Page 42 of Cooper

“I’m picturing something slinky. Red. With a slit.”

She has a flirty smile on her lips. “Uh huh. I need somewhere I can hide a thigh holster, but yeah. All of that. I like red.”

“Will you have any time off?”

“I’m not sure yet. Sandor said he would try but it really depends on how many of us go on the trip. Everyone can’t go, because there have to be people here to protect the kids and everyone not going. Right now, it looks like me, Joe, Ace and Daniil.”

“Four of you to protect the king and queen?”

“Along with a couple of Royal Guards.” She takes a sip of soup. “It’s hard. There’s only ten of us right now, if you include me, and I still haven’t been officially sworn in. Axel lives in Las Vegas since he’s assigned to Sasha’s detail.”

“Sasha is Casey’s adult daughter?”

“Right. And Axel’s wife, Solange, is there too. She’s also in training, but for the Cyber division of the Royal Protectors. Right now, the Cyber Security Division is just Jonas. Solange is getting her degree at the university there, and then will train with Jonas directly when she’s done. Dax is only halfway through his training—he’s in Iraq now—but he’ll need a little more time to finish up when he gets back. And right now, Lennox is on maternity leave. So we’re short-staffed. They’ll be running on a skeleton crew while we’re gone.”

“Would it be better if I stayed behind?” I ask quietly. “Just in case something happens and they need help from someone they trust who can handle a gun?”

She smiles. “I actually mentioned that at the briefing, and Joe thinks it’s better for you to be with us in Paris, for the same reason. From the outside looking in, I’m just part of the queen’s entourage and you’re my date or boyfriend. Daniil is a prince, so his presence is expected because he’s part of the royal family. No one outside of our inner circle understands that he’s a Royal Protector in addition to a prince and the Minister of Defense.”

“Damn. So even when Solange and Dax finish training, there will only be twelve of you?”

“Give or take. Sandor has a few others in mind, but he hasn’t told us who they are or when they may become available.”

“What’s the ideal number of Royal Protectors?”

“Fifteen regular, three cyber. And Joe is already in his sixties, so his days of actively protecting the king are limited. Though you probably shouldn’t repeat that.”

“Never.” I finish my sandwich in a couple of bites. “Well, if they need me, I’m willing and able to help. I’m not a hundred percent, but if we’re talking about holding down the fort, I can definitely do that.”

“All I want you to worry about is getting better.” She finishes off her soup, wipes her mouth, and stands up. “I really do have to get back to work, but I’ll be here for dinner. Probably by seven. If you want to go ahead and order for us, we can eat a little earlier.”

“Okay.” I watch as she grabs her things and heads out, and it annoys the hell out of me that I can’t go too.

Intellectually, I know this isn’t some sort of weakness on my part. I’d been beaten and tortured, so my body needs time to heal. But it’s the first time I’ve had any kind of debilitating injury since I broke my arm in the third grade. And watching the woman I’m involved with—mywoman—go off to her dangerous and physically taxing job without me is killing me.

Last night’s drill just drives home the fact that I’m not ready to get back to normal yet, but I’m also bored out of my mind.

I pull on socks and shoes and say a mental prayer that I can find my way down to the security offices. I’m sure someone can direct me, but I always like to orient myself when I’m in a new place, so I’d like to figure out the lay of the land.

I make my way down the hall and see multiple elevator banks. After last night’s experience, no way I’m taking the stairs. I step inside one of the elevators and stare at the panel. The security offices are on the second floor, but there’s only one button, and it doesn’t have a number or any marking.

That’s weird, right?

I wish I’d thought to bring my phone, but I don’t really need it here. Who’s going to call me? And what’s the worst thing that can happen? I wind up in the garage and have to ask somebody to tell me where I went wrong.

I push the button and wait as the doors close.

It feels like I’m going up and then the doors open again.

I step out and freeze.

Where the hell am I?

It looks like the foyer of a nice house, with a chandelier and beautiful flooring.

A startled maid comes around the corner and shrieks, dropping the linens in her hand. Then she starts yelling and the next thing I know Erik comes around the corner with a gun pointed at my head.

“Hey, it’s just me!” I immediately put my hands up so he doesn’t do anything rash.

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