Chapter 81
1044 Words
“So,” Sully said. “The first rule is this: you do whatever we say. Even if it makes no sense, or you don’t understand why we’re telling you to do something, you do it. No questions asked. We’ll always explain later, but at the time, you just do what we tell you. Us, Dallas, Griff and Selena… anyone on your detail. OK?”
“OK.”
They both blinked at that. Most clients objected right off the bat, arguing that they needed information before agreeing to being bossed around, and describing scenarios where they wouldn’t be willing to blindly obey an order from an almost-stranger. But not Olivia, and they both warmed to her even more.
Sully continued. “When faced with a stressful and frightening situation, most people freeze up. I know on TV and movies, it shows people screaming for help and freaking out, but really, most people just go totally silent and still, and they have no idea what to do. What we’ve been trained to do is to react in situations. We can think clearly, and stay in total control of our bodies. Our job, in the end, is to be there to make split-second decisions on your behalf and act if something happens to you, or if you’re threatened.”
She nodded again.
“That means that the second rule is that we don’t leave you alone, not ever. You can sleep alone in your room, but Dallas needs to be in the guest room next door. Selena and Griff have to be outside all night. During the day, we stand outside the bathroom door when you go to the bathroom in an office building. We accompany you to your photo shoots, fittings, meetings. Everything. I know it will be annoying and you’ll feel like you’re being babysat, but it’s non-negotiable. We have eyes on you at all times. Clear?”
“Yes.”
“Next up: your closest friends.”
Liv looked up sharply. “My friends?”
“Yes,” Mark told her. “We need to investigate all of them.”
“For what?” She looked shocked. “You can’t think that Emma or Kat or Jenny have anything at all to do with this.”
“No, we don’t think that,” Mark said. “Dallas doesn’t either. But like your PA, Nigel Ramirez, they have lots of access to you and information about you. Your stalker may well be working through one of them, without them knowing it.”
Liv sat quietly, wrestling with herself. “I – I can’t agree to that.”
The men sat back. “Why not?”
She shook her head. “I’m so sorry. I know you’re professionals and if Dallas trusts you, I do too. But this – this isn’t about me. I need to talk to Dallas about it.”
Sully and Mark glanced at each other. They knew that Liv was worried about them uncovering something in one of her friends’ lives. The question was, was this the something that had brought the danger and threat into Liv’s own life?
“OK,” Mark said. “You talk to Dallas about it tonight. He’ll tell us whether or not to proceed, or if this is something that he’ll handle himself.” He took a folder out of his laptop bag. “Now let’s go over your work and social schedule for the next five days, OK?”
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s do that.”
****
Dallas stared down at the file in front of him, trying very hard to stay completely professional about its contents. He was having a hard time.
In his hands, he held Olivia’s whole damn life, from birth to about eight hours ago when he’d spoken to Mark and made a note of their conversation, both in hard copy and in the e-file. And now here he sat, preparing to go and sleep just one room over from the woman whose entire existence he’d spent the past three days going over, relentlessly, ruthlessly. Dallas was sure that he knew more about Olivia than just about anyone else in her life, and that wasn’t sitting well with him.
He didn’t like how he’d learned about her so fully. He wished that she’d told him these things herself… while lying in bed with him, her head on his chest, his hands in her hair. After making love.
Dallas sighed heavily, and reminded himself that Olivia Jameson was just another client now, and he had to treat her as such.
Whatever history they had – those long nights spent talking in the hospital waiting rooms, the dinners at Jenny’s restaurant with her friends and the guys, the coffees and chats while planning how to organize Emma’s treatment pick-up and drop-off schedule that week – it all had to be set aside. Now she was a job. That’s it.
Yeah, right, man. Like you totally believe that. Jesus Christ. We need to find this guy fast – I’m not sure how many nights I can sleep over there before I officially and totally lose my mind.
He drove to Olivia’s house, and saw that the night security team was already in position. He nodded at John Griffin – Griff to everyone – and Selena Perez. Both smart, tough, experienced bodyguards and former military. Griff had been a SEAL and Selena had been on the front line in Iraq for two tours. They were both single and loved the night work, and Dallas had discovered that they were an amazing team.
He parked just in front of the door, then glanced up to see Sully standing there, his gun drawn and at waist-level.
“Hey, man,” Sully said and put his weapon away. “Good to see you.”
“Yeah, you too. How’s it going here?”
Sully shrugged. “Easy day today… she just stayed home, got some rest. We go back to full-swing tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I got the itinerary. Thanks.”
“OK, so,” Sully said. “Anything else before we go home?”
“Nope,” Dallas said. “You and Mark can head on out… I’ve got it from here.”
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