Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
He laughed. “Probably. She just looks like someone’s kid sister, ya know?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen her.”
“Just wanna make sure we’re not dealin’ with some smarmy asshole while we’re tryin’ to keep her safe.”
“You just wanna make sure she’s not dealin’ with some smarmy asshole after we leave,” I corrected dryly.
“Alright, that, too.”
“Well, we’ll know soon enough. You all set?”
“We’re all waitin’ on you, boss.”
“Then let’s go.” I snagged my wallet off the hotel dresser and slid it into my pocket as we headed toward the door. “Try not to irritate anyone, yeah? These people pay well and it’s a short job—hopin’ they’ll come callin’ again.”
“Roger that.”
“You’re going to make us late,” Lu grumbled as we walked into the hallway. “Feeling pretty now? Got your lucky socks on and all that?”
“I was talkin’ to Cec, asshole,” I shot back, bumping into her.
“She begging you to come home yet?”
I scoffed. Cecilia was one of the most independent people I’d ever met. I was convinced that half the reason we worked so well is that I’d occasionally be out of town for a few days and she got the house to herself.
“I’d be beggin’ for you to come home if you left me with all those kids.” Eli chuckled, putting a toothpick in the corner of his mouth.
“Weren’t you the one who told Cec that she only needed one of us to babysit?” Forrest asked as he stepped out of his room.
“Yeah, but I meant one of you.” Eli pointed back and forth between Forrest and Lu.
“Don’t worry, Eli,” I said as we stopped in front of the hotel room we’d be working. “We’d never leave our kids with you.”
Just seconds after I’d knocked, the door opened to a man dressed in a dark-gray suit. He was neat, polished, and obviously had money. The manager.
“Mark Eastwood?” he asked, reaching out to shake my hand. “Hollis Trower.”
“Mr. Trower,” I replied with a nod.
“Just Hollis, please.”
“These are my colleagues, Eli, Forrest and Lu.”
“Nice to meet you all,” Hollis said, reaching out to shake each person’s hand.
First indication he wasn’t an asshole. That was good.
“Come on in.” He gestured for us to pass him, and we walked into a suite that was bigger than my first apartment. Eli whistled quietly in admiration.
“First of all, thank you for coming and for being on time.” Hollis smiled. “Please grab a drink if you’d like.”
“I’m good.” I glanced around, taking in the furniture and fancy décor. They were paying well, so I knew the singer had money, but I think I’d underestimated just how well she was doing for herself.
“Shall we get started?” Hollis asked. “I’ve printed out the itinerary for tomorrow in case you didn’t get the email I sent.”
“I got it.”
“Oh, good.” Hollis nodded. “So, we’ll just need you guys beginning tomorrow morning. Layla has an interview at a local news station, followed by another at a radio station—”
“Where is your security?” Forrest asked, cutting him off.
“Pardon?”
“Where is your security? Forrest asked, slowly. “We just walked right up to your door, and you opened it without even checkin’ the peephole. I don’t see anyone in here, so?”
“Well.” Hollis chuckled a little uncomfortably. “Lay’s regular security are meeting us at the next stop, since we hired you guys for the Portland stop.”
Eli grunted in disapproval.
“We came here straight from the airport,” Hollis explained. “Layla’s in for the night and doesn’t have any appointments until tomorrow, which is why we scheduled you starting tomorrow morning.”
“You’re saying there’s no security here,” I replied slowly, hardly believing it.
I could practically feel Lu’s scowl of disgust behind me.
“Like I said, we came straight for the airport—”
“Excuse me,” Forrest interrupted again. “But a whole host of shit could happen between here and the airport.”
“It didn’t,” Hollis explained uncomfortably.
Before he could say anything else, the woman we’d be protecting for the next two days came out of one of the bedrooms. She was wearing a matching sweatsuit and had clearly just come out of the shower. No makeup and her long blonde hair was slicked into a bun.
“Hey,” she said easily, coming toward us. She seemed even smaller than in the photos I’d found on the internet. “Are you guys the new security team?”
Huh. She spoke directly to us. It wasn’t unheard of, but more often than not the client ended up talking about us not to us. First impression? I liked her.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Howler.”
“Layla, please,” she said, grinning as she shook my hand. She had three dimples. “Howler isn’t even my real name.”
“I figured,” I replied, grinning back.
She introduced herself to each of us and shook our hands. When she got to Forrest, smiling up at the big guy, he just nodded.
I was going to give him so much shit.
“You left your security behind?” Forrest asked gruffly, still holding her hand.
“Well—” She looked around at the group. “Isn’t that your job?”