Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

but when she said so he gave her an impatient look that made her wish she had kept her mouth shut.
    The team Jason had called in didn’t hesitate to take on this assignment. Jason sat next to Bella and held her small hand firmly in his, lending her his strength. Sal, Tony, and Danny all wore the same stoic expressions. They surrounded her like her own personal army.
    She had met Marco Sladerman, or Slade, a big, scary son of a bitch who moved like smoke with the devil’s own good looks. He had a scar slashed across the right side of his face, making him look dark and dangerous. Bella was intimidated by the sheer size of him at first, but he had gently taken her hand in his and had told her with certainty that they would keep her safe. Looking into his startling light blue eyes that looked almost unreal, she couldn’t help but believe him.
    The next man, Lucian Steele, was a tall handsome man with black hair and black-obsidian eyes who looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ. His dark eyes sparkled with mirth when he leaned down and kissed Bella’s hand, and Jason harshly ordered him away from her.
    Two men named Rock and Adrian were on guard duty with her parents until they were safely stashed away in Italy. They were escorting her parents across the ocean, so she would have to wait to meet them, but she could hear their deep voices over the conference link. Finn was also missing since he was busy protecting Liz, but he was also on the call from wherever he was. She had already met Finn, and she felt better knowing that he was guarding her friend. With his easygoing nature and the amusement flashing in his eyes, he was fun to be around, but she knew when the time was right, he could be deadly.
    The only woman on the team had come in last. When she sauntered in, Bella was surprised to see her. She found herself wrapped in a tight hug and felt so lucky to have her friend by her side. Bella’s half-Japanese, half-Italian friend Tara Toshi was an exotically beautiful woman. Tara’s dark brown eyes held secrets as old as time. She had naturally tanned skin, a body that made men beg, and a kick-ass attitude with the skills to back it up. Bella didn’t know Tara was part of IAD, but she wasn’t surprised. Somehow it fit her. She wore confidence and strength like second skin. They had been friends growing up, and Tara had only recently moved back into the city. Tara’s thoughtful brown eyes held concern for Bella while she had listened to the briefing.
    There had been no fingerprints on the card, but they knew it was Victor Dane. There was nothing to go on from the clipping, but the lack of evidence did not stop the group from making plans. Bella tried to insist that having a full team of anti-terrorist agents was overkill for one psycho stalker, but no one listened.
    A man matching Victor’s description had been seen on one of the security cameras they had placed at the entrance of the cooking school. He had cut his hair, but Bella would have known him anywhere. They didn’t have a clear view of the parking lot, but that had already been taken care of last night. If he was stupid enough to come there again, they would have him.
    When the discussion had ended, Bella barely had enough energy to thank everyone, and with bleak eyes she asked if she could go rest. The night before her palm print had been entered into the system to allow her access to the private elevators and his apartment, but Jason still escorted her upstairs.
    Her parents had been sent away, and Liz would have a guard with her at the gallery every day until this was over, with the understanding that they didn’t interfere with her work. Everyone close to Bella was to be protected until Victor was caught. The problem was that everyone there had a part to play, some important role except her.
    She was just the victim.
    Bella felt guilty. Guilty that the lives of the people she loved were disrupted. Guilty that these people had to risk their own lives to stop someone from taking hers. Guilty that all these people were taking the time to protect her when they had other important matters that they should be handling. Bella closed her eyes and let out a sigh as she realized that she was letting self-pity take over. It was just so difficult to think of someone out there who hated her so much that he wanted her dead.
    Jason stood there looking down at Bella as she soaked in his bathtub. His gut twisted in knots at the sight of the dark circles under