Page 6 of Guarding the Billionaire

“Miguel our gardener comes once a week, but other than that, I don’t have a lot of guests,” Flora said. “No one else has been here in months.”

I wasn’t sure what was going on here with the mate thing, but I had a job to do so I told my inner vamp to calm down and resolved to figure this out later. That was one thing I’d learned in the military – how to lock all my feelings up in a box and save them for later.

“I’m going to need to sweep this place for bugs,” I said, looking around with distaste at the size of the mansion. “I think I’ll need to call in reinforcements, otherwise it will take all damned day.”

Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I sent a text to Boris. I knew the restaurant was closed today, so hopefully he and his brothers would do me a solid and come out to help me secure the building.

Boris texted back immediately.

“My guys will be here in less than an hour,” I said. “Why don’t you show me around, but don’t say anything about security until after we’ve cleared the house. Once we’re inside, I’m your trainer, nothing else. Assume someone is listening, and maybe watching us. Got it?”

Flora looked a little shellshocked and I resisted the strong urge I suddenly had to comfort her.

“One question,” she said, raising her hand like she was a kid in school. “What’s with the big sword?”

I glanced down at the bag I’d set on the ground while we talked. I’d almost forgotten I’d brought it.

“That’s Irma,” I said.

“Irma? Your sword has a name?” Flora’s eyes were huge.

“Affirmative. Irma and I have been through a lot of battles together.”

Honestly, none of those battles were real, but she didn’t need to know that. I totally could use Irma to defend myself or kill someone if I needed to. Not that I used it for work though, my gun was a little less obvious to carry around with me.

“Are your battles with the Knights of the Round Table?” she asked incredulously. “Who uses a sword in this day and age?”

“I do.”

“Wouldn’t a gun be easier?” she asked.

“Yep.” I couldn’t resist messing with her. “Now show me around this architectural travesty.”

As soon as we entered the house I assumed the role of personal trainer.

“Let’s talk about your fitness goals while you show me around,” I said to Flora. “Then we’ll look at what you have in your fridge.”

“Fridge?” she said blankly.

“It’s a big cold box in the kitchen where your servants keep the food,” I said snidely.

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have servants. Well, except the housekeeper I guess. But I certainly don’t think of her like that.”

“Do you cook for yourself?” I asked skeptically.

“Well, no. I’m not very good in the kitchen, but I have an excellent meal delivery service.”

Of course she did.

I followed Flora up a giant marble staircase to the second level. This entire mansion was pretentious as hell. I didn’t understand how anyone could live here, but I kept my opinions to myself.

“You have your choice of six bedrooms,” Flora told me when we got upstairs. “There are three on this side and three on the other wing.”

Her house had wings. I repressed a sigh.

“Which one is closest to yours?” I asked.

She looked surprised but didn’t ask any questions. “This one.”

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