Chapter 17
Tony awoke Friday morning to an alarming text message from Natasha. She found out the name of the man that killed Rachel and she found out that he had made his way to Southern California . He didn’t know she was Tony’s daughter but he had gotten a tip that someone had seen her in Malibu. Tony tripled the security precautions on the property. He had tech traps set and if Jarvis didn’t recognize them he would send an alert to Tony and with a single command and he could pulverize anyone who was anywhere within 500 feet on the property. He was busy programming Jarvis on what he should recognize. Natasha also agreed to follow Tiffany and Happy just in case. Now he had to convince Pepper not to leave until after he found the guy.
“Pepper please I am begging you. I can’t protect you if you’re not with me” Tony said.
“Tony I am not the target. I need to go home” Pepper said.
“These men are professional killers. They will kill anyone and everyone in the way. Please just stay until I find him. Give me a week and if I don’t find him by then then you can go home” Tony said to Pepper.
“Ok” she said quietly.
“Did you have Jarvis scan Dean’s car so when he comes to pick me up he won’t pulverize him?”she reminded him.
“Of course Pepper” Tony said as he continued his security on every window and door in the house.
“I need to go into the office”
“Go and hurry back so I know you’re safe” Tony said.
“Tony I’ll be fine” Pepper said.
Pepper was supposed to be there for about an hour and she ended up being there for three hours. She looked at the time and Happy was calling her. She picked up the phone.
“Yes I’ll be right out. I can come with you to pick up Tiffany” she said into the phone.
Pepper got into the car with Happy and they headed for Tiffany’s school. Happy pulled up and Tiffany got inside.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I got stuck at the office and it came time to pick you up” she said.
Happy was driving when a car with no plates and tinted out windows pulled out a few cars behind them. None of them noticed the car. After ten minutes they made their way up to the Stark Mansion and parked. A minute later an explosion went off about 500 feet back. Tony who approved the explosion jumped into his suit and through his roof immediately.
Happy’s airbag went off and Tiffany and Pepper were jostled around the back seat. Tony landed in the front of Happy’s car and opened the door.
“Are you guys alright?” Tony asked.
Happy nodded.
“Get in the house now all of you” Tony said.
He went over to the other car that was smoking and opened the door. There were two men and neither of them were the man Natasha had sent a picture of. A few minutes later she came running up the driveway. She had also been tailing Happy for their protection.
“Where is he?”Tony asked with a murderous look in his eye as he pulled the one guy from the car.
“Please I wasn’t going to hurt her. My job was only to gather intel” he said.
“Answer the question” Tony said angrily.
“I don’t know” the man said.
Tony put his repulsor up and the man began to cry.
“Tony let me bring them in” Natasha said. Tony threw him on the ground.
“Natasha if he comes near Tiffany or Pepper or Happy again I will kill him on site” Tony warned.
Tony went inside while Natasha cuffed the men and took them away. He got out of the suit and walked directly to the mini bar and poured his bourbon.
“Was that him?” Tiffany asked.
“No but he worked for him. Don’t worry we’re close now” he said as he hugged her.
Pepper was so shaken up and Happy was icing his face which got bruised from the airbag explosion.
“Pepper I know you’re seeing Dean tonight but I think you should cancel. It’s too dangerous” Tony said pulling her aside to talk to her.
“Tony I will be fine. That only happened today because I was with Tiffany”
“Where are you guys going?”
“Nobu” Pepper said.
“So order it to go and have your date here. I will stay downstairs and leave you guys alone. This way I know you’ll be safe” Tony said.
Pepper knew he was right so she text Dean to see what he thought about it.
“Ok he’s coming here at eight” Pepper said as she scampered away to work.
“You better stay too Hogan”
Tony looked outside and Natasha had taken care of the exploded car. He stepped outside and recalibrated his explosions so they could go off again if needed.
Eight o’clock arrived and Tony watched on camera as Pepper’s date arrived at the door. Jarvis let him in and Tony saw Pepper greet him with a kiss. And then he noticed that she was wearing a green dress and it looked amazing on her. He felt jealousy wash over him as they headed to the table. Tony flipped back to the outdoor camera. He was going to keep vigil for as long as he needed too.
About an hour later Tiffany came down the stairs and used her father's override codes to get inside his workshop.
“What are you doing down here?” he asked.
“I’m here to hang out with you and see what you’re doing”
“I’ve been watching the exterior cameras” he said.
“You should take a nap and let me watch for a bit if you plan on watching all night” she said.
“What’s going on up there? Is she having fun?” Tony asked about Pepper.
“Can’t you just watch on the camera?” Tiffany asked.
“I’m not going to do that and invade Pepper’s privacy. I promised I wouldn’t” he said.
“I didn’t” Tiffany said clicking on the living room camera.
The picture appeared and Pepper and Dean were on the couch kissing.
“You want me to go break it up by asking Pepper for something she will know you won’t know” Tiffany asked.
“Let’s go up together and I’ll help you this way it doesn’t look like you’re interrupting. It will look natural” Tony said.
“What could you need in the kitchen?” he asked.
“I can fake sick”
“Let’s do it” Tony said as he hurried upstairs and Tiffany followed close behind.
“My stomach hurts so bad” Tiffany groaned as she stumbled into the kitchen while holding her stomach.
“Hold on I have something for that I know it” Tony said flipping the light on and he began to rummage through cabinets and bottles of pills and medicines were getting knocked over everywhere.
Pepper and Dean pulled away for a moment and Pepper looked into the kitchen.
Tony found the pepto bismol and handed the bottle to Tiffany.
“Oh I’m sorry Pep. Tiffany has a bad stomach ache” Tony said trying to look as sincere as possible.
“I should probably go” Dean said as he got up from the couch.
“I’m sorry Pepper” Tiffany said as she clutched her stomach.
“It’s ok” Pepper said.
“I don’t think we officially met. I’m Tony” he said extending his hand to Dean.
“Dean” he said shaking it back.
“Sorry about all this. We have a situation right now and it’s unsafe for Pepper to leave” Tony said.
“Yeah I understand. Thanks again for letting us use your house. It was great to meet you” he said.
“Likewise” Tony said.
Pepper walked away to walk him to the door and Tiffany smiled and gave Tony a thumbs up.
Pepper walked into the kitchen and Tiffany was getting up to leave. Tony put the pepto bismol back and he grabbed a water from the fridge.
“I’m sorry Pep” Tony said.
“It’s not your fault”
“He seems ok” Tony said even though he wanted to knock him out.
“He’s nice. I’m going to see him tomorrow too. Our third date” she said.
Tony heard third date and nothing else. He knew what happened on the third date. It was the sex date. Not if he had anything to say about it.