Page 6 of The Bodyguard

This wasn’t a warning. This was a message. And Andi had received it loud and clear. She lifted her head to look around. The black SUV was definitely gone. Gone, like it had never been there.

The campaign staff SUV pulled up seconds later, screeching to a halt. Maya leapt out, heels be damned. “Oh, my God—Andi!”

Andi sat up slowly, her head spinning.

“I’m okay,” she lied, voice hoarse. “Help me stand.”

Maya crouched beside her cell phone in hand. “Don’t even try.” She turned to the staff person who’d been driving. “Call 9-1-1.” She hit a button on her phone. “This is Councilwoman Donato’s Chief of Staff. Someone just tried to kill her. I’m getting her to the hospital.”

“Take a breath, Maya,” Andi said soothingly.

“Not until I know you’re safe,” snapped Maya. “They targeted you, Andi. That was no random hit and run or a drunk driver. Don’t even pretend that wasn’t deliberate. That SUV tried to kill you.”

Andi motioned to the staffer who helped her up. Swaying on her feet, Andi forced her legs to hold steady.

“I called Cerberus,” Maya said. “They’ll meet us at the hospital.”

“No,” Andi snapped, though her hands shook. “I don’t need a hospital…” She felt her knees begin to buckle and lowered herself to the ground.

Flashing red lights painted the buildings in a curious myriad of colors, the wail of sirens fading as the ambulance pulled up alongside the mangled wreck of her car. The paramedics moved quickly—efficient, focused—as they dropped a kit beside her and crouched down on the sidewalk. Maya and the two staffers waved people by and kept, Andi was sure, a sharp eye out for the press.

“Ma’am, are you conscious?” the first one asked, a young guy with sharp eyes and a clipped tone.

“Clearly,” Andi muttered, though the sound came out raspier than she intended.

He didn’t blink. “Can you tell me your name?”

“Andrea Donato. Councilwoman. Mayoral candidate. Girl who just got nearly murdered. Pick one.”

The woman beside him gave a short huff—half laugh, half disbelief—as she checked Andi’s vitals. “You’re alert. That’s good. Let’s look at the cut on your face and see how bad that shoulder is.”

“I’m fine,” Andi said automatically, even as she winced when the woman dabbed antiseptic on her cheek.

“Your blood pressure’s high, adrenaline’s still doing its thing, and I’m guessing your entire left side is going to feel like it went twelve rounds with a freight train tomorrow,” the male paramedic said, scanning her with a handheld light. “You have a whole lot of scrapes and bruises and could have a mild concussion. Nothing seems to be broken.”

He paused, tilting her chin carefully to the side. “I’d recommend going in for imaging. Head trauma can be deceptive.”

“I don’t have time for a hospital, and I don’t need the optics,” Andi said, pushing herself a little straighter. “I’ve got interviews at dawn, and a lot of work to do before then. Apparently I also have enemies with heavy vehicles.”

He exchanged a glance with his partner, who shrugged.

“Her vitals are stable, and nothing appears to be fractured. If she’s lucid and refuses transport, we can’t force it. We’ll wrap the worst of it, clean her up, and have her sign the discharge forms.” The woman began bandaging Andi’s shoulder with practiced hands. “But someone should monitor you tonight. Just in case symptoms escalate.”

“She’s not staying alone,” Maya said, stepping forward from where she’d been pacing at the curb. “We’ve got it covered.”

Andi gave her a look. Maya’s chin lifted in defiance.

The male paramedic stood, closing his kit. “All right. You’re lucky, Ms. Donato. That crash could’ve gone a hell of a lot worse. We have to file a report with the police; they’re going to want to talk to you.”

Andi stared at the twisted wreck of her car, heart pounding in her ears.

“I don’t think luck had anything to do with it.”

Maya grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Ma’am, please don’t shake her,” said the female paramedic.

For once Maya actually looked sheepish. “Right. Andi, you could have been killed. I don’t give a damn about optics. They’ve smeared you with scandal; your rival is using your past as a weapon; and someone is trying to finish this campaign with a body bag. We’re hiring Cerberus. We’re hiring him.”

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