Page 122 of The Bodyguard

“Wait—what?”

“Your mother didn’t directly give away your location in Abu Dhabi and in North Carolina. Paul did. During pillow talk.”

Stunned, Angela remained still as a statue. Then her head tipped back. “That fucking asshole.” She gaped like she couldn’t believe how stupid Paul had been. “Well, he can kiss his senatorial campaign goodbye.”

Jared looked to Sawyer to make sense of Angela’s reaction. He didn’t know what to say. That wasn’t the first thing he would’ve considered.

“Does my mother know?” she demanded.

“I think she’s finding out right about now also.”

Angela pushed from the chair and stomped toward the window.

“Angela?” Jared pushed out of his chair. “You okay? You need anything?”

She stared at the same trees that had left Sawyer mesmerized. “I need a break.” Slowly, she turned around. “I want to get out of here.”

“Parker is working on a safe house you can stay in until the trial. But it will be a few hours.”

She shook her head. “No, not a safe house. Something different. And really, I don’t even need a safe house if no one tells Paul where I am.” Her lips pursed. “Maybe my parents’ house in Pennsylvania…? No. I don’t want to see them and their performative bullshit.”

Jared’s brow furrowed. “Like a stay at a resort? With spas and stuff.”

“No. Something real. With pictures on the walls and leftovers in the fridge.”

Jared faltered.

“Does anyone on your local team have a family?”

“No…”

“Do they have relatives that live nearby? Maybe I could borrow their house and just sit in it for a few hours—”

“Angela, you still have a target on your back. We can’t—”

“Don’tyou get it?I want to pretend my life is normal for one minute!”

Sawyer had never heard her shout or even seen her lose her cool. Angela was too controlled. Jared eyed Sawyer as though he should know what to do. He didn’t.

“I just got a puppy,” Jared offered.

Sawyer almost laughed.

“A bulldog. Cute as hell. Gnaws on steel.”

Fat tears welled in Angela’s eyes. “What’s its name?”

“Thelma,” Jared answered, unsure how to handle the situation.

The tears rolled down Angela’s cheeks. Sawyer didn’t have a clue what to do.

“I think I need more than a puppy.” She swiped at the tears and returned to the window.

Jared beckoned Sawyer. “Take your girl and the dog—”

“She’s not my girl.”

“Shut up for a second and listen,” Jared growled. “And go visit your family’s place. Take a minute, say hello to your folks, and then put them up someplace nice. Like a resort with a spa. Tell them it’s a work thing. Titan will foot the bill. Then let Angela sit in your house with its leftovers and laundry or whatever and hold on to Thelma.”

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