Marissa wrapped her arms around her sister and guided her over to one of the waiting room chairs. “Tell me what’s happening,” she urged, trying to infuse her voice with strength. Sierra cried for about fifteen minutes, telling Marissa about the man going into their father’s office, then the black Lincoln driving away and her frantic chase to keep up with them. By the time she was finished, Marissa knew more about the man’s injuries than she ever wanted to know. She couldn’t believe that her father could do something like this, but apparently, he was just as cruel and heartless as they’d suspected.
When Zeke handed Sierra a cup of coffee, she smiled gratefully up at him.
Sierra sniffled and took a sip of the coffee and a tissue, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “Okay, I’m fine now,” she said. Looking at Marissa, she said, “I think most of those tears were just due to stress so please don’t think I’m breaking down, Mari. I just…” she searched for the right words. “I can’t believe that the man who did this is our father. It’s just too horrific to believe.”
Marissa looked suspiciously at her sister, not sure if she believed her mental state or not. “What are you going to do?” she asked soothingly.
Sierra was quite firm about her plans. “I’m going to stay here and make sure no one else hurts that man. He didn’t deserve any of this.”
Marissa eyed her sister cautiously. “How do you know he wasn’t part of the problem?”
Sierra was already shaking her head, denying that the man fighting for his life in the hospital bed was like their father. “No. He’s innocent in all of this. I can’t explain it to you. I just know it, Mari.”
“His name is Drake Harrison,” Zeke explained. “And according to Dave, he has no ties with your father or any other criminal enterprises. He’s a good man,” Zeke assured Marissa.
“See?” Sierra said triumphantly, as if Zeke’s statement was fact simply because it coincided with her own opinion of the stranger. “Listen, Mari. You have to trust me. I’m going to be okay. I’m going to make sure this man survives, I’ll pay for all of his hospital and doctors’ expenses on the credit cards Dad gave to us and then I’m going to head off to school. I don’t care what Dad says about my education. I’m done listening to him and following his commands. As far as I’m concerned, our father is dead to me.” Her chin jutted out stubbornly and Marissa prayed that Sierra’s instincts bout the man were on target.
“And if he has other plans for you?” Marissa asked worriedly, thinking about the predicament she was currently in.
“Then I’ll go into hiding. I don’t care anymore. This was the last straw, Mari. I’m moving out and I’m not going to watch as Dad does these kinds of things. Nor am I going to live off of the largesse of his criminal enterprises anymore. I’m out,” she stated emphatically.
Marissa knew that Sierra would have a fight ahead of her. She wasn’t sure what she could do, but Sierra was strong. “We’ll do this together,” she said, deciding that her sister was right. It was time for both of them to move on with their lives.
Sierra smiled slightly. “You’re a great sister, Mari. But I don’t want you involved in this.”
Marissa shook her head adamantly. “I’m not leaving you.”
Zeke cleared his throat at that moment. “I’m sorry to contradict you, Marissa, but you’re coming with me.” Turning to Sierra and before Marissa could contradict him he said, “Sierra, I’m going to leave some bodyguards with you. They will be here to protect you and help you with whatever you need. Do you understand?”
Another tear slipped from Sierra’s eye. “Thank you. But could they guard Mr. Harrison? I don’t think…”
Zeke smiled gently as he interrupted her. “I know this is going to come as a shock, but you’re my sister-in-law now and I won’t allow anything to happen to you. They’ll protect both of you.” Zeke wasn’t going to leave this young girl on her own, especially if what he suspected was true. “Call me if you run into any problems and especially call me if you decide you don’t want the guards. Will you do that?”
Sierra tearily looked into Zeke’s eyes, a man she’d never met. Her eyes went to Marissa’s hand that was in the stranger’s, saw her sister’s wedding ring, then back to the man’s eyes. With a fast decision, Sierra accepted this person her sister obviously trusted. “I’ll call you. And thank you,” she said with heartfelt sincerity.
Turning to Marissa, she looked at her with obvious surprise. “Mari, you have a lot of explaining to do. So as soon as you can, give me a call and tell me everything that has happened since that horrible party, okay?”
Zeke put a hand on Sierra’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I have to take your sister away for a while. And I’m sorry to do this at a crisis point…”
“Don’t worry,” Sierra interrupted. “I think I understand. Just keep her safe, okay?”
Zeke’s respect for his new wife’s sister grew exponentially in that moment. She wasn’t as fragile as she looked. “I’ll protect her with my life.”
Marissa glanced between the two of them and a touch of jealousy flared up, surprising her. She’d never felt jealous about anyone before. Why would she feel threatened by her sister and the man she’d just married?
Maybe it was because Sierra was looking at the man she….no, not loved, but definitely wanted for some strange reason…and there was something in her eyes. Some indefinable emotion she’d never seen before.
With one more squeeze, Zeke stood up, taking Marissa’s hand in his and pulling her out of the waiting room. “Watch her and the man she’s watching over,” Zeke said to the two men standing outside the waiting room doors.
“I’ll call Mr. Hamilton and get more men here, Mr. Vaughn,” one of them said, already pulling his phone out of his pocket to call Hamilton Securities, one of the best security agencies in the world.
“No. I’ll call Mitch myself and get more people to cover myself and Marissa. He just got married a few months ago so I need him to focus on this and not Claire. At least for a few minutes.” He was only half joking and the guards all knew it. Mitch Harrison wouldn’t disappoint but they all knew about his new wife who could be a distraction. Especially when she was trying to break into their home. “You stay here. Don’t’ take your focus off of either of them until this gets cleared up.”