“If you’re going to make my job easier by coming clean, or if you’re going to leave me muddling about in the dark, which could also be riskier for both of us.”
She released a tense breath. “Maybe a better decision would be to leave so you guys aren’t at risk.”
Leese caught her chin, a surefire method to gain and hold her attention. “That’s one choice you don’t have. Whether you like it or not, you’ve got my protection.”
Justice added, “If you’re thinking of dodging him, think again. He’s pretty good at surveillance.”
Cat scowled at them both. “I think I’ll take a nap, after all.” She bunched up her coat and shoved it against the door like a pillow. “Wake me when we’re there.”
So she wouldn’t rest against him this time? Too bad. But he wouldn’t waste the quiet time. He had a whole lot more research to do, and this time his focus would be on her stepfather and his friends.
With or without her help, he’d get things figured out. Hopefully in enough time to keep her out of trouble.
CHAPTER FOUR
SHE SLEPT THE entire hour and a half it took to reach their destination. It was a testament to her level of exhaustion, and how much she intrinsically trusted him and Justice. There was very real danger, Leese didn’t doubt that. Especially after meeting Tesh, who he discovered was actually Tesh Coleman, a fifty-two-year-old professional thug for the elite.
Justice glanced back at her. Her entire body was lax, her expression peaceful. Leese had had to move to the front seat to keep from touching her. Repeatedly.
“You’re smitten,” Justice accused. “And you told me that shit was a no-no.”
“Concerned, not smitten. I’m wondering how long she’s gone without a good rest to keep passing out like that.”
“Maybe she’s just a sound sleeper. This one lady I knew could sleep through an earthquake after a good boning. Totally knocked her out.”
Leese grinned. “Maybe you bored her to sleep.”
He only half listened to Justice’s denials as they neared Body Armor’s swanky main offices. He’d been with the bodyguard agency for a year now, and so far, it was unlike anything he’d imagined.
For one thing, he liked it a hell of a lot more than he’d expected to.
Playing protector suited him on a basic level. There’d been a time in his life when he’d been more of a jerk than he liked to admit. Much as he detested the truth, he believed in being honest with himself so he accepted that much of his attitude had stemmed from insecurity. As a mediocre MMA fighter, he’d had just enough skill to be cocky and obnoxious.
He wasn’t insecure anymore.
And these days, with plenty of practice, his skill level was lethal.
After a lapse in his judgment had almost gotten a girl killed, his entire outlook on life had changed. The eye-opening close call had turned him around.
He planned to spend the rest of his life helping others, and if he got paid well in the bargain he’d count it a double win.
“She passed out whimpering my name.”
Drawn back to the here and now, Leese said, “Probably begging you to quit and leave her alone.”
With a smug smile, Justice said, “She still comes around for the occasional booty call.”
“Maybe she has insomnia? She needs you to put her to sleep again.”
Justice laughed. “Admit it, I’m a stud and you’re jealous.”
When Cat made a small sound, Leese again glanced into the backseat. She hadn’t moved.
“Gotta say,” Justice told him. “So far it’s been interesting. But don’t you miss MMA?”
Leese figured Justice asked because he was already missing it. “I still train,” Leese told him. “I just don’t compete, which is no big loss because we both know we weren’t championship material.” They were good. A hell of a lot better than any street brawler. But champion? Only a select few could claim that title.
He’d come to grips with that, but maybe Justice hadn’t yet. After all, it had taken Justice nearly a year longer than Leese to admit it. Leese had a feeling that once Justice got acclimated, he’d like the bodyguard business a lot more than he now realized.
“I guess.” Justice tugged at his earring. “I’m actually better at shooting bullets than I ever was at takedowns.”
“You’ll try it as a bodyguard, and if you don’t like it, don’t stay.” But Leese would bet he’d stay.
“You’d told me there weren’t any hot babes to protect, but the little lady snoring in the backseat is pretty sweet on the eyes.”
Very sweet. “She’s an exception to the rule. It’s mostly businessmen and high-profile local politicians.” So far Leese’s most exciting assignments had included coordinating protection for a touring musician, a movie production on location and a foreign dignitary. “In fact, the specifics of this case are an exception. Most of the time your job will be to check out safe routes for travel, research the backgrounds of people your client will interact with and search rooms where they’ll be staying to ensure they’re safe. Mundane stuff like that.”
“You lucked out with this one, then.”
“Maybe.” He knew his boss, in her efforts to really promote the agency, reserved certain jobs for certain people. She was good at matchups, so Leese didn’t question her.
Now she’d matched him up with Catalina Nicholson and while he felt like thanking her, because no way did he want anyone else in charge of her safety, he also needed to know what the hell Sahara Silver had gotten him into.
This was only Justice’s second ride-along, sort of a training session, and so far, he was too impulsive in Leese’s opinion. But he’d catch on soon enough.
“You think Sahara will keep us paired up?”
“We’re not partners, Justice. I’m training you, same as I got trained.”
“That’s why you got to hit the bozos and I didn’t?”
Leese resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Usually there’s no hitting involved, so don’t get ahead of yourself.” To further explain, he said, “For this case, I’m more like a close protection officer. Sometimes, depending on the job and the risk to the client, we might have a close protection group, but until meeting Catalina, no one thought that was necessary.” Groups were generally used when a politician or ambassador suspected an assassination attempt, meaning different levels of surveillance would be needed.
But for one petite schoolteacher?
“With that one,” Justice said, nodding toward the backseat where Cat slept, “I’m thinking a battalion might get a workout trying to keep up with her.”
Leese was beginning to think the same.
“Know what, Leese?”
“What?”
“I’d consider it more fun if I got to do some hitting too.”
With a lazy stretch and a purring groan, Cat came awake and sluggishly sat up. She rubbed her eyes while saying, “Then you’re in for a good time, stud, because if you stick with me, I predict there’ll be a lot of hitting in your future.”
“Stud?” Leese asked, already guessing she’d been awake for a while.
“That’s what he called himself, right?”
Justice grimaced. “You were playing possum?”