Page 63 of Shadow Redemption

Ben squeezed her hand. “Go to work, sunshine. I’ll be close.”

“The other models will arrive soon,” Rich growled.

Ruth dashed across the sand. While she worked, changing poses at Scott’s direction, she noticed that Sam, Joe, and Ben formed a loose triangle around the job site and divided their attention between scanning the beach and watching Scott and Rich.

When Scott requested a wardrobe change, Rich caught her arm and dragged her close. “What’s going on?” he hissed. “Who are these people?”

At his touch, a wave of revulsion washed over Ruth to the point that she feared she’d be sick. “Let go.”

Instead of complying, her agent tightened his grip. “Answer me. I have a right to know.”

In the next instant, she was free, Ben holding Rich’s wrist with a white-knuckled grip. Her agent gasped and sank to his knees.

“The lady asked you to release her,” Ben said without loosening his grip. He maintained his hold a few more seconds before releasing Rich and gathering Ruth against his side. He walked with her across the sand. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t prepared for him to touch me.”

“No apologies between us. You don’t have to explain what his touch did to you, the memories he triggered. I know.”

“A touch on my arm shouldn’t have been a big deal.” Was she that fragile? Maybe she wasn’t strong enough to be with Ben.

“The hold on your arm was only part of the problem.” He stopped several feet from the tent. “You felt threatened by Rich like you did with Torino. Your instincts are on target. Don’t second guess yourself.”

How did this tough operative know the right words to bolster her confidence? “Thanks.”

He winked and escorted her into the tent.

“Wardrobe change,” Ruth told Delayne.

The wardrobe mistress checked her master list and grabbed the outfit assigned for the next round of photos. “Do you need water?”

Ruth shook her head and stepped behind the screen. Five minutes later, she and Ben walked to the site. “Where is Nico?” she asked.

“Ahead of us.”

She looked beyond Rich and Scott. Ruth smiled at the sight of Nico lounging on a beach chair under a wide umbrella, dark sunglasses on his face, a large cooler at his side. “Are you sure he’s not sleeping on the job?”

“Positive. He’s been scanning the area with his binoculars. His rifle is in the cooler. Trace is to your right.”

She glanced that direction to see her brother-in-law with a pair of binoculars to his eyes.

“Roxanne, hurry up,” Scott called. “Time is money.”

Although irritated with his attitude, he was correct. Also, the heat would climb throughout the day. The faster Scott got what he wanted, the quicker she’d be finished for the day.

“I’d like to punch him,” Joe groused. “How do you stand to work with him?”

“He’s usually not so bad-tempered.”

Sam grinned. “I think Ben has a lot to do with Scott’s attitude.”

When Ruth posed again, Sam and Joe rented beach chairs like tourists and set up a short distance away. Although they didn’t have coolers like Nico and Trace, she knew they were armed and ready.

Within 30 minutes, the other models arrived and swarmed into the changing tent. As Ruth had expected, Autumn, Jade, Lindsey, Sapphire, and Tom were part of this shoot. The security guys also arrived to keep the public away from the models and crew.

Between wardrobe changes, Ruth introduced the Fortress operative at her side to the security guys and explained the need for own team. “Please don’t say anything to anyone aside from your men,” she asked Alan, the head of the security team. “Ben wants to catch the stalker by surprise.”

“You sure this guy is any good?” Alan asked, arms folded over his massive chest.

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