Giorgio (Vigilance 1)

“His mother will be there.”

“And his mother is…?”

“Sandra.”

“Oh shit.” Sandra and X had had a volatile relationship—to put it mildly—though it didn’t stop them from helping each other out when they needed to. She provided him with the high-society intel he loathed seeking out, and he made sure she was always safe. Their families moved in the same social circles, and they’d been friends since childhood, but I knew few specifics about their history. X had made it clear that wasn’t up for discussion. I knew they’d dated off and on in college, and apparently they had a child together. No wonder things were contentious between them.

“Yes.”

“All right. I see why you don’t want to be there. How did you find out what was going on with your son?”

“Sandra called me. Lane doesn’t think he needs a bodyguard. He thinks the man will eventually give up.”

Great. Nothing like a reluctant client. “And he has no idea who you are?”

“Yes. As far as he knows, I’m an acquaintance of his mother’s.”

“This sounds like fun.”

“I’m counting on you, Giorgio. I need to know this man won’t hurt him.”

I might not want to do this job, but I would never break X’s trust. “I won’t let him out of my sight.”

“And when he tells you he doesn’t need protection?”

“I’ll tell him he does. How old is he?”

“Twenty-one.”

Perfect. Old enough to be on his own and young enough to still think he’s invincible. “Does he know what the meeting is about?”

X’s hesitation gave me my answer. When he finally spoke, he said, “Sandra said she’d get him there. I left it at that.”

“So I never let your son out of my sight, I keep his ex-boyfriend from murdering him, and I don’t mention you. Any other rules?”

“Keep your hands to yourself.”

“Isn’t that the rule with any client?” I’d only ever fucked one person I’d worked with, and he’d been a fellow soldier. What Thomas and I had shared started as one of those coming-down-off-adrenaline, celebrating-being-alive fucks, but we’d both wanted more. I’d fallen for him, and that had been a mistake, one I knew better than to make again.

“Like you said, we don’t usually do bodyguard work. Normally you’re too busy saving the client’s life to have time for anything else.”

“I can handle it. I’m a professional after all.”

“When it comes to missions you are, otherwise you’re a fucking slut.”

I laughed. “You know me so well, boss.”

“I want my son out of the city while I find out more about this asshole. Sandra has a friend who owns a cabin you can borrow. I want to make his stalker pay, but I don’t want to risk a public confrontation.”

“Understood. I assume I’ll get directions and further information at the meeting.”

“Yes. I’ll send all the information to your secure account.

“When is the meeting?”

“One hour.”

“And if I’d said no?”

“I would’ve changed your mind.”

I hated his smug tone. “Well, there goes my morning plans.”

“Not that I care, but what did you have planned?”

“Drinking and Pornhub.”

“Fucking asshole.”

“Later, boss.”

I flopped onto my couch and laid my arm over my eyes. Why did I have a feeling this job was going to be harder than missions that put me in far more danger?

4

Lane

My mom called and insisted we meet for lunch. I hadn’t even known she was in town. I didn’t want to meet, but I was stuck on where to go with the piece I was creating, and getting out of my apartment might help me return with a fresh perspective.

She told me to meet her at DiGiulio’s. I was surprised she’d been able to get reservations so quickly. I’d heard the place was impossible to get into.

I barely had time to shower and change, but I’d managed to turn up in gray dress pants and a black button-down with my hair tamed. No one needed to know the amount of product that had taken.

The food was as good as I’d heard, maybe even better, but I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more if my mother hadn’t spent the entire lunch trying to convince me to let her hire a bodyguard for me.

I’d been shaken by Alan showing up at Ignite a couple of weeks ago, but since then, he’d only texted a few times. I hadn’t seen him around my apartment building, and I’d gotten a security system.

Before I could gather steam for a defense, Mom dropped her bombshell. She’d set up an appointment for me to meet with someone a friend of hers had handpicked to protect me. The appointment was scheduled for right after lunch.

“Look. This really isn’t necessary. Nothing has happened at my apartment since I got the restraining order and the security system.” But he found you at the club. What if Giorgio hadn’t intervened? “I don’t want someone following me around.”

“He’s not going to be following you around, darling. Remember Mary Ellen?”