Page 34 of My Bodyguard Neighbor
Chapter Nine
The motel room's ancienttelevision flickered with morning news coverage.Holly sat on the edge of the bed, coffee growing cold in her hands, watching reporters swarm the courthouse steps.Security barriers formed a perimeter three blocks deep.Armed officers were positioned on every corner.Snipers on rooftops.
It looked like a war zone.
"They're really not messing around," Jonah said from his position by the window.He'd been standing there since dawn, watching the parking lot despite Blake's assurances that they were secure.
"Do you think he'll actually show up?"Holly asked.
"Your father?Yeah.He'll show up.Men like him don't back down."
On screen, a black SUV pulled up to the courthouse entrance.The camera zoomed in as her father emerged, flanked by U.S.Marshals.He looked older somehow.Tired.His usual impeccable bearing was still there, but something had shifted.
He looked human.
Holly's phone buzzed.A text from Blake:FBI has eyes everywhere.If the Popovs make a move, they'll see them coming.
She showed the message to Jonah.He nodded but didn't move from the window.
The television coverage cut to a legal analyst discussing the case.Holly muted it.She didn't need some talking head explaining what her father's trial meant for international arms trafficking.She just needed to know if he'd survive the day.
"Come sit with me," she said.
Jonah crossed the room and settled beside her on the bed.Holly leaned into him, drawing strength from his solid presence.They'd barely slept last night, too wired on adrenaline and emotion.But the exhaustion pulling at her now was different.
"What will you do?"she asked."After this is over?"
"What do you mean?"
"You quit your job.Or got fired.Whatever."Holly turned to look at him."You can't exactly go back to working for my father."
"I don't want to go back to that."Jonah was thoughtful."I've been thinking about starting my own firm.Security consulting.Maybe teaching defensive tactics to corporate teams."
"That sounds good."
"Yeah?"He studied her face."You're not worried about dating a guy with no steady income and questionable employment prospects?"
Before Holly could respond, her phone rang.Unknown number.She answered anyway.
"Holly Reese?"A woman's voice, professional and clipped.
"Yes?"
