Page 21 of The Tenor's Shadow

Chapter 6

Anthony

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Lena smirked at Anthony, her makeup and hair perfect as always, looking ridiculously glamorous for a morning rehearsal. Anthony envied how effortless his friend’s style was. He always looked perfect as well, of course, but it took hours of maintenance to make it happen.

“I thought Elisa was the Fiordiligi.” Elisa Sinclair was a mezzo-soprano that had gone through the Young Artist’s Program at Market Street at the same time as Anthony. She and Anthony got along well, although she was somewhat approximate when it came to pitch.

“She’s been having vocal problems,” Lena said, shrugging.

“So she finally admitted it? When I did Roberto Devereaux in Berlin last year, she took two full acts to warm up.”

“She pulled out a few weeks ago. I had a gap in my schedule, so you’re stuck with me.”

“We’ll all just have to suffer through your version of ‘Come scoglio.’” Anthony’s sarcasm didn’t have any real ire in it. As nosy and pushy as Lena was, Anthony appreciated he could trust her on stage. If something went wrong, she’d fix it and move on without breaking a sweat.

“Who’s the handsome drink of water over there?” Lena gestured to a chair in the far corner, where Freddie sat, a scowl on his pale, freckled face. Somehow, he looked both prickly and appealing.

Anthony couldn’t stop from frowning. It was bad enough Freddie had to follow him around. Did he have to make an eyesore of himself?

“My bodyguard.”

Lena stared at him. “What?”

“I’ve been getting some…letters. Someone’s been leaving them in my hotel rooms? My uncle took matters into his own hands.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Lena’s face grew serious. “What did they say?”

“Barely anything.” Anthony waved his hand dismissively. “They’ve just been vaguely threatening. My uncle overreacted.”

“But they’ve been breaking into your hotels? I think your uncle reacted the exact right amount.”

“I’m not worried about the letters, I’m worried about him. I should have just filled out a restraining order or something. Instead, I’m saddled with that wet blanket. It’s been four days, and he’s always around. He sleeps in my room, he won’t leave me alone, and he’s putting a dent in my love life. I tried to bring back this personal trainer that I met at the gay grocery store, and Freddie wouldn’t let him through the door!”

Lena rolled her eyes. “You can take a breather, you know.” She glanced over at the muscular bodyguard. “His name’s Freddie, huh? Why go out looking when you’ve got that at home?”

“Are you kidding me?” Anthony grasped at a string of imaginary pearls around his neck.

“What, you don’t like redheads? Who also happen to be handsome and tall and muscle-y enough to break you in half?”

“He’s a security guard, for Christ’s sake. He says five words at a time, if you’re lucky, and he beats people up for a living.” Anthony put on his best poker face. “Besides, he’s not that handsome.”

“I’m so sorry, a quiet, broody, tall redhead who probably has a crazy good body underneath that suit isn’t enough for you? You could cut glass on that jaw.”

“Keep it down,” Anthony whispered. “I don’t want him to know we’re talking about him.”

“Why not?” Lena raised an eyebrow with a mischievous twinkle.

“Because! It’s bad enough I have to deal with his whole controlling bodyguard act. It’ll be a thousand times worse if he knows…if he thinks that I’m attracted to him.”

Lena reached out and squeezed Anthony’s arm. “He’s smoking hot. He’s right there in your hotel room. Take him to pound town. Give him the Tony Bianchi special.”

“This is silly.” Anthony looked down and away. He wished he hadn’t told Lena as much as he had.

“Bone him, Anthony.”

“You’re just trying to make up for your dull love life by living vicariously through me.”

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