Defying Asher (Knight Security 1) by Carole Mortimer

this conversation that Knight Security is still employed by my mother?” Lissa prompted.
    “I think the arrival of the text message shortly before I got to her apartment may have helped to convince her,” Gabriel acknowledged dryly.
    “You didn’t send it, did you?” Lissa teased.
    He smiled ruefully. “I didn’t think of it.”
    “Maybe next time.”
    To Ash’s irritation, Gabriel chuckled. An honest-to-God fucking chuckle. When his big brother was known far and wide for his lack of humor.
    Which could only mean Gabriel liked Lissa.
    Damn it, this jealousy thing was getting out of hand. Way out of hand if Ash was going to react to something as trivial as Gabriel laughing at something Lissa had said. Humor that Gabriel probably welcomed after the last twelve hours.
    Ash knew that Gabriel was taking this latest threat very seriously. Even that fawning idiot Malcolm Arnold, Claudia’s assistant and lover, now had his own separate protection detail.
    Lissa sobered. “Is there no way to trace where these text messages are coming from?”
    Gabriel shook his head. “Whoever it is, they’re using burner phones. One-time use only before being turned off and then disposed of.”
    “What about the e-mails?”
    “There were only two, at the start of the threats. Our tech team has established they were both sent from different untraceable e-mail addresses that are now defunct.”
    “But can’t they— I think I’ve watched too many forensic science programs on television.” Lissa grimaced self-derisively. “They always seem to get their man by tracing phones records and e-mail addresses.”
    “I think our killer must have watched the same programs,” Gabriel drawled, “because he or she knows exactly what to do to avoid detection. Hello, who’s this?” He raised dark brows as the tricolor cat strolled into the room before jumping up onto Lissa’s lap, purring loudly.
    “Meet Sherlock.” Lissa cradled the cat in her arms. “This is only cupboard love because he wants feeding again,” she said affectionately as the cat’s head bumped her gently beneath the chin.
    “Hm,” Asher murmured. “I’ll have to remember that.”
    She shot him a scathing glance as she stood up. “It only works if you purr and have four legs.”
    “I could manage the purr.”
    Lissa was very aware Gabriel was in the room listening to their conversation. A conversation in which so far neither of them had shown themselves in a good light. Asher’s comment just now had definitely been suggestive.
    “If you gentlemen will both excuse me?” She looked at them pointedly. “I have a lot to do before I go to the hospital.”
    Gabriel rose politely to his feet. “There will be two men assigned to you now at all times. I’ve put Ethan and Ian on duty here tonight. Ash and Zander will take over again in the morning. I would appreciate it if you could let them know when you want to go out and where you’re going. I take it you’ll want to go to your travel agency tomorrow?”
    She nodded. “At least for some of the time.”
    Gabriel nodded. “A thorough check will be made of the premises and your employees before tomorrow morning.”
    Her arms tightened about Sherlock’s warm body. “This is all very real, isn’t it?” She gave a shiver. “Harvey’s dead. Jack’s shot. My mother in danger.”
    “As real as it gets,” Gabriel confirmed. “And as annoying as I know my baby brother can be,” he added mockingly, “I nevertheless advise that you listen without arguing if he issues an order.”
    She gave the ghost of a smile. “I’ll try.”
    “You’ll do more than try,” Ash growled.
    “Ash?” Gabriel prompted.
    He knew his brother was expecting him to leave with him. After all, Ethan and Ian should be arriving any minute now.
    Not going to happen. Ash wasn’t leaving. At least, not yet. “I want to have a word with Lissa before I go.”
    Gabriel gave him a searching glance before giving a barely perceptible nod.