Chapter One
“Bad Boys for Hire, how may I help you?” Rex Carter tried to make his voice engaging and upbeat while frowning at the latest reviews of his Entertainment Services business. Across his desk, his buddy, Axe Salvadori, got up from his seat and paced around the room like a stalking lion.
“I need a bodyguard,” a whispering female voice said.
“You’ve come to the right place.” He downvoted a negative review for the cancelled line of Bad Boy Terrorists. “We have Certified Bad Boy Bodyguards for every imagined situation. Will you be needing a stripper bodyguard for a party or a prop for appearing like a celebrity?”
Rex had an inventory of muscle-bound actors who could play the role, depending on the image a client desired.
“Neither,” the voice whispered. “I need a real bodyguard to escort me through a very dangerous situation.”
“Whoa, wait, hold on! Our trained impersonators will playact any situation you cook up—as long as it’s legal. But they’re purely entertainers.” Rex shot Axe a worried look and motioned for him to stay. The owner of a popular local nightclub was renewing a contract for a steady supply of bad boys to hang out at his club and flirt with the legions of paying females who made him one of the wealthiest and most unapproachable bachelors in the San Francisco Bay Area.
“What about one of your terrorist or gang member types?” the woman persisted. “Someone scary-looking with lots of tattoos? I’m sure they can do more than look like they can shoot, kill, and maim.”
“I no longer offer pretend terrorists or gang members,” Rex said. “You might want to try a security and protection service.”
At that, Axe raised a bushy eyebrow and strolled over to Rex’s desk, looking over him so he could read the computer screen. To distract him from the exposed spreadsheet, Rex punched the speaker button on his phone and motioned for Axe to listen in.
“I can’t afford a security consultant,” the woman’s whisper turned raspy. “I’m in a real situation here, and I need someone who doesn’t have a bodyguard background who can go with me down to Mexico. This means no ex-CIA, ex-Special Agency, ex-Secret Services types.”
“Why can’t they have the background you need?” Rex put his feet on the desk to further block Axe’s view of his computer screen.
The big man got the hint and resumed pacing. He was a scary-looking man and rumored to be the son of a mob boss and one of his many mistresses, employees, or housekeepers. A knife scar marred the top of his lip, but he didn’t bother growing a beard to cover it, and he wore black leather even on the hottest summer days. His knuckles were hard and prominent, and Rex wouldn’t be surprised if they were brass. Dark-haired with shifty dark-brown eyes, Axe never looked a man in the face. One got the distinct impression that he’d shake a man’s hand and knife him in the back in a single move.
The woman on the phone sighed as if Rex was slow on the uptake. “The men in the cartel can sniff out ex-military or police like rats homing in on peanut butter sandwiches.”
“We definitely don’t mess with cartels or any other dangerous situations,” Rex said. “Besides, if you’re going down to Mexico, you’ll have to pay for travel expenses, lodging, and food.”
“We won’t be needing much,” the woman continued her hoarse whisper. “I’ll pay for the guy’s time, but he won’t be traveling with me. We’re going to be part of a migrant caravan. I only want him to keep an eye out for me as I try to sneak across the US-Mexico border.”
“Who are you, and where are you calling from?” Rex removed the handpiece from his ear to look at the caller ID display. It said Bumblebee Bakery. “Our escorts cannot assist with illegal activities. I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to hire somebody else.”
Axe circled around and came to a stop behind him with a grunting snort. “I know the caller.”
At the same time, the caller said, “I assure you what I’m proposing is legal. I’m an American citizen, and I’m looking for a missing child. There’s no law that says I can’t go to Mexico for a visit. As long as your bodyguard bad boy has an American passport, he will be perfectly fine.”
“Even up to the point of sneaking across the border?” Rex asked. “What kind of stunt are you pulling? Are you a news reporter?”
“No, I’m a mother, but I can see you’re not going to help. My friends all had great success with your business, and I was going to support you. However, you give me no choice but to go to Jazzy Gems Escort Services. Goodbye.”
She ended the call.
“I can help her,” Axe said. “I speak some Spanish, and I’ve never been in law enforcement. I love breaking heads, and I can keep theseñoritasafe.”
Rex twisted an eyebrow at him, dropping the phone receiver back in its cradle. “Does this mean you’re extending our business relationship?”
