Hillbilly Rockstar (Blacktop Cowboys 6)

She stood and left the room.

Talk about a hasty exit. His gaze connected with Joe’s, and the level of animosity surprised him. Then Joe murmured something to Garrett and took off after Liberty.

What had happened? Was his new bodyguard involved with one of her bosses?

Before he could ask about the Joe/Liberty dynamic, he was hit with a barrage of questions. Now that he’d been muscled into agreeing to full-time security, the remaining negotiations didn’t interest him. He tuned out, focusing on the tune in his head that’d been giving him fits over the past week.

He heard a soft sigh and glanced over at Crash. His road manager was bored out of his skull too.

“We’re done here,” his agent said. “You and Crash are meeting Carl and me at our hotel to finalize tour plans.”

“How am I supposed to get there? I came on my bus. And since ridin’ around in it is like painting a bull’s-eye on me . . .”

“Garrett will escort you. Get anything you’ll need off that bus. The transport company providing the new bus will transfer the rest of your belongings.”

Devin grinned. “Hot damn. Do I get to choose my bus this time?”

Carl shook his head. “But I guarantee it’ll be top-of-the-line, with all of the safety recommendations. Only the best for our best and brightest.”

Carl’s slimy smile dimmed Devin’s happiness. No good deed was offered without strings. But he knew how the game was played. If he acted grateful, maybe those strings wouldn’t choke him.

“We’ll see you at the hotel.” Hands were shaken. Then his agent and Carl left him and Crash alone with Garrett.

Crash stood. “I’ll get your guitar. I know that’s all you really give a shit about.”

“My day travel duffel is in the first bunk.” He kept an emergency bag packed at all times. That came in handy when he was called to fill in for last-minute gigs and had to hop on a plane at a moment’s notice.

“Got it. See ya down there.”

Garrett stood. “I’ll give you the nickel tour on our way down to the parking garage.”

He followed Garrett into the hallway. “I appreciate you makin’ this work, Garrett.”

“I guarantee you’ll find Liberty a better fit into your lifestyle than the guys from LaGruder Security.” He punched the elevator button. “As it is, you’ll get a taste of that type of protection the next couple of days.”

Devin frowned. “What do you mean?”

Garrett crossed his arms over his chest. “You really are the last to know. Carl already hired two bodyguards from LaGruder. They’ll be with you until Liberty takes over.”

“So I’ve got two f**kin’ babysitters?”

“I wouldn’t use that term around security specialists,” Garrett said dryly, “as it tends to piss them off. But, yeah, LaGruder is the big dog in this town in the personal-protection business. That’s why Carl picked them sight unseen.”

Devin changed the subject when they stepped into the elevator. “How’s Tanna? I haven’t had a chance to talk to her much.”

Garrett’s eyes warmed slightly. “Happy. Busy. She’s still runnin’ the circuit, but she’s struggling to stay in the top fifteen. I know she has her heart set on back-to-back world titles. But she and Fletch are tryin’ to start a family, and she wants that even more.” He paused. “And don’t worry that I’ll tell Tanna anything. I don’t f**k around when I promise my clients confidentiality. I have the same policy for those who work for me. No one in Wyoming knows that Liberty is on my payroll.”

“How’s that possible?”

“Tanna mentioned to me that her friend Harper’s sister was lookin’ for work after bein’ discharged from the military. I contacted Liberty and interviewed her.”

“I get it. I’m sold on her.” Mostly. If he had to be saddled with a babysitter, he’d prefer someone with a personality—even an abrasive one—to humorless goons.

They stopped outside a large window that looked into a workout room with weight machines, heavy bags, speed bags, and training dummies. Two people in full gear were sparring on the mat. Even through the glass, Devin could hear the sound of the gloves striking against flesh and the safety gear. Neither one held back.

“Do they always train this hard?”

“Yes, if they want to be employed here.”

“How long will they go at it?” Devin asked.

“Until one falls.”

“Why’d they pair up like that? Seems the bigger guy has a huge advantage over the smaller guy.”

“Because threats come in all shapes and sizes. My employees train against each other, but I also bring in other specialists in different martial arts disciplines so they don’t get complacent with their skills.”

“With a setup like this, and your employees being mostly ex-military, I’d suspect you were running a private black ops group and not just a personal security company.”

For the first time ever, Garrett Barker smiled. It wasn’t a friendly smile. And the man neither confirmed nor denied Devin’s comment.

Scary shit.

Devin refocused on the fighters, watching as the smaller guy landed a punch to his opponent’s gut and then swept his legs out from under him.

“And we have a winner,” Garrett murmured.

The victor offered a hand to the loser to help him up. Then they removed their gloves and helmets.