Page 148 of Triggered By Love
“You don’t know,” she said. “Also, your partner brought Trent. I can’t see him hurting Brando or anyone else, but why did you ask Blade to bring a guest?”
“He volunteered, and I didn’t think he could find someone who’d pass Secret Service checks,” Jason said. “I’m sorry. I’ll keep an eye out on him, and I won’t leave your side.”
He kissed the top of her head. She always smelled so fresh and clean. He let himself relax a bit before he had to get dressed.
“It’ll be over soon, and everyone’s going to be cheering your success. You’ll see. It’s going to be perfect.”
“I wish I could believe nothing bad will happen.”
He folded her into his arms and held her, rubbing her back. “Believe it. Relax, and enjoy your success.”
“What if I get stage fright? I’m the last one, and I have to stand on that glass triangle for the fireworks.”
“Do you want me to stand with you?”
“No! If someone’s shooting at me, I don’t want you hurt.”
That did it. He was going to insert himself no matter what, and he was going to have the fireworks show canceled.
Chapter Forty-Eight
“Okay, okay, I’ve got this,”Avery repeated the mantra to herself. She was the inspiration for the show, and she was the one setting the mood.
It was a high energy event, full of vitality, a show of strength and protection, a tribute to Brando’s life, and a message to convey the love in his huge heart.
Avery went down the line of models, high-fiving them. “Looking great. You’re kicking ass today.”
“We’re all flying high over The City,” the perky blonde who sometimes dated her brother said, resplendent in a shimmering evening gown trimmed with fluttery iridescent butterfly-colored scales. “The Edge is way cooler than The Garden. Can you believe it? We’re looking down on the Empire State Building.”
“The view is out of the world,” a male model wearing a tailored tux and top hat held his arms up as if enveloping the moon. “Wait until it gets dark. The lights go on and on.”
“Remember, the mood is like charging into a burning building. You’re amped. There’s no fear. You are the hero. You are the biggest badass in the universe. Beast mode with only one goal. Rescuing the one person or pet you love the most. And you are so very sexy, oozing with animal magnetism—even without the accessories, just remember your animal and imagine you embody that superpower.”
“I’m a shark!” the model wearing the tux shouted.
“What’s so heroic about a porcupine?” a female model giggled. “I heard he’s the one who misplaced all the masks and crowns.”
“Sounds prickly to me,” another model piped in. “I’m glad I got pictures during the fitting.”
“You still have your butterfly wings,” the male said to Svetlana who was glittering in butterfly colors.
“It’s attached to my gown.” She held out her arms and fluttered.
“We will all be flying over The City like Blue Angels. Think of the viral moments on InstaDirt!” A brunette dressed in a patchwork blending all the shades of blue held up her ancient digital camera for a selfie. She was smart enough to know her cell phone would be confiscated.
Meanwhile, the fashion photographers who had been authorized to be backstage were setting up poses near where the president’s daughter would appear from her private dressing cabana, a bulletproof, climate-controlled enclosure where her makeup artists were busy with her diamond encrusted and mesh steel evening gown.
Avery joined in with the picture taking crowd, making sure to high-five and A-frame hug the models, encouraging them to be upbeat and surging with energy. She’d set the stage, but she couldn’t help but worry about Jason.
After dashing in and getting dressed, he rushed off to speak to security, and he wasn’t back. The show was about to start and he was the lead-off model.
She made an escape when Diamante stepped out of her cabana. The oohs and aahs as well as swell of voices admiring the president’s daughter gave Avery a chance to sneak away. She had to check on Matt. She’d rushed an order of hawk feathers after Ivanna’s stash went missing, and she was able to get a pass for Ivanna to do him up, but boy would Jason blow his top if he knew.
Ivanna had asked her to reconsider for Saul, and she’d relented. He was a good kid who truly wanted to improve himself, and he’d stuck his neck out to warn them about the Leaches. She ended up getting him the photographer’s pass with the promise he would be taking pictures of the guards and guests, not the models. He had a multi-angled lens on his camera that would allow him to take pictures of people while his camera was pointed elsewhere. Besides, she wanted to get on his good side so he could share all of the pictures he took from the year before.
Avery knocked on the partition and announced herself. “Matt, Ivanna, how’s it going?”
“We’re almost ready,” Ivanna answered.
