Page 6 of The Bodyguard

He knows I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. But I don’t tell him that, I just smile and take a gulp of gin, sit back, and try and look relaxed.

“I love it when the family gets together, all of us, under the same roof. Even if it’s only for a couple of days.” He smiles too, and when he does that he reminds me of the father I remember before I knew who he really was. What he really did. And as his eyes meet mine my stomach dips again, I’m getting a feeling I’m not going to like what he’s about to say next, because something’s coming. Not many people can – or should – try to read my father, but I’ve become an expert at it.

“What’s going on?” I keep my eyes locked on his when I ask that question, and his gaze never wavers. But he’s still smiling, although, it’s a little tighter now.

“Nothing’s going on. Nothing that you need to be concerned about, anyway.”

The usual stock answer, I should be used to it. Accept it. And I do, usually. But something feels different this time. “I’m assuming it’s something Ollie’s privy to, though? Am I right?”

My father’s expression darkens slightly, he doesn’t like it when I question shit, but I do. Sometimes. When I feel it’s necessary. I think, over the years. I’ve started to do it more, even though there’s always a part of me that knows I should back off, but I guess I’m stubborn. And I get that from the man sitting next to me.

“Ollie needs to be kept in the loop, Lena.”

“And I don’t?”

“No, you don’t. We’ve talked about this…”

“You’vetalked about this. I listened and accepted what I was told.”

He arches an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting in a slight smirk. “Accepted?”

I roll my eyes and laugh quietly. “Okay. Come on, then. Talk to me.”

He sits back and drapes his arm across the back of the couch, lifting one leg over the other, resting his ankle on his knee. His eyes remain firmly fixed on mine. “I’m giving you a security detail.”

I frown. “A what?” I know what one is, I’m just not sure why I need one. I’ve never had one. Ever. And he’s telling me nothing’s going on? “Why do I need one of those?”

“Can you, please, just go with this, Lena? For me?”

“So, what does this mean, exactly? Someone’s going to be with me, watching me, constantly?”

“It’s necessary.”

It’s my turn to arch a brow. “Is it? Why?” He has to understand why I’m questioning this, he can’t just expect me to accept this without wanting to know why it’s happening. “I’ve never needed security before. What’s changed?”

My father sighs and shakes his head as he turns it away from me, only slightly, his eyes now focused on a flock of seagulls as they fly past, their shrill screeches filling the air. And he knows, I mean, how can he think he’s going to get away with convincing me nothing’s going on when something quite obviously is? “Look, Lena…” His eyes are back on mine, “… all you need to know is, the situation with Stefan Novak, it’s extremely sensitive…”

“In what way?”

“It’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”

“Then why are we having this conversation? Am I in some kind of danger?”

“Why would you be in danger?”

“I don’t know, Dad. You tell me. You’re the one giving me a bodyguard.”

“I can’t risk you being alone, anywhere.”

“So Iamin danger.”

“That isn’t what I said…”

“Then, why do I need a security detail if I’m not in any kind of danger? What has any of this got to do with me? Don’t I deserve to know what’s going on?”

He sighs again, and looks away, again, just for a moment or two, but when he looks back at me this time there’s a coldness and a hardness there in his eyes that unsettles me. And I feel an icy chill run down my spine.

“All I’m doing is acting like any father would act when it comes to protecting his daughter.”

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