Page 4 of Guarding Zuri
David was right to call him. With money at Daemon’s disposal—thanks to his father’s risky business ventures—he could do whatever he needed to keep Zuri and her father safe.
“Sir, I’ve got to protest this plan,” Daemon cut in after another advisor insisted the route to the meeting location was sound. “In fact, I think you should scrap it all together.”
“You do?” Bayo asked.
Long, lean legs brought Zuri to her father’s side in a blink of an eye. “What about ‘you’re fired’ don’t you understand?”
Bayo put a hand up. “Zuri, please. He is David’s man. Let’s hear him.”
Daemon wasn’t intimidated. Entitled clients thought they knew everything about his job—and how to keep themselves safe. The average person understood little about personal security and put themselves at risk in ways that were just asking for them to be taken advantage of. Zuri was no different from the empty-headed social media stars he guarded when they ventured into poorer countries for an activist or philanthropic stunt meant to increase their follower count. They knew nothing about the place or the dangers only locals were aware of.
“My intelligence states that—”
“American intelligence?” Zuri scoffed. “Isn’t that an oxymoron?”
Daemon smirked. She’d grown up in a world of fierce fighting and enduring fear. The tense energy he felt from her the moment he walked into the room told him the only way she’d relax was by being kissed—and often. Daemon loved a challenge. The more impossible, the better. And he was a glutton for punishment. He’d endured both Army Ranger School and Special Forces training. He could handle Zuri—in more ways than one.Enough!
“I’m a private firm,” Daemon said smoothly, ignoring his primal desire to silence Zuri in a more pleasurable way than exchanging diverging arguments. “Our experience is unmatched by any protection firm in the galaxy.”
Zuri sputtered a laugh.
“That’s right. I’m including space.” He wagged his brows. “My father owns an exploration company. We’ve got several satellites in the air right now. One over this area, in fact.”
“Which is how you found me without directions,” David said with a sheepish expression.
Daemon slapped David on the shoulder. “I’m always looking for my client’s vulnerabilities. And you have several of them here.” He pointed to the map.
“We have been planning this meeting for weeks—”
“I get that, Princess, but I’m telling you to wait another week if you want it done right. Let me get more men in here to secure the route and site.”
Zuri’s cheekbones looked sharper than razor blades, her full lips twisting to show her displeasure. That mouth was everything right now, and Daemon tempered his desire for it. He’d need all of his focus if he were going to keep this stubborn woman alive. It was always the beautiful ones who were the most stubborn. They’d been praised all their lives and learned people responded to their demands.
“We don’t have another week. Our contacts are here now.” Zuri turned to her father. “Father, please. Your men have done a good job. We need this meeting to happen.”
“I admire your passion, my daughter, but you must remember to be cautious. What am I always telling you? Too much passion and you make mistakes,” Bayo warned.
Hmm.And that’s why it would be fatal to kiss Zuri. Daemon put another clamp on his discontented passion.Wise man.
“The people are counting on the support they have promised us. Have you not been cautious these past few weeks?” Zuri asked.
Daemon watched Bayo’s lips turn downward. He had no answer to his daughter’s argument.
“I’ve been in the country for weeks myself,” Daemon said. “My team has completedsurveys and established asource network. I’m telling you, this is a bad idea. Security will be tight, yes, but I’m almost certain the Elite Guard has compromised the location.”
“Almost certain.” Zuri smirked.
“This isn’t a game. Almost is good enough in my book to skip Plan B and C and go straight to G.” Zuri’s brows came together in confusion. “Keep the enemy guessing. You can never have too many contingency plans. And this is as good a time as any to rely on a contingency.”
“No room for spontaneity and flexibility?”
“You’re right, Princess. I don’t want your flexibility to meet a spontaneous bullet. As your protector—”
“I fired you.”
Daemon smiled. “You think that matters to me? A rash decision made in naivety. I forgive you for that one. I rehired myself based on principle.”
Zuri’s jaw dropped.
