Page 2 of Just a Bit Guarded

“Scott,” he said in his most patient voice. Thankfully, as a bodyguard, he’d learned to give a show of patience he didn’t feel. “Do you know what will happen to you if people find out about your relationship with him? This isn’t the US. People die here for stuff like that.” He glanced at the Wikipedia page again, andhis lips thinned as he read further. “This kid is betrothed to the daughter of the president of the UAE. He isn’t exactly a low-profile, low-risk nobody.”

“The betrothal is a sham,” Scott said with a scoff. “Gadiel told me he was betrothed to her as a baby! He hasn’t even seen her face! Can you believe that?”

“I can,” Will said wryly. “Considering the country we are in. But my point stands. This is insanity. Not only are you risking your freedom and life, but realistically, you have no future together. He’s a local sheikh. You’re an American.”

“Gadiel wants to run away,” Scott said mulishly. “I will take him home with me.”

Will heaved a sigh, rubbing between his brows. This was a disaster in waiting. “All right,” he said. “Let’s say you manage to somehow get him out of the country. Do you think you won’t be pursued? Do you think his father and the fucking president of the UAE will just sayoh welland let you two live your gay happily-ever-after in the US? And that’s without taking into account that he’s a nineteen-year-old kid who likely has no idea what he wants from life.”

Scott opened his mouth and closed it.

“I’m glad you see now how pointless it is,” Will said.

“Will, please.”

Will grimaced. He fucking hated that tone. “Don’t.”

“Please, I need to see him at least. Only you can help us.”

“Why? Is he locked up in his house?”

“No,” Scott said. “But his older brother, Sheikh Zain, knows about his sexuality and has him watched. Gadiel’s ‘bodyguard’ was actually a spy for his brother. I need you to become his bodyguard so I can see him without it being reported to his brother. Your contract has just ended! It’s actually perfect! Please? I’m begging you, man.”

Will sighed. Scott would pout and mope for months if he said no. Or Scott would go meet the kid anyway—and find trouble.“Are they even hiring for a bodyguard?”

“Yes!” Scott said, starting to smile. He already knew that he’d won. “Gadiel’s bodyguard has just been fired, so they’re looking for a new one. I immediately thought of you. You shouldn’t have an issue getting the job—Sheikh Zain seems to prefer foreign bodyguards for his brother.”

“Fine,” Will said. “But this is the last time, Scott.”

Scott grinned, looking smug and not surprised at all. He was too used to getting his own way.

Will really fucking hated him sometimes.

Chapter 2

Willdidn’t like Dubai. The city was one of the most soulless, pretentious places he’d ever been to—and he’d seen his share of pretentious places in the twenty-eight years of his life.

Unfortunately—or fortunately—Dubai was a very lucrative place for someone in his field of work. There was no shortage of rich clients, so this city was a great place for a man who wanted to create a good financial cushion before he could start up hisown private security firm in the US. Having accomplished the first part of that, Will had been really looking forward to finally leaving this city—but Scott had other ideas. So here he was. Applying for a job he didn’t want in a city he disliked.

Willstudied the man seated behind the desk.

Sheikh Zain ibn Mustafa Al Rahim was said to be the richest man in this country. A real estate tycoon and the second son of the emir of Dubai, he had the reputation of a ruthless man with unparalleled business acumen. Will was good at reading people, but he couldn’t get a read on this man at all. So far, in the past half an hour since the beginning of the interview, the sheikh had asked him dozens of random questions that ranged from Will’s opinion on Islam to his opinion on the president of the US.

But he was starting to suspect the questions weren’t random at all.

“What is your opinion on homosexuality?”

Willkept his face neutral. A poker face was a skill every semi-decent bodyguard possessed, andWillhad perfected it over the past decade, regardless of the situation. He’d once walked in on his client being spanked by a woman twice his age while calling him a naughty boy. Compared to that, some tricky questions were nothing.

“I don’t really have one,”Willsaid, shrugging. His mind raced, considering and discarding potential answers. It was difficult to predict what kind of answer this man wanted. Scott hadn’t told him about Sheikh Zain’s opinions on homosexuality in general and his young brother’s in particular. If Sheikh Zain was as homophobic as the majority of people in this country, he would want a bodyguard who shared his views.

Should he pretend to be homophobic to land this job?

The idea had some merit, but it didn’t sit well with him. Will had never claimed to be a paragon of virtue and morality, but he drew the line at pretending to be a bigot.

“Everyonehas an opinion,” the sheikh said, narrowing his eyes. “Tell me yours.”

“Frankly, I think your country’s anti-LGBT laws are too harsh,”Willsaid. “I think it’s ridiculous that people get arrested for touching people of their own sex. Who cares?”

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