Page 120 of Nanny for the SEALs

“Matthews, I’m in front of the west roadblock.”

As they sounded off, I noted their locations on a map of the film site. We had four extra security agents on-site today, both to keep Heather as safe as possible, and to ensure we caught the bastards doing this. Plus the film studio had their own security on-site.Not to mentionthe LAPD officers at the roadblocks. There was a short list of people who were allowed inside the set, a list which I had personally vetted before today. This place was tighter than a tick’s asshole.

We weren’t taking any chances.

Asher stepped over to me and lowered his voice. “That’s the third sound-off you’ve called in the last ten minutes.”

“I’m keeping everyone alert,” I replied stubbornly. “I don’t want anyone getting lazy.”

Asher clapped me on the back reassuringly. “Everything will be fine.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do know that,” he replied, “because we’re going to make sure it’s fine.”

I grimaced. “That’s what worries me, Asher. If something does happen to Heather it will be our fault, and…”

I trailed off as the door opened and the last person I wanted to see walked into the film trailer.

“Jimmy fucken Cardannon?” I growled.

Rogan whirled on him. “What are you doing here?”

Cardannon took a look around the trailer and adjusted his suit jacket. “We were hired by Pedro Ortega, the male lead. He doesn’t feel safe with the current environment created by Amirah Pratt’s…situation. I’m here to keep an eye on things.”

I couldn’t believe he was here, in person. It was like he was mocking us with his presence. I clenched my fist and prepared to go off on him.

But Rogan beat me to it.

“You think I don’t know what’s going on?” Rogan got up in his face like an MMA fighter at a weigh-in. “First you show up at the restaurant where the first hotel shooting occurred, and now you’rehere,on set?”

Cardannon’s shit-eating grin grew wider. “That restaurant has the best sushi in town. I was actually hoping to meet with some of the actors at the party and convince them to obtain Heimdall’s services, but your shoddy company botched the job so much that I didn’t have to. I ought to thank you.”

He extended his hand, and Rogan slapped it away. “I ought to kick your ass right fucking here.”

Rogan pulled back a fist, and I grabbed it before he had a chance to do exactly that. Asher grabbed him from the other side and we pulled our friend away before he could do something he would regret.

“Don’t worry—I have two Heimdall agents patrolling the roadblocks,” Cardannon said. “Since your little outfit cannot protect Amirah Pratt, we’ll do it for you. She can give all the autographs she wants without worrying a hair on her pretty little head.”

Rogan opened his mouth, then hesitated. I was thinking the same thing as him: did Cardannon know that Heather was acting as a double? If so, the plan was doomed from the start. We were making fools of ourselves.

Cardannon smiled widely around the room. “I’m going to make the rounds. I prefer to be out among the crowds, rather than growing soft in the air conditioning. When The Weiman Agency drops you and hires Heimdall once and for all, I’ll buy you boys a pint to make up for it.”

“You’re not going to get away with this,” I said. “We’re going to stop you.”

“I doubt that.” He chuckled to himself. “What, no quips about my pale complexion? No remarks about putting sunscreen on my head? You three truly must be concerned about your business. As you should be.” He continued laughing as he left.

“Do you think he knows?” I asked.

Rogan shook his head. “Doesn’t seem like it. He wouldn’t have been able to resist making fun of our plan.”

“We ran background checks on everyone working on set,” Asher said thoughtfully. “Yet if Cardannon is here…”

He could have inserted anyone here, I thought. The set wasn’t as locktight as we thought.

“Do you think he would try it,” I said, “even though heknowswe’re here, trying to stop him?”

“I think he’s cocky enough tothinkhe can get away with it,” Rogan replied. “Doing it right underneath our noses would be so much more embarrassing for us.”

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