Page 16 of Triple Protection

Liam and Angela both jump up, throw their arms in the air in triumph and hug each other.

"You did it!!" Liam shouts, lifting her and spinning her in a circle. Liam always has it easy with the ladies, but a part of me is annoyed that we'd been here for less than 24 hours, and Angela is already comfortable enough with him that she looked to him to celebrate. Whatever. I’m not here to be her friend; I'm here to make sure that stalking piece of shit never gets near her again. I lift myself off the mat.

"Well done," I grunt.

She shoots me a heart-stopping smile. One that lights her entire face and is directed straight at me.

"Thank you!" she grins.

"Let's go again. Have to make sure that wasn't a fluke."

She nods, still smiling, and we practice the move twice more. Each more confident than the last. After the last throw, she helps me to my feet before reaching up and giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, Alex." She says softly, her words just for me. "Thank you. It means more to me than you could ever know, and I really appreciate you."

I'm at a loss for words, so I simply nod before bee-lining it to my bedroom. Liam is on duty, and I desperately need a cold shower.

Chapter thirteen

Angela

Angela

We get up early to get to the airport three fucking hours before boarding. Alex and his overbearing security issues. I can't complain, though. It's kind of nice to have someone else worry about all of the arrangements. After we park, Brick silently takes my large suitcase while Liam grabs my carry-on. I'm not sure if this kind of service is part of being bodyguards, but it feels strangely like I have two caring boyfriends. Three, if you consider Alex's controlling travel plans. I let myself get carried away in the fantasy for a moment until we are through security.

The last few weeks together have been awkward and tense. I'm not used to sharing my space with anyone, let alone three of the most beautiful men I've ever met. They take advantage of the gym and the pool, which I'm happy about, but it also means I have to either look away so I'm not caught ogling or make sure I'm wearing reflective sunglasses so I'm not caught ogling. Their bare chests are breathtaking.

It's done nothing to cool my desire and my therapist-prescribed self care sessions are more frequent, but have had to be moved to the shower for fear of one of them hearing a buzzing coming from my room.

None of them seem bothered by my presence. Brick is still quiet and watchful, but I'm starting to think that's just his M.O.

I'm growing increasingly stressed about my attraction to them, and my ability to do absolutely nothing about it. I feel like at some point I'm going to explode and climb one of them like a tree.

As we sit in the uncomfortable, hard chairs, I sip my caramel latte and take strength from my caffeine. Two of the boys sit on either side, and one sits behind me.

Suddenly, I feel eyes on me, so I look up and scan the room. A few rows over, a young girl is pointing at me, at her phone and then whispering to her mom. I smile and give her a little wave. Her mom nudges her encouragingly, but the little girl shakes her head, shy. This back and forth happened a few times before the mom finally gets up and approaches.

"Hi there, I'm sorry to bother you, but my daughter's a huge fan." I smile before standing and shaking the mom's hand. The little girl peaks at me from behind her.

"Hi! I'm Angela, what's your name?"

"Maisy." The little girl squeaks.

"How lovely to meet you! Do you want a picture together, Maisy?" The little girl's bright blue eyes light up and I move to kneel beside her before Alex's hand shoots out and grabs me.

"You don't know these people," he growls in my ear. "I need to at least pat them down." I equally appreciate his protection but am already annoyed from the early morning and don't have the patience for him.

"If you put your hands on a little girl in the name of safety, I'll kill you myself." I whisper back, fake smile plastered on my faceso no one will know we're arguing. I jerk my arm away from him and hand Liam my iced coffee.

I kneel next to Maisy and wrap my arm around her shoulders and pose for her mom to take the picture. After examining the picture, Maisy bounces away to post it.

"Tag me in it!" I shout and laugh after her. Maisy's mother just shakes her head and thanks us.

"That's alright, right?" I turn and ask Liam before taking back my coffee, suddenly remembering his rules.

"Yeah, by the time it's posted, we'll be boarding."

I feel that familiar prickle of awareness, of eyes on me, but this time it feels dangerous. The hair on the back of my neck stands up and adrenaline causes a pins-and-needles sensation in my chest. I grab Alex's hand for comfort and squeeze, looking around me to see who else was looking.

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