Page 14 of The Bodyguard

“You don’t suffer fools gladly, do you?”

“No. And I’d take that as a warning if I were you.”

He looks at me again, and the smile’s back. And I find myself smiling too, but even though he’s making an effort to be nice that doesn’t take away from the fact he’s still an intrusion on my life, one I don’t want and certainly didn’t ask for.

Eyes back out front, I switch on some music, sitting back as an Armin van Buuren track takes over the silence, an uplifting trance classic that suits the warm, sunny weather. And as I turn my head away from Bodie, I close my eyes and dream about holidays and walks along the marina on the small, Greek island my family visits at least three times a year. We own a villa over there, and it’s beautiful. Surrounded by olive trees and bougainvillea it’s another perfect escape afforded to us because my father and brother take insane risks to make this family money. And maybe they really do get off on that shit, I don’t know, but sometimes I wish they’d quit the dangerous life they lead. It would certainly lowermystress levels.

The car stops, and my eyes spring open. We’re home.

“Come on. I’ll help you with your stuff, and before you start, that’s not because I don’t think you can manage, okay?”

I look at him, and I’m the one smirking this time. He seems to have a handle on me already, which is good. This afternoon wasn’t a total waste of time, then. “Okay.”

Ollie’s outside, leaning back against the front of the house, his eyes down as he checks his phone.

“Hey.” I lean back against the wall beside him. “You been here all day?”

He briefly raises his gaze, before dropping it back down. “No. I went into town, met a few mates, had a couple of drinks down on the Quayside.” He glances over at Bodie, who’s busy unloading my bags from the car. “You and him getting on alright?”

“He’s my bodyguard. It isn’t important I get on with him at all.”

Ollie looks at me, and I’m sure I saw his eyes roll. “Still playing the stubborn card.”

“I’m tolerating him, okay?”

“And that’s all we can hope for.” Ollie sighs as he heads into the house, and I watch Bodie shut the car door and lean back against it, taking his phone out of his pocket, his eyes dipping down to check it. He does that a lot, check his phone.

I watch him for a moment or two, the way his fingers dance lightly over the screen as he taps out a message, and I wonder who the recipient is. What it is he’s sending, is it professional, or personal? Not because I care either way, I’m just curious. This man is a stranger to me, it’s only natural I’d want to –shouldknow more about him. And I don’t think he’s a bad guy, but even if he was the kindest, most wonderful man ever to walk this planet I still didn’t ask for his protection. He’s still an irritant I can’t be bothered to deal with but, for now at least, I will. Because my father asked me to. But sooner rather than later I fully expect to be back in my own home, living my life the way I want to live it, away from the prying eyes of this stranger. Ollie’s right. I’m stubborn as shit. And nobody’s ever going to change that.

Five

Bodie’s good at his job, I can’t deny that. He’s keeping his distance, letting me go about my day without too much intrusion, but as far as coming into the office with me, I’m against that. It would bring far too much attention, cause too many questions to be asked, so, he’s outside. Somewhere. Doing whatever it is he’s supposed to do to keep me safe from a threat I still don’t know the full extent of. And, yeah, that’s still pissing me off.

A knock at the door makes me look up from the pile of paperwork that seems to have taken over my desk.

“Come in.”

Jake Galletti saunters into my office, leans back against the wall by the door and folds his arms. Jake is one of my father’s most loyal soldiers, and one of mine and Ollie’s closest friends. We grew up together, he’s as good as family. He has our ultimate trust, and that’s not an easy thing to achieve, believe me.

“Hey. Is something up?”

“Your father needs to see you.”

Jesus… Seriously? We’re still on with this summoning shit?“Now? Can’t it wait?”

Jake shrugs, and I sit back and sigh.

“Any idea what he wants this time?”

Jake glances back over his shoulder as Bodie strolls through the door and into my office like he owns the place.

“I’ll see you later,” Jake says, throwing me a smile as he leaves me and Bodie alone. And I really don’t appreciate this intrusion, I’m at work.

“What are you doing?”

Bodie raises an eyebrow. “My job.”

“Your job is to not bring attention to the fact you’redoingyour job.” That makes sense, inmyhead, but he knows what I mean.

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