Page 9 of Guarded By an Alien Hunter

“I know.”

I set down the phone, feeling light-hearted. This is indeed good news. I have my privacy back. Well, everyone already knows where I live and they even passed my picture around on those weird dark web sites. But at least they will have to take it all down and there won’t be more of this.

And I glance at the back of Vander’s head. And now I have a badass alien hunter to protect me. I have a feeling no one will get past him.

Eventually we pullinto the downstairs parking garage of the federal courthouse. Vander finds a space that is unbelievably close to the entrance and boldly leaves the SUV in a secured spot. Soon he’s opening my door and hustling me into an empty hallway.

In moments we walk together, through a side door, into the main entrance of the courthouse that everyone must pass through. It’s an enormous space with lots of people hustling to get where they need to be and lots of security. I get ready to pass through the metal detectors and get patted down.

Vander growls when they guards try to do the same to him.

The guards look wide eyed at his blue muscles and flash of fang and sputter at the futuristic weapons strapped to Vander’s body and his shiny armor.

A woman strides forward, very official-looking, most likely their boss. “Let this man through. Vander Best and his client have been precleared. He’s always to be let through and so is his charge.”

Vander grunts in agreement and places a hand on the small of my back and guides me away. Normally, I’d never let a man touch me in this way without my consent, but I love the feel of his hand on my body, even through two layers of clothes. It feels right.

He directs me to the closest elevator. It seems to open quickly and we both step inside. Other people in suits try to get in too and he shoves them out over their protestations and soon the doors close and we’re going up, just the two of us.

“That was rude.”

He crosses his arms. “But you are safe.”

We exit on the correct floor and he’s right beside me again. I don’t even have to tell him where to go, he simply guides me to the jury waiting room as if he’s been here before and soon I’m there and he’s in a seat in a corner.

Everyone else on the jury, people I’ve befriended over the last week, stare at him in wonder. For some reason they’ve all voted to have me as their jury foreperson, which is scary and nice at the same time.

“Who is that?”

“His name is Vander Best. He’s my new bodyguard.”

They all nod in understanding because they know what happened to me and how dangerous it’s been.

“He gets to stay in this room with us?” someone whispers.

“I guess?”

“He’s an alien, isn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“His skin is so blue,” Nelson gripes.

Alisha, a young college student with long, glossy, black hair and incredible legs, sighs with delight. She smiles at Vander with perfect teeth. “I think he’s handsome.”

A spark of jealousy hits me hard. I can’t help but glance across the room at Vander, who grins back at me. I bet he’s heard every word. “He’s got amazing hearing,” I warn them. “Whatever you say, even if you think you’re whispering, he can hear.”

“Oh good,” Alisha says, tossing her lovely hair over her shoulder and giving him a wink.

“How did you end up with this fancy security that the rest of us don’t get?” Nelson, who is retired and the oldest among us, grumbles.

I put my hands up and tell the honest truth. “My dad paid for it.”

“Your dad can afford this guy to be here for the next few weeks? How rich are you? I thought you were normal, like the rest of us, but you’re some rich princess, aren’t you?”

There’s a growl in the corner and Vander is glaring at Nelson with his hand on the nearest weapon.

I step close to Nelson. “He just likes to bluster,” I inform Vander. “He means no harm.”

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