Page 5 of South Beach Bodyguards

“Is what you do dangerous?”

“Sometimes.”

“I worry about you.”

She was worried about me. That was freaking ironic as hell. “I’m a little worried about you, too, you know. I can’t figure out how you landed at the foot of the stairs with a bump on your head and you’re not helping me solve this particular mystery.”

Isabel touched her head like she had just remembered she had hit it. “Where is my purse?”

“I have no idea.”

“Where’s my phone?”

“I have no idea.”

“Where is my mom?”

“Don’t know that either.”

“What do you know?” she asked, and damn, she sounded cranky.

She wasn’t the only one feeling a bit irritated. “I know nothing, okay? A whole lot of fucking nothing.”

There was a knock on my apartment door. Isabel jerked and immediately positioned herself behind me. My protective instinct came out, strong. “It’s okay. You’re fine. Go into the bedroom and close and lock the door behind you.” I squeezed her hand to reassure her and nudged her towards the bedroom. Then I went to retrieve my gun.

Once I heard the door to the bedroom close behind Isabel, I moved to the front window and flattened myself against the wall, peering through the tiny space between the blinds and the window frame. I relaxed. I didn’t have a great view, but enough to see that it was Kim. Tucking my gun in my waistband I unlocked the door and quickly drew Kim into the apartment. She looked startled to be essentially dragged through the door, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I had no idea what the hell was actually going on, but my father was given me decent reason to be concerned that Isabel and Kim were in some kind of danger.

“Where’s Isabel?” she asked, putting her hand to her chest. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine.” I let go of her arm. “Except that she’s calling herself Julia and doesn’t seem to have a clue what happened.”

Kim frowned. “Julia? Who is Julia?”

“I have no idea.” That was my line of the hour. Kim was an older version of Isabel. She had dark hair and curves that she kept in shape with roller blading and swimming, according to my father. He had been proud to be with her, and as well he should have been. The years had been rough on Mickey, which didn’t bode well for me. Kim had definitely been the cuter one of the couple. Sort of like me with Isabel. My face had had too many fists slammed into it. There was no denying I was rough around the edges, a big tall guy with an ugly mug. Not that Isabel and I were ever going to be anything, because we weren’t. So why was I even thinking about how out of place I would be next to her beautiful face?

I wasn’t. Damn it.

“Where is she?”

“In the bedroom.”

The door actually swung open right then and Isabel came out. “Mom! Hi.”

“Are you okay?” Kim went over and hugged her. “I know the doctors said you’re fine, but Mickey has me worried sick.”

“Why?” Isabel gave her mother a puzzled look.

“Because you were assaulted.”

“I was?”

“Yes!” Kim shot me a look over her shoulder. “Isabel, honey, maybe you should lay down.”

“Why does everyone keep calling me Isabel? I’m really getting upset!” The panicked expression was back on Isabel’s face.

Kim’s eyes filled with tears and she looked bewildered. I didn’t blame her. I had no clue what was going on or how the hell to fix it. “Ryan,” she said, and the pleading in her voice kicked me in the gut. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out, Kim, I promise. Everything is going to be fine.”

---