Page 17 of Guarding her Gangster Girl

But Brie is on a roll, paranoia sweeping over her. “And then there’s Phil,” she continues. “He runs the casino. Maybe he saw an opportunity to take a cut for himself and Terry found out about it. And Sophie…” She trails off, shaking her head. “Sophie looks after the money. But what if she’s not just an accountant. What if she’s…”

“What if she’s what?”

Her eyes dart to the Syndicate women before returning to me. She shakes her head emphatically. “You were right. I shouldn’t be talking about this here.”

I notice the slight tremor in her hands as she hands me a plate I don’t want.

But I take it. “Brie,” I say, surprising myself by using her first name. “Take a breath. You’re spinning out.”

She blinks, as if coming out of a trance. “You’re right,” she says, forcing a laugh. “I’m being ridiculous.” Her eyes dart around the room, and that’s when I finally get it. Finally understand the electric charge that seems to be coming off of her.

“You believe the killer is in this room.” It’s not a question.

She glances around the room again. “I feel like I’m going crazy,” she says at last. “But I canfeelit here with us. Some kind of…malevolence.”

I find myself curious. “Then why trust me, of all people, to guard you? I’m a stranger. For all you know, Eva Novak isn’t above taking out inconvenient people when it suits her. Perhapssheauthorized a hit.”

It’s a little heartless, of me, sure. But Brie doesn’t waver. “I trust you because the other night you protected me without a second thought. And you clearly had no idea who the shooter was.” She pauses. “If itwasa setup from your boss, it was a very good one. But I also prefer you to protect me because of our…shared interests. The Colombos don’t know about—well, that side of my life.”

A thrill runs through me at her words, even as I remind myself to stay professional. Just because we both prefer women doesn’t make us loyal to each other.

But she’s right about the shooter the other night. I had no clue who it was. Brie is looking across the room at Eva, and I can’t help looking at my boss as well.

Looking and wondering.

Eva catches my eye, giving me a smile and a slight nod. She’s pleased I’m in this position, no doubt expecting me to report back on all of Brie’s doings and any juicy Colombo family secrets. For the first time, I feel a twinge of resentment. I’ve always prided myself on loyalty, on following orders, on protecting the Consortium.

Protecting Eva’s interests.

But something about Brie makes me want to protecther. She may be the widow of a crime lord, she may be as big a fake as they come, but…there’s a vulnerability about her that calls to something deep inside me.

The burial goes off without a hitch. Brie even conjures up a few tears. But as I watch the crowd, making sure my focus is on the surroundings and the people gathered, I think I feel it too, what Brie was talking about.

Something malevolent.

After the burial, and then the second gathering and more food that I don’t want, I go with Brie back to her suite at the GoldenSands. It’s dripping with the kind of luxury that would make most people’s eyes pop. Me? I’m too busy cataloging entry points and potential hazards.

My bags have already been sent over from the hotel the Consortium was staying at, placed neatly in the living room. I don’t like that someone in the Consortium packed up my things at the hotel, looked through them. But at least they thought to include a few extras—some trackers, a few extra handguns, even a rifle.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Brie announces after I complete a sweep of the whole place, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion that wasn’t there before. “Make yourself comfortable. We can talk after.”

The thought of this woman, naked and wet, just a couple of doors away…I shake my head. I’m here to protect her, not fantasize about her.

I’m halfway through my second prowl of the living room when I hear a keycard zipping open the main door lock again. I have a decision to make. Pull my gun? If it’s one of the Colombos, and they’re here for legitimate reasons, I don’t want to start anything. But I make sure my holster is unobstructed and place my hand on the butt of the gun.

The door bursts open to reveal a whirlwind of designer suit and righteous fury, and the guy is ranting before he even clears the threshold.

“I swear to God, Brie, if I have to listen to one more—” He stops short when he sees me, his words dying in his throat. His hand moves fast, and suddenlyI’mthe one staring down the barrel of a gun as the door closes softly behind him.

“Who the fuck are you?” he demands, his voice shaking almost as much as his hands around the 9mm. “Where’s Brie? What have you done with her?”

I know this guy. The private secretary, or whatever. So I keep my voice steady, take my hand off my own gun. No sudden movements. “Brie’s in the shower. I’m her new bodyguard on loan. Now, why don’t you put that gun down before you hurt yourself?”

His eyes widen, but the gun doesn’t waver. “Bodyguard? Since when does Brie have a?—”

“Holden!” Brie’s voice cuts through our little scene. She emerges from the bathroom, hair wet, body wrapped in nothing but a tiny towel that’s working hard over those generous curves. I force my eyes away, focusing on the still-armed intruder. “Put the gun down, honey,” Brie says with a sigh. “She’s telling the truth.”

The man—Holden—lowers the weapon slowly, confusion written all over his face. “What’s going on?”

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