Page 10 of Take Hold of Me

Thinking about the news report, I say, “I’m sure they’ll have security arranged for you.” My breathing relaxes. She’ll be okay.

Intense eyes catch and hold my gaze. “Did the Agency contact you?”

What is she talking about? “No. Why would they?”

Her shoulders droop and her eyes skim the Jeep’s controls. “I had given them your number. You see, they are hiring a bodyguard for me, and I asked them to call you first.”

My hand latches onto Three’s dog tags. Emilie knows I gave up that life.

She continues in a low tone. “But they never listen to me.”

In a strangled voice, I ask, “They’re hiring a bodyguard for you when you go to Rio?”

She shakes her head. “No. Not just for Rio. For the foreseeable future.”

Adrenaline spikes through my body, causing me to lurch forward. Unbuckling the restraint, I face the angel next to me, trying to unpack her loaded statements. “Is someone threatening you? Are the police on notice?” My eyes scan the empty road for any signs of danger.

Emilie reaches out and touches my arm with her gloved hand, which does nothing to calm my erratic heartbeat. “No. I am safe.”

“If you need a bodyguard, there has to be a reason.”

She sits back and removes her gloves. How can she look so calm? She knows everything that happened with Cole’s crazy stalker, Starr. Hell, she had a front-row seat when Starr shot me on the road. “I do not have any danger.” Her eyes look side-to-side, as if in deep thought. “I mean, I am not in any danger.”

Despite my high alert, a smile plays at the corner of my lips as she corrects the English phrase. I nod in acknowledgment and my heartrate slows to merely a fast gallop. “That’s good. But then why do you need a bodyguard?”

She puts her naked hand on the top of my own, causing my heartrate to spike for altogether different reasons. “The Agency thinks it will raise my status if I have one.”

Exhaling, I slump back in my seat, removing my hand from her soft skin. Crossing my arms across my chest, I mumble, “Oh. Well, I’m happy you’re safe, at least.” God knows she wouldn’t be with me at her side.

I process what she just told me. The fact that her Agency is using my former profession as leverage doesn’t sit too well with me. “Why don’t they just hire an actor to play the role?” My voice sounds gruff.

Emile sighs. “How about we talk about this over lunch?”

With those eight short words, this day went from a bad idea to averybad idea. And I just can’t say no.

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