Page 4 of She's Mine

“That’s right,” Dad said. “Jeff has assigned his top three bodyguards to me, your mom and you. And this is the bodyguard you were assigned -- David Gordon. He comes highly recommended by Jeffrey and has an impressive past record. He’s worked with all of Hollywood’s elite.”

I rolled my eyes. Was I supposed to be impressed by that? Sure, my first assessment of David had been that he was attractive, but that wasbeforeI knew he’d been hired to be my bodyguard. That meant he wasoff limits, and as much as the idea of a forbidden romance appealed to me, I knew someone so highly regarded wouldneverbreak the rules like that. And if the threat of the Bloodline was as serious as Dad said, that meant David would watch me like a hawk.

Having a bodyguard following your every move wasn’t exactly conjunctive to having a good time. Especially when the man he’d be reporting to was the commissioner of the LAPD. I had no doubt that as well as protecting me from the Bloodline, Dad would want David toprotectme from the world, too.

Losing Joey had had ahugeknock-on effect in my life. I became the apple of my parents’ eyes and they had allowed me to get away withalmostanything. Keyword;almost. While my parents didn’t seem to care that I didn’t have a job and spent all my time partying and shopping (even footing thehugebills for both), what theydidcare about was my safety. I already had to check-in with them every 12 hours, even if it was just a quick phone call. If I stayed over at a friend’s place, or God forbid, went home with a guy, my parents had to know.

How much worse would that be now I’d have a permanent shadow? Even if the said shadow really was rather hot. That didn’t matter though. David was off limits, and I knew if he even caught the slightest whiff of what my friends and I got up to, he’d report straight back to my parents.

I shuddered thinking about my parents’ reactions if they found out about how Brittany smuggledcokeinto the clubs, or that Courtney had taught me the trick of flashing my boobs at guys to get free drinks.

“No,” I said bluntly.

My parents’ eyes widened, but still David’s face remained impassive. Was this guy made of stone?

“What do you mean, no?” Mom asked.

“I mean no, I won’t have a bodyguard. I get why Dad needs one, but I’ll be fine. All clubs have bouncers, and when I’m out shopping, there’ll be people around.”

“Do you think the Bloodline cares about bouncers and civilians?”

I stared at my dad for a moment, before allowing my gaze to travel back to David, and my eyes trailed up and down his body. He certainly looked fit, like a man who took care of himself and worked out a couple of times a week. He even had a gun holstered on his belt. But I wasn’t convinced.

“What makeshimso special? What makes him better able to protect me than club security?”

“If you don’t mind me interrupting, Mr. Blythe, perhaps if I spoke to Alyssa myself, I can better help her understand,” David replied in a husky tone that made my knees weak.

“Go on,” I said, just eager to hear him speak more.

“While I’m sure the clubs you frequent haveexcellentsecurity, they’re focused onallthe patrons there. Likewise with malls and boutiques. With me as your bodyguard, I assure, you’ll be mysoul focus.”

The way he said that, while staring at me steadily made my heart race. Would it really bethat badhaving him around?

“You don’t look like the type of guy who spends a lot of time in clubs or boutiques. You’ll cramp my style.”

A look of annoyance flashed in David’s eyes, but a second later the stoic stare was back in place. “Miss Blythe, my job isn’t to have fun. My job is to protect you. I can do that without ‘cramping’ your style. I’ve worked with the likes of--”

“I don’t carewhoyou’ve worked with. I won’t have a bodyguard.”

To indicate this conversation was over, I stood up. But I hadn’t even gotten to the door when Dad called out, “Accept David as your bodyguard, or I’m cutting you off.”

I turned back to my parents, steam practically coming out of my ears. “You can’t do that! How will I afford anything without a job?”

“You’ll have to work for your money, like we both do,” Mom put in.

I rolled my eyes. “Oh please, you haven’t worked a day in your life. You’ve happily lived off Dad since the moment you two married.”

Mom’s nostrils flared, and I knew I’d said the wrong thing. “If you think raising two children, and keeping a home isn’t work, you’re in for arealshock, Alyssa. I know we’ve been easy on you because of what happened to your brother--”

Since Joey’s murder, I hadn’t heard my parents utter my brother’s name even once.

“I won’t lose another child,” Dad said hotly, and the pain in his voice flipped my perspective on its axis.

Dadnevershowed any sign of weakness or fear. Even when he faced down the most dangerous criminals, he remained strong. But right now, he looked positively terrified.

The argument deflated out of me, and I flopped back down on the chair. “Fine. I will accept David as my bodyguard.”

Mom and Dad smiled. “Thank you, Alyssa,” Mom said.

---