” I explain.“The cops can take over dealing with the bastards from there.”

“And the formula?”Jonah asks.

Talia places a hand on the man’s forearm.“I want you to reach out to Sheila.If we can get this into her hands, her company can take over from here.”

Jonah shifts uncomfortably in his seat.“I haven’t spoken to her in a while.”

“I don’t believe she hasn’t tried to reach out,” Talia presses.“The only reason you two aren’t together is because you decided withdrawing from life was what you wanted.”

“Yeah, I hear from her,” he mutters.

She blows out a long, relieved breath.

“Good.So can you call her and set things in motion?”I say.“Because we’ll need to transfer the formula to her quickly.Call her and—”

He shakes his head.“I don’t have her number memorized.”