Page 49 of The Tycoon

“I’ll stay until this job is finished, until we have Sykes in custody for not only your attempted murder, but the attempted murder of all those people on that platform.Things could have gone very wrong if your people hadn’t been on their toes and knew their jobs.They stopped what could have been a major catastrophe for that entire region.”

“He did and they did.I’m glad they were on top of their jobs.I’ll have to give them bonuses.”

“Good idea.They worked well together to get it stopped.You need to have your PR department emphasize that it was sabotage by a certain individual and not an inefficient or dangerous running of the oil platform.You should also explain what your company has done so far?—”

“That’s already happening.Now, let’s work together to get you from being my bodyguard.to us being something more.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?I don’t want to be your latest plaything.I couldn’t stand it.”

He frowned.“I don’t have playthings.I never date a woman more than three times.I don’t make promises.You, however, I will promise to care for you and keep you as safe as you keep me.”

“I want your love, Cole.I can’t be with you if this is going nowhere.”

“I don’t want it to go nowhere, either.Trust me.Can you trust me?”

She looked up at him, then rolled to the balls of her feet and took his lips with hers in answer.Kissing him hard, telling him without words, she trusted him.

Suddenly, the door opened.“Well, if this isn’t a pretty sight.Looks like I can eliminate all my problems.”Jerry Sykes stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the morning sun at his back.In his right hand, he held a .38 revolver.

Cole tried to shove Regan behind him.

She stood beside him, refusing to be shoved away.“You’re early, Jerry.I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow.But I’m glad you’re here.We can get this cleared up in no time.”

He lifted a brow and graced her with a cocky smile.“You’re right…Regan.We can.”

She didn’t show any surprise that he knew her name.“Why don’t you tell us why you want Cole dead.What did he ever do to you?”She needed to keep him talking.Get him to relax so she could take him by surprise.She could only hope that Cole, being a former Seal, would understand her ploy.

“He killed her.All she wanted was your attention.”

“Who’s she?”asked Cole.

Good.Cole is doing great.He’s playing along and keeping Sykes talking

“My sister.When you wouldn’t give Jasmine the time of day, she went into a deep depression and ended her life practically before it started.She was only twenty-two, and you destroyed her.”

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

Sykes shook the gun at him.“Don’t lie!I know what you did.”

Cole straightened his shoulders and stood tall.“Your sister was…delusional.I never led her to believe there was anything between us.I didn’t even know who she was until she started stalking me.”

Jerry shook his head violently.“No!!You…you destroyed her.You had to have.Jasmine wouldn’t have killed herself otherwise.”

Cole softened his voice.“Jerry.I didn’t do anything to entice your sister?—”

“Jasmine.Use her name Jasmine.Or can’t you bear to say it?”

“I never did anything to entice Jasmine.I understand she worked for my company in the Denver office, but I never met her.I’m sure I would have remembered.”

“No!You’re lying.”He raised the gun and braced his left hand on his right wrist.

Regan didn’t wait.She shoved Cole and then, with Jerry momentarily confused, she lowered her right shoulder and ran at him.

Hit in the stomach, he fell out the door onto his back.

Cole came from behind her.He dropped to the ground next to Sykes and grabbed his wrist, squeezing, trying to get him to release the gun.

Jerry hit Cole in the jaw and then tried to kick him.He used his body to try and shake Cole’s hold on his wrist.