Hostile Territory (Blackbridge Security 1)

I try yoga, but it isn’t the same at getting rid of tension alone in a room rather than in front of that sexy instructor down at the country club.

Television does nothing for me, and since I already spent a ton of time alone prior to this recent mess, I’ve already binge-watched just about everything on Netflix, and I don’t care how much people were talking about it a while back, I refuse to watch a show about a dude with a mullet playing with tigers and working his way through straight men.

But of course, I love tigers, which in my bored state allows memories to come rushing back from a teenage trip to the zoo.

“He’s an idiot,” I mumbled, chewing bubble gum and glaring at the guy on the other side of the room.

“I don’t know why you two can’t get along.” Dani didn’t even turn her head when she spoke.

Of course she didn’t. Her eyes were glued to Deacon, who was on the other side of the herpetarium, swaying back and forth in front of the glass separating him from the king cobra on display.

“Don’t hold your breath or you’ll die, because that’s never going to happen.”

She sighed and finally took her eyes off her man long enough to look in my direction.

“Please?”

I was honestly shocked. Dani didn’t say please to anyone. She had been handed everything in her life, much the same way I had, but she was never grateful for it. Expectant was a better word to describe my best friend.

“You’re like a sister to me.” She pointed to Deacon who had moved on to the next enclosure, and from the way he was tilting his head, he hadn’t found whatever creature was supposed to be inside yet. “He’s the love of my life. I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him, and since I don’t plan on giving you up, I need you two to make an effort.”

I resisted the urge to get mad about sounding like the second choice she had to even consider keeping.

“Have you even told your parents about him yet?”

She shook her head, her eyes drifting back to Deacon.

“You’ve been dating for almost a year, Dani. Don’t you think it’s time?”

“You know how my dad is.” I did. He was a complete asshole. I didn’t think Dani and I would’ve been so close or spent so much time together if she didn’t hate being at home. “I have to ease him into it.”

“Babe!” Deacon turned around, his eyes shining in the low lights above his dark-haired head. “Come look at the tongue on this thing.”

Without looking back, Dani glided from her seat beside me to join Deacon on the other side of the room. As I watched them, I understood that I may never have what those two have found in each other. Even though I’d never be caught dead letting a guy nuzzle my neck like a fool or squealing like a pig because of it, which is reminiscent of the sound Dani was making, I couldn’t help but envy their closeness. Deacon was protective of her, and other than my own father, I had never had someone who looked out for me. When they left the room without a glance in my direction, it was the moment I understood that the description didn’t even fit my best friend. How was it possible to feel so alone when you were surrounded by people?

It’s too much. Being here is too much. Having Deacon around is too much.

If he’s the love of her life, that means the second they’re within eyesight of each other again, nothing else is going to matter. Dani hasn’t been the best of best friends to me recently but we have a history, just like she and Deacon have a history, only their bonds have always been tighter than ours. I’m not competition, not that I really want to be, but being stuck here with no one to talk to and no one to interact with is going to drive me insane.

I had on full makeup and nice clothes before I even walked out of the bedroom this morning in anticipation of finding Deacon lounging on the couch, so all I have to do is grab my phone before heading to the door.

I squeal when I tug open the door to find a guy standing just outside.

“It’s okay, Anna. I work for Deacon.”

He must see the fear in my eyes.

“You’re British, not Russian,” I say like an imbecile.

“Hence me saying I work for Deacon.”

“I’m going out.”

He doesn’t touch me, but he shifts his body to block my way. “I’m afraid I can’t let that happen.”

“Am I a hostage now?”

A grin slides across his handsome face, and once again, I’m wondering about what the physical requirements are for working for Blackbridge Security and Consulting. There have to be laws against requiring these guys to be so good looking.