Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Raven, this is Jared. Jared Tucker. Your new bodyguard.”
Jared stands—and he’s even bigger than I thought he was. “Ms. Bellamy, it’s a pleasure.” He walks toward me and holds out his hand.
I take his hand, letting it dwarf my own. “Mr. Tucker.”
“Call me Jared, ma’am.”
“Sure.” I let go of his hand. “And you may call me Raven. I don’t like Ms. Bellamy, or God forbid”—I shudder—“ma’am.”
He cracks a small smile. “Whatever you say, Raven.”
“We were lucky to find Jared,” Falcon says. “Leif knows him from the Navy.”
“Oh, did you serve with Leif?”
Jared shakes his head. “Not in the way you mean. I was a SEAL, but Phoenix and I were with different companies. Everybody knew the Phoenix, though. He could get out of any trouble.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“He’s a good man.”
“Leif vouches for Jared also,” Falcon adds. “And his word is as good as gold.”
“I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice man,” I say to Jared. “And thank you for what you’re doing for me.”
He nods. “Thank you for the job. I will do my best to keep any harm from coming to you.”
“I know.”
I don’t ask how much he’s being paid. I’m sure it’s a ton. I’ll talk to Falcon about it later and make sure it comes out of my trust fund.
“I’ve arranged for Jared to stay in the room right next to yours,” Falcon says.
“Sure, that’s fine.”
“You have nothing to fear from having me here,” Jared says.
“I don’t fear you.”
“You don’t want to fear me,” he says, “but it’s clear on your face when you look at me. I know what I look like, how large I am. I’m used to the stares.”
I drop my gaze to the floor. “I apologize.”
“Don’t. There’s no need for that. Your brother and Leif have apprised me of the situation. Any person would have their guard up after what you and your family have been through. I would be shocked if you didn’t.” He gestures out the kitchen window toward my driveway. “I’ll be your driver as well. You saw my SUV outside. Where you go, I go.”
I turn to my brother. “Falcon…”
“Nonnegotiable,” my brother says. “Until we get this shit settled.”
I swallow. “Does he know everything?”
“I only know what I need to know, Raven,” Jared says. “And all I need to know is that your safety is paramount and that’s why I’m here.”
I nod. “So…what if I want to go somewhere?”
“I’ll drive you.”
“What if I want to go visit Falcon and Savannah? Or my mom and dad?”
“I’ll accompany you. If you want privacy, I’ll stay in the car. Or I can stay elsewhere in the house while you’re visiting. I assure you that I will be as discreet as possible while still ensuring your complete security.”
“All right.”
Falcon gives me a half hug around my shoulders. “This is all for your own safety.”
I sigh. “Yes, I understand. Thank you for finding him, Falcon.” I turn to Jared. “And thank you, Jared, for…whatever you’re going to do, I guess.”
He smiles. “What I’ll be doing is protecting you, Raven.” He taps the top of his thigh. “I’m armed at all times, and believe me. No one will get past me. You will be safe in my charge.”
“You can take that to the bank, Ray,” Falcon says. “Like I said, anyone who Leif recommends has my complete trust.”
I give Jared another once-over. I don’t doubt his words.
“So…I told my mom I’d come back to her house.”
“Good enough,” Jared says. “I’m happy to drive you over there.”
I scratch my arm. “I don’t know… This all feels… Violating, almost.”
“I’ll stay out of your personal space as much as I can,” Jared says. “I can assure you that I am trained in keeping my clients as comfortable as they are safe. You won’t even notice I’m there.”
“We just had those top-of-the-line security systems put in all of our homes,” I say. “Do I really need someone guarding me twenty-four-seven?”
“Yes, you do,” Falcon says. “In light of everything, you do, Raven.”
I swallow. He’s no doubt right. What with the whole Diego Vega situation, and then Brick Latham’s murder. And now CJ’s boss, Mr. Puzo, who Vinnie was coming to see…
God, Vinnie…
I need to talk to him about this.
He’ll no doubt be happy I have a bodyguard. In fact, it may have been his idea. Savannah is his sister, and I’m sure he talks to her as much as he talks to me. Probably more.
I jerk when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out.
It’s Vinnie.
My heart nearly skips a beat.
“Would you two excuse me, please?” I walk out of the kitchen and take some privacy in my living area. I accept the call and bring the receiver up to my ear.
“Vinnie?”
“I’m going out of town tonight, Raven.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, and I’ll be gone a long time. Probably about a month. I just wanted you to know so you won’t try to get in touch with me.”