I winked, but I didn’t feel strong. I was a mess. I thought being back in my house, in my own bed would help, but I’d not slept a wink, despite there being armed guards outside. In the end, I’d gotten up at 4 am and came into the office. I’d run ten miles, washed and dried my hair, and drank two large coffees before anyone else showed up.
“But, just to make sure you’re not putting on an excellent act, there is someone I want you to meet. Is that okay with you?”
I frowned, but then I nodded and Neo yelled, “Come in.”
A tall, dark haired man, with an expression that looked like he’d happily commit murder if you glanced at him the wrong way, walked in. He closed the door and unfastened his jacket, letting me see the two holstered guns hiding under there.
“Neo.” He nodded as Neo pointed to the chair next to him.
“Fern Richards, this is Thomas Lanton. Thomas, this is Fern.”
Thomas shook my hand as he sat, leaning back casually in his chair, crossing his ankle over his knee. I looked between the two men, both dressed in suits, but they couldn’t be more different.
“Fern, Thomas is a friend of the label. He helped the Gods out a lot over the years and, well, Addi and I hired him.”
“Okay.” I furrowed my brows. “For one of the bands?”
“No, Sweets.” He paused. “For you.”
A gasp escaped my lips. “What?”
“May I?” Thomas interrupted and I couldn’t help but notice the look of relief on Neo’s face as Thomas diverted my attention from ripping him a new one.
“Fern, I run a company… well, I oversee it more these days. I’m too old to be doing the day to day stuff, but still, it’s mine. Its purpose is to fix things for people; usually that involves catching some of the most horrific and dangerous people in the world.”
My palms suddenly felt sweaty, and I struggled to swallow. Neo noticed, standing to move to the fridge and bringing me a bottle of water. “And you think I need your help, why?”
He glanced at Neo before he continued. “I know what happened to you, Fern. It was my lighthouse you stayed in. It’s a safe house. It was me that Matt sent your photos to. It’s me Matt recommended helping with your restraining order.”
I wracked my brain for the things people had told me over the last week, but everything except Charlie was a bit of a blur. “What was your name again?”
“Lanton. Thomas Lanton.”
A flicker of recognition fired somewhere in the far reaches of my mind. “Okay, Mr. Lanton. But I’m not sure why I need your help. I’m speaking to the label’s legal team later to file the restraining order and I have security that I know came from you. I don’t think there’s much else you can do. It’s his word against mine.”
“Fern, call me Thomas, please. There are some things you don’t know. While you were at the lighthouse, someone broke into your house and fitted cameras in your bedroom and the bathroom as well as bugging the entire place. They also bugged your car. They probably even tried to do this place too, but Matt and I already have the building locked down because of the artists you have in here, so there was no chance.”
He paused while the information settled.
“James?” was all I could squeak out.
“Yes. Well, we don’t know that for sure, but I can’t imagine you have that many people wanting to spy on you.”
I looked down to see my hands shaking, so I forced them under my thighs, hoping no one noticed. “What else?” I asked, directing my attention to Thomas.
“James Horten has been on my radar for a couple of years. There is a reason he wins so many of his cases and it’s not because he’s good at his job.”
I stared at Thomas, his stoic demeanor calming me, silently promising that this would all be okay, even though I didn’t understand how.
“My dad?” I whispered, almost too scared to ask.
“There’s nothing to suggest he’s involved.”
A sigh of relief rushed from my lips.
“Do you need a minute before I carry on, Fern, because this is a lot and I want to make sure you listen to everything I’m going to tell you?”
Neo reached across my desk, taking my hand in his. “She’s good, Thomas.”