Chapter 77
700 Words
Mark saw her face. “Hey,” he said gently. “I spent the whole weekend there with our tech team, and we swept your entire home for bugs and any other kind of unauthorized surveillance. It’s clean, Liv. And of course, we won’t leave you alone there. Someone will always be with you, no matter where you go.”
“Someone will sleep in my house?”
“Yeah, we’ll set up a sleep area, but there will always be someone awake and on patrol. We’ll explain all of this when we get back to your place. OK?”
She nodded.
“So, let’s go,” Sully said. “We’ll talk about all the rules and roles, and then we’ll figure out how to work within your schedule for the next few days.”
“You mean my work schedule?”
Sully shrugged. “Your life schedule. We work around what we can, and we ask you to rethink or even cancel some things that may seem especially dangerous or risky. We also have to go over some things we need you to do, and not do, to make it possible for us to do our jobs effectively.”
“OK,” she said and turned to Dallas. “Are you coming?”
“No.” He checked his watch. “I’m interviewing someone for a job in about fifteen minutes. I’ll come to your home later today, make sure everything’s set up and in order. And I’ll be staying with you overnight until we identify this guy and he’s in police custody.”
“You will?”
He nodded. “Yep. I’ll be inside with you, and the night team will be outside, guarding the perimeter.”
“Night team?”
“Yeah, two more members of my staff.” Dallas grinned. “They’re sleeping right now, so you’ll meet them tonight. Griff and Selena. They’ll take the night shifts, me and these guys will handle days. Alright?”
“Yes. Alright.”
“Any questions, darlin’?”
She thought for a few seconds, then shook her head. “Not right now.”
“OK, then. Off you go. I’ll see you later.” Dallas held the door for her. “And just take it easy today, alright? We’ve got this, Olivia… it’s under control. I promise you.”
And as she looked at the three men standing in front of her, she totally believed him.
****
Nigel’s Monday morning had taken an unexpected turn, and he wasn’t as happy about it as he could have been. Normally, he’d be thrilled and delighted to have two large, handsome men in dark suits come strolling up to him as he was opening the office door, kindly requesting that he come with them right away. He’d stood there, staring up at their hard eyes, startled and even a bit afraid.
They’d told him that Dallas Foreman had asked for Nigel to be brought to the Solid Security office for a conversation about Liv’s stalker. He’d agreed, of course, and then the two gorgeous men had hustled him to a black SUV, bundled him into the back seat, and off they’d gone.
Nigel sat there, looking at the men’s broad shoulders and large hands, and realized that this was a kind of fantasy-come-true. He had a serious thing for bodyguards, and he'd always thought that he’d find this kind of scenario hot. But worry for Liv and the men’s cool professionalism worried him.
After a few minutes of silence, Nigel spoke up. “Ummm. Has something happened? Is Liv OK?”
The dark-haired one stared at Nigel in the rear view mirror. “We’re not authorized to give you any details, Mr. Ramirez. I’m sorry.”
“Details about what?”
“I can’t say.”
“But something must have happened, or else there’d be no details for you to stay quiet about. Am I right?”
Silence.
“Please,” Nigel begged. “Just let me know if Liv is OK.”
“Ms. Jameson is fine,” the blond one who was driving said. “That’s all we’ll say, though.”
Nigel nodded. “Thank you.”
- Writer
