One
So far, so good. But one false move and she’s going to die,Camden Bains thought as he watched the teenaged pop star totter on her six-inch platforms through the gamut of fans, photographers—and one as-yet-unidentified killer.
Has Kyle spotted him yet? Camden studied every move the rookie bodyguard made as he escorted Caley from the awards ceremony to the black Tahoe belonging to Watchdog Security. The cameras flashed like blinding strobe lights in a nightclub, the fans screamed and reached for Caley like a multi-armed monster as Kyle blocked the vulnerable teenager from their reach. He’d been smart enough to wear shades that would help with the flashes and keep anyone from seeing his eyes scan the crowd.
They only had twenty feet to go but the crowd was hungry and aggressive, blocking their way and Caley was not helping. She did everything she could to give them the smiles, autographs, and attention they craved and that she thrived on. Kyle had little patience for it, putting his hand on the small of her back to push her along. Caley looked up at him with the supreme annoyance only a teen can pull off.
Come on, Kyle. Spot him. Stop him.And stop pissing off the principal while you’re doing it.
A burly photographer pushed his way past a couple of skinny teens in hoodies and thrust his camera at Caley’s face.The killer? Kyle started to shove Caley behind him and then his attention snapped immediately to one of the teens who’d gone strangely still.
“Get down, you idiot, don’t make me say it again!” Kyle shouted as he pushed Caley to the ground.
“No!” Camden shouted as everything went sideways. He jumped down from his observation post and set off at a sprint.
Kyle elbowed the cameraman in the gut as he reached for the young man’s hand, which had just disappeared into the front pocket of his hoodie. “I love you forever, Caley!” the kid shouted, but Kyle was faster as he twisted the gun out of the would-be assassin’s grip.
Kyle held the gun aloft as the crowd went quiet. “Did it,” he shouted when he spotted Camden making his way through the sea of people.
“Yeah, you did it all right,” Camden said, his blood boiling with anger and frustration. “You okay, Caley?” he asked as he pulled the stand-in principal up from the hard pavement.
“Yeah, yeah, but I coulda done without the attitude.” Caley shook her head at her would-be bodyguard as she pulled off her long wig, revealing herself as a twenty-something woman. “That won’t win you any points,” she added as she brushed dust off her skirt.
“How ‘bout you, Freddie?” Camden looked down at his co-worker in the hoodie as Kyle gave him a hand up.
“I’m fine. This dude isfast,” Freddie said as he took the plastic, orange-tipped gun back from a dejected-looking Kyle. “Gotta give him that.”
“Camden, what’d I do wrong?” the rookie pleaded as the rest of the crowd of actors dispersed, some off to vape, others back into Watchdog Security’s headquarters. “I neutralized the threat and protected the principal.”
Camden sighed. “Meet me and Lachlan in the briefing room in five.”
* * *
Five whole weeks.
That’s how long it had been since Jake and Rachael’s wedding, but for their best man Camden Bains, it felt more like five years since he’d seen Elena Martinez in her little black maid of honor dress. Danced with her at the reception. Smelled the sweet vanilla and peppermint scent of her hair as he held her close.
Camden shook his head, trying to clear his mind and focus on the task at hand, which was helping his boss, Lachlan, straighten out Kyle.
Lachlan had the kid seated in the conference room. To Kyle’s credit, he didn’t look or act petulant, not something Camden necessarily expected, considering the kid was former military like most of Watchdog Security’s staff, but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities given the crap job he’d just done. The kid sat ramrod straight, kept a neutral expression, didn’t fidget or clench his jaw while their boss paced back and forth lecturing him.
“Look,” Lachlan said, “We’ve all been there, Kyle. Civilians can be a real pain in the ass. Unpredictable. Especially under a threat.”
“Sir—”
Lachlan raised a hand and that was enough to stop him. “You’ll get your chance to talk. This isn’t a court-martial.” He glanced at Camden, “It’s a teachable moment.”
Leaning against the wall in the corner, Camden rubbed his mouth to hide his smile. He wasn’t there so much to intimidate Kyle but to remind Lachlan that, yes, it really wasn’t a court-martial. The way Lachlan had snorted earlier when Camden used the phrase ‘teachable moment’ compared to the way the words rolled so naturally off his boss’s tongue just now, struck Camden as hilarious.Old dogs can learn new tricks, he thought.
“Watchdog has a reputation to build. We’re new as a company, but we’re not wet behind the ears individually. Each of us has the training and the experience to pick out a threat and neutralize it, keeping our clients safe, and without collateral damage. That’s what they expect. That’s what they hire us for, why they trust us military guys over some civ asshole who watchedThe Bodyguardas a young-dumb-and-full-of-come teenager and thinks he knows what he’s doing.”
“I love that movie,” Camden interjected.
“So do I, actually,” Kyle said, his face momentarily brightening before he remembered where he was. “Sir.”
Lachlan stopped pacing and shot Camden a look that said,whose side are you on? He turned back to Kyle. “Yeah, Whitney Houston was a tragic goddess. So, why would you yell at a tragic goddess, Kyle?”
“To keep her safe, sir.” The look in the kid’s eye told Camden he knew he was headed into a minefield.
