Page 2 of Guarding Zuri
“But you do, Zuri,” Joqi urged. “This meeting is too important to go in without the proper level of security. Please, Bayo, hear my words. We can not take this chance for granted.”
Bayo nodded. “We need protection now more than ever. I believe Joqi is right.”
“I know Joqi is right,” Daemon agreed. “With the routes you have here”—he spread his hand over the maps—“you’re looking at way too many choke points.”
“This is the capital,” Zuri countered. “We have no other choice.
“Then prepare to be eliminated.”
“Eliminated!”
“Don’t mean to freak you out, Princess,” Daemon continued, “but you should know the truth. You’re in hiding, after all. Things outside are dynamic and you’re located in an urban area. Heavily populated. You and civilians are at risk.”
“I’m not a princess. And I know the truth. And we are perfectly safe with our own guards.” She avoided commenting on civilian life. She didn’t wish harm to any of her Bendolans, but she wasn’t sure if she could trust this man’s assessment of her safety. He was an outsider. What did he really know about her country and their situation?
“My mistake, Princess,” Daemon said with a wink, his magnetic eyes challenging.
David shook his head. “I think we’ll need more. The presence of international statesmen will increase the threat. According to my sources, the Elite Guard is on high alert. They will undoubtedly follow any delegation. We have to be smart about this.”
“David’s right,” Daemon said.“The delegations will ride with their own security details. That’ll attract attention. You don’t want to be the only ones without protection.”
“We will have protection,” Zuri argued. “Joqi will be there, and so will the people. The Elite Guard wouldn’t dare attack. It’ll be seen as an act of war by the other nations.”
Daemon chuckled. The eyes of everyone in the room vaulted between Daemon and Zuri. Zuri could’ve balked at her father’s smile. He looked as if he enjoyed the exchange between her and this foreigner, who walked in here like he knew Bendola and what they were facing.
“Princess—”
“My name is Zuri,” she snapped.
Daemon didn’t miss a beat. “Princess Zuri, you’re naïve to think that Gohi’s men won’t attack. The countries that’ll be in attendance might not see a need to wage war against your tiny country.”
“Tiny!”
“It’s ruled by a dictator who doesn’t play well with others. There’s nothing in it for them to mess with this region’s power structure. Remember, you’re surrounded by countries quite capable of defending themselves. President Abdullah Gohi knows he couldn’t possibly win unless he gets outside help. And right now, he’s pissed off a lot of leaders. The other countries are in good standing with the international community, and there wouldn’t be any serious vacuum of power.”
Every muscle in Zuri’s body tensed the longer she stared at the man’s confident smirk. His eyes challenged her. Everything he said was correct. “Sanctions, then.”
“Bendola hasn’t developed serious trade deals,” Daemon said smoothly. He showed his teeth. “In case you’re wondering, I’ve thought this through. I never take on a job without understanding the landscape.”
“We’re wasting time arguing,” David interjected.
Daemon sighed as if bored. “Mr. Msongo, you are the face of the revolution. You need protection now more than ever. We’re at a critical moment where, without you, the rebellion could fail. Again, I would advise against your present course of action.”
Zuri’s eyes shifted from Daemon to her father. Bayo nodded, his face grave. Once he eyed his daughter, his smile returned. “You two remind me of your mother and I when we first met. Couldn’t agree on anything. Still didn’t after we married.” He laughed. “I appreciate your guidance, Mr. Knight. I believe you are correct in your statements. However”—he winked at Zuri—“I hired you to protect my daughter, Zuri. Joqi is my man. Whatever Zuri wants, Zuri gets.”
Zuri set a feline smile on Daemon. His narrowed eyes met hers. “You’re fired.”
CHAPTERTWO
Daemon’s blood flamed with both irritation and, strangely enough, passion. The woman before him smiled viciously, and he wanted nothing more than to back her up against the rough brick wall behind her and kiss that grin off her face—or wrestle her to the ground, She needed taming, and he’d offer that service for free.
Daemon blinked until the image of her pressed against him vanished. Clients were off limits. And he had a feeling this client would rather see him dead instead of naked.Fine by me.She was a job, and he was here to work. If his assessments were accurate, Bendola teetered on the precipice of freedom or fire—and the Bendolans didn’t have the weapons to counter Gohi’s army, so they would face fire.
Zuri gave Daemon her back to face, leaning one hand on the table, teasing out the roundness of her ample rear.You’ll never conquer this; her posterior mocked him beneath the skin-hugging black pants that stressed the stitching running down the center line of her backside. Daemon ordered his eyes back to the map, but they committed treason, following a pre-determined path down her shapely thighs and the curves of her fit calves. Her other hand settled on her tiny waist, and Daemon could’ve thanked her for the distraction. But her waist sat comfortably atop wide hips that stirred a primal beating in his blood, drumming deep within him the primacy of progeny.
“Zuri, please reconsider,” David pleaded with the statuesque woman, whose upturned nose said she wasn’t hearing any objections.
Daemon watched his friend with amusement. He doubted David had ever told this woman no. Had her father? Had anyone in her life?Her mother.Daemon was curious how Zuri’s experience with mother had shaped her life.
