Page 6 of In The Trenches (Owens Protective Services)

I nodded and got out of the car. My bag was slung over my right shoulder so I didn’t further injure my left shoulder. I pulled the hoodie over my head, covering as much of my face as possible. I knew it wouldn’t do much in the way of hiding my bruises, but if people weren’t looking closely, they might not notice.

I hung back as Art went to the ticket booth and bought a one way ticket. I kept searching the crowd, the hairs on the back of my neck rising as the minutes ticked by. But I couldn’t see anyone suspicious, not until Art finally started walking back to me. My eyes went wide when I saw the two men scouring the platform, clearing looking for someone.

I couldn’t be certain they were looking for me. It was just a suspicion, but their attire made it pretty damn clear that whoever they were here for, it wouldn’t end well. Art’s eyes connected with mine and I shook my head slowly, telling him not to come any closer. He slowed and walked over to a bench, sitting down as he looked back in the direction he came. I saw him tense when he saw the men.

I didn’t know what to do. I needed to get away, but Art couldn’t be seen with me. That would only put him in danger. He pulled up his own hoodie and turned away from the men. Then I watched as he tucked the ticket into a crack in the wooden bench. Casually, he got up and strolled away.

Licking my lips, I took my chance and walked to the bench, snatched the ticket and headed toward the buses. I didn’t dare look over my shoulder, but I could already feel them following me. I started walking faster, hoping I could make it to the buses and get away from them.

“I’ll distract them,” I heard a voice beside me. “You run and get to your bus. I’ll lead them in another direction.”

I didn’t have time to think before he shoved me toward the buses, making it clear that he was helping me. I took off, running as fast as I could, searching for my bus number among the numerous buses parked outside. I wove in and out of the crowd, hoping the men would lose me. Panting hard, I found my bus and ran for the door. I was just about to get on when I looked back. Art was shouting at a bus parked on the other side of the circle drive. The men looked over there and took off after him as he raced into the street like he was heading for me.

I got on the bus just as the driver was about to close the doors. “Find a seat,” he snapped. I ran for a seat, staring out the window as Art rushed across the grass toward a parked bus filled with people. I pressed my face to the window, watching as he ran hard. He turned back to look at the men, and I gasped, seeing a car racing down the street.

“No!” I cried out, slamming my hand on the window. “Move!”

He turned back around, one foot on the pavement, when he saw the car. He tried to step back, but the car swerved in his direction, slamming into him. I watched in horror as Art’s body went up over the hood, crashed into the windshield, and then catapulted over the car.

Slapping a hand over my mouth, I turned away from the window, squeezing my eyes shut as I heard the screams in the distance. Tears leaked from my eyes as I finally worked up the courage to look out the window again. People were racing toward his prone body. I waited for any sign of movement, but there was none. The bus jerked as the driver pulled away from the curb. I almost got up and told him to stop, that I wanted to get off, but something stopped me.

As much as I wanted to run to him and be with him, I knew Art wouldn’t want that. He caused the distraction so I could get away. If I got off the bus now, then he died for nothing. Sinking back into the seat, I sniffed as everyone around me moved on the bus, staring out the window at the growing crowd across the lawn. I bit my lip to keep the tears from falling, but it was no use. I’d gotten someone killed today, a man that tried to protect me when I couldn’t protect myself. I knew this would happen. I should have never let him come with me. If I had left on my own, he would still be alive.

I could never allow anyone to help me again, no matter how lonely my life got.

3

CASH

“Come in!”I barked at the loud rap on my door.

The door swung open and Eli Brant walked in, a smirk on his face. “Everyone’s waiting in the conference room.”

“And that’s funny?”

He was quiet for a moment, the smile never leaving his face. “He’s very…pretty.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sinner?”

“I was just thinking, now that he’s here, and the fact that he just looks so damn charming, we really don’t need to rotate on close protection anymore.”

“You want to shift that responsibility to him,” I affirmed.

“Hey,” he held up his hands, shaking his head. “I’m just saying, the ladies will love him, and we both know they’re more likely to listen to that pretty face than the rest of us.”

I laughed at that. “Yeah, you’re all ugly.” I jerked my chin at the door. “So, do you think he’s ready?”

“You saw him. He adapted well to our team. He’s a bit of a jokester, but I think he’ll do just fine.”

I nodded in agreement. “I talked with Cazzo, his previous team leader. He says Sinner’s solid. No mistakes.”

“I get the same impression.”

“Good. Let’s welcome him with his first mission as close protection agent.”

I stood and walked around the desk, joining Eli as we made our way to the conference room. Sinner was lounging in his chair, but the way his eyes moved around the room, it was clear this was his way of checking things out discreetly.

“Alright, let’s get this meeting started. As I’m sure you’ve all figured out by now, Mark is now joining your team. Eli is in charge when in the field. He’s your commanding officer. Warren is your communications guy, and Bradford is your weapons guy. That leaves you,” I nodded to Sinner with a smile. “You will be the close protection agent on most assignments.”

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