Page 76 of Close Protection

‘Milosh?’

‘Hmm?’

She tips her head up and I bring mine down so she can speak into my ear. ‘I really like pretending to be your girlfriend.’

The corners of my lips tip up slightly upon hearing her confession. I dip my head so now I’m the one with my mouth to her ear. ‘I like being your boyfriend too.’

I purposefully leave out the word ‘pretend’ to see how she reacts. She pulls away slightly, searching my eyes intently. Her gaze drops to my lips before she reaches up and places her hand on the nape of my neck, pulling me in slowly. Just as she tips her head up, her lips preparing to meet mine, a throat clears behind her.

I look up and she turns around, and we see a black man who resembles George staring at us. ‘Uncle Leo, hi!’ Daphnebreathes, removing her hand from my neck and creating some distance.

‘Hi, Daph, sorry to interrupt.’ He makes a point of looking between us before continuing, ‘but, where is your father? I wanted to introduce him to someone but I couldn’t find him anywhere.’

‘Oh,’ Daphne says, taking my hand and making her way off the dance floor and to our table. ‘He said he would be here by ten because he had some work to do.’

‘You didn’t come with him?’

‘No, he told me and Milosh to go by ourselves and he’d join later.’

Leo looks at his watch before frowning. ‘It’s nearly eleven forty-five.’

‘Let me call him to see where he is,’ Daphne suggests, reaching over into her seat to fish for her phone.

‘So you’re the boyfriend?’ Leo directs the words at me.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I thought she was with that Teddy kid.’

My jaw ticks. ‘No, sir.’

He watches me for another moment. ‘Well, all right then, as long as you make her happy.’ He turns to Daphne. ‘Daph, have you got through to him yet?’

She walks up to us shaking her head. ‘No, not yet. Sorry, Uncle Leo.’

‘That’s fine.’ He gives her a kiss on the head. ‘Let me know when you do.’ He walks off, leaving me and Daphne alone again, but the tension that was there before Leo arrived has vanished, replaced with worry.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I tried calling my father four times and he hasn’t picked up. He normally picks up straight away.’ I pull my phone out and notice there’s a missed call from Josh, the Greens’ cook. Pressingcall backI bring the phone to my ear but after a long ring it goes to voicemail. I try George twice and it goes to voicemail both times. I muster the calmest expression I can and look back to Daphne.

‘Get your bag and say goodbye to your cousins.’

‘Do you think something’s happened?’

‘I don’t know, but we’re gonna find out.’

29Daphne

My blood runs cold when we turn into the driveway of the house and see the door standing open, with no sign of the security guards.

Milosh turns the engine off and looks at me. ‘I don’t know why no one’s out here or why the door’s open but I need to go check it out. I don’t want you to sit here by yourself so you’re gonna come with me. Don’t leave my side, okay? I can’t have anything happen to you.’

‘Okay,’ is all I manage to squeeze out. I’m scared. So scared of whatever is lurking behind that door, figuratively and literally.

He rounds the car and opens my door, grabbing my hand as soon as I get out. This time there’s no romantic undertones. Flirty Milosh has been replaced by work Milosh.

Slightly scary, rough and commanding work Milosh.

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