Page 37 of The Night Belongs To Fireman

“Then you’d make a good firefighter.”

“Not a career I ever considered,” he said dryly.

Fred gave an unwilling laugh. “Yeah, well, only a certain kind of lunatic does.”

“Have you ever thought of a different career?” At some unseen signal, the driver began coasting forward. “Around the block, that’s all,” Kessler told them both. “We should be able to finish our business by then.”

“Probably, since I can’t imagine what business we might have.” Fred was truly bewildered, and he didn’t think it was due to sleep deprivation. Something strange was going on here. “As for your question, I considered the military. Air force, most likely. But I ended up with the fire service.”

“You have an excellent record.”

He shifted uncomfortably on the sleek leather. “You checked? Why?”

“I’m an information addict. I can’t ever know enough.”

“But why would you want information about me? I barely know your daughter. And after this morning, I’m sure I’ll never see her again.” That statement made him suddenly miserable. He’d behaved horribly to her, he knew it. Finding out she was Rachel Kessler was like finding out she was Beyoncé—completely and terminally out of reach. “You can stop collecting information on me.”

“Not true,” said Kessler sharply. “You will see her again. I want to hire you.”

“What?” He shook his head, certain he’d misheard. “What the hell for?”

“Protection.”

“She has a security guard. The dude who kicked me out of her apartment.”

“That’s not what the tape shows.”

“I knew there were hidden cameras!” Fred’s triumph shifted to disgust. “You spy on your own daughter?”

“Only when necessary. An unknown man coming to her apartment made it necessary. The video camera activated when she gave the alarm code.”

Fred remembered all the things he’d said to Rachel. Hadn’t he mentioned boning her on his couch? Was Kessler going to murder him now? Was that what this was all about? But no … she’d said the code after that part of the conversation. After he’d been so rude.

“What I saw was the second-place winner of the Southern California Muay Thai Championships kicking my security guard’s ass. I want to add you on as a second bodyguard.”

“What … no … what?” He’d officially stepped down the rabbit hole and landed in a train wreck. “I’m not a bodyguard. I’m a firefighter.”

Kessler ignored him, continuing in his intense, vibrating voice. “I have congressional testimony coming up. That means extra, undesirable media attention. I need someone with my daughter twenty-four hours a day. I need someone living in her apartment with her. Someone quick and smart and strong. Someone she’s comfortable with.”

“That is not me,” Fred said firmly. “She just booted me out.”

“Yes, but you were there because she invited you. She’s never invited anyone inside before. Except her friends, and none of them are bodyguard material. She trusts you, or she never would have told you who she was. I’ve forbidden it.”

Fred swallowed hard. Rachel had broken her father’s rules in order to share her secret with him. In return, he’d tossed it back in her face. He’d acted like a jackass. “I … I’m not the right guy. I already have a job. And I only won second place in that tournament. I don’t have the skills.”

“You as good as won first. No one could beat Namsaknoi Yudthagarngam. He’s been trained from birth.”

“Right?” Fred said eagerly, clapping his hands on his thighs. Sweet vindication. “No one believed me about that.”

“Believe it, it’s true. You’re even better than you thought.” Kessler gave him a funny half smile. “So are you in?”

“No. I don’t know anything about being a bodyguard.”

“You’re skilled with weapons.” It wasn’t a question. Obviously, Kessler had done his research.

“Of course, everyone in my family is. Military, you know. But I don’t like to use guns.”

“That’s good. I don’t want some trigger-happy jarhead around my daughter. I want someone smart, competent, skilled, courageous, and trustworthy. You’re it. Driver, head back.”

Oh no. This was all moving too fast for Fred. Especially at this hour of the morning. “Mr. Kessler, I have a job already. I can’t just leave the firehouse.”

“Two weeks. That’s all I’m asking. Until my testimony’s done. You can take a two-week leave, right? I checked your departmental regulations.”

Fred nodded dumbly. Yes, he could take a leave.

“I’ll sweeten the deal. Something you can’t resist.”

Kessler probably thought he could buy everyone under the sun. “I don’t need any money,” he started to say, but Kessler cut him off.

“I know you don’t. You do okay, and you’re single with no dependents. I know money’s not a big issue for you.”

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