Stronger (The Unit Book 2) by Sarah Greyson Page B

front of people. Nevertheless, she stood rooted to her spot, spine straight, eyes focused on her father’s.
    “You, young lady, will be coming home with me.”
    “I will not. I will find my own protection.”
    “With what means? I will cut you off so fast…”
    Inhaling deeply through her nose, she responded, “Good. I’ll use what I have in my trust fund. I’ll find a job like everyone else. I don’t want you to hate me, Daddy. I just want to have my own life. I’m tired of you controlling me.”
    “And how are you going to afford protection? You need me.” He was looking straight into her eyes begging her to defy him. “Around the clock protection isn’t cheap. It will eat through your trust fund in a couple of months.”
    “I will be her protection, sir.” Rob moved to stand beside Lola.
    “See, Daddy. It’s settled. Rob will protect me.”
    “I forbid it.”
    “You don’t have a say, sir,” Rob’s steel grey eyes met dark, menacing ones. “Your daughter is an adult. If she doesn’t want to go home with you, she doesn’t have to. But rest assured, I will die before I let anything happen to her.”
    “Lola,” Mr. Sardeson resorted to begging.
    “I’m sorry, Daddy, but my mind is made up.”
    “If I provide funding for this protection, can we make sure he has backup.” Mr. Sardeson could never refuse his daughter anything. It was his fault she was still in danger.
    “We can work something out.” Tyrrell looked at Rob. “Care to tell me where the additional funds came from?”
    “I’d rather not,” Rob responded.
    “That wasn’t really a question.”
    “Fine. I put in the twenty-five grand, or we would have lost the auction,” Rob said lowering his head embarrassed.
    Lola’s mouth dropped open. “Why?” she whispered.
    “I couldn’t lose you,” Rob said looking into her beautiful sea-foam colored eyes. All of the men in the room exchanged glances. What did he mean?
    “I will pay you back,” Mr. Sardeson said reaching into his breast pocket and removing his checkbook.
    “Lola, do you mind if I talk to my boss and your father for a minute, alone?” Rob asked aware that damage had been done, aware that he had revealed too much.
    “Perfect timing. Aaron, will you show Ms. Sardeson to the ladies’ room so she can change?” Tyrrell asked.
    Aaron opened the door for Lola, and she followed him down the hall. When Rob could no longer hear footsteps, he spoke. “I do not want my money back. I don’t want payment for this job. I’m protecting her because I want to. If you want to pay the company for the other men’s involvement, that’s fine, but I will not take a penny of your money.” He looked at Tyrrell, and Tyrrell knew he was serious.
    “If you aren’t doing this for the money, son, then why are you doing this?” Mr. Sardeson asked cutting through the bullshit.
    “I care for your daughter. Nothing will happen to her. No one will touch her, not as long as I am around. That’s all you need to know.”
    “Tyrrell, I guess that leaves you and me to talk business,” Mr. Sardeson said, dismissing Rob and turning his attention back to Tyrrell.
    Rob waited outside the Ladies’ restroom for Lola. He wanted to be the one to tell her the good news. She would get what she wanted. She could go back to Harvard. But he also had to explain his new role in her life. She exited the bathroom dressed in men’s jeans at least two sizes too big for her and a man’s plain white V-neck undershirt. She had to keep a hand on the pants or they would fall down.
    “Thanks for that. With my father. No one has ever stood up to him for me before.”
    “You don’t have to thank me. You deserve to live your own life. I do need to talk to you though,” Rob said, trying hard to avoid looking at her perky breasts covered by the thin fabric.
    “Sure,” she said joining him in his walk down the hallway.
    When they reached his cube, he pulled out his chair and offered her a seat.
    “Thank