Page 3 of Billionaire Bodyguard

“Eyes have been on Coval and his group. It’s just him and four others. He hasn’t recruited more since his brother was taken out, but they’ve been on the move. Powers-that-be have deemed them nonmalignant but to be watched.”

I knew all this. And I didn’t believe for one minute Andrej Coval wasn’t planning something. He’d vowed revenge when his brother, Edik, had been taken out during the last op I’d been on, rescuing Booker’s older brother, Xavier, the crowned prince, as well as his cousin, who was lesser royalty. Andrej hadn’t been there, but I refused to believe he wasn’t associated with the terror attack employed when they’d grabbed the crowned prince.

“He and his merry band offriendslanded at a private airstrip in Jersey last night. We don’t know their whereabouts after that.”

“No one followed?” They could have at least had a drone in the air.

“It was a setup. They deviated from flight plan—but they knew exactly where they were going. Five identical SUVs left the airfield, all going in different directions, and none heading your way.”

I’d bet my entire fortune one actuallywascoming here.

But did they know where I was? There was a good reason I didn’t keep an official address. Not that it would stop someone determined to find me.

“Thanks, Ghost,” I muttered.

“Anytime. I’ll be in contact as soon as we know more.”

We hung up, and I sighed, leaning back in my chair and scrubbing my hand over my face.

“Fuck.Fuck!”

This could put Linzey in danger. Fucking hell. I didn’t want to leave her with one of my guys, but if it was confirmed Coval was here, I might need to relinquish my position as her protector, ironically to keep her safe.

It would decimate me.

I guarded her, but she kept me grounded, something too many men suffering with TBIs needed.

By habit, I reached out to flip one of my computer screens to the security cameras positioned throughout the floor. They were completely unnecessary most of the time, but they let me track Linzey while I worked. Having eyes on her settled me.

And she was on the move. She’d left the library while I was on the phone. And now chatted with the two maids while they prepared to leave. I didn’t fail to notice the purse she had tucked under her arm

“Nice try, little girl,” I muttered. She was always trying to slip through my fingers. She claimed it was for a taste of freedom. I knew it was her spitting in the face of danger after the traumashe’d been through, a compulsion she didn’t quite control. Like some people cut themselves or did other self harm, Linzey tried to throw herself into peril. Different method; same result. This behavior always turned up after her worst nightmares.

Knowing the cause just made me a sick bastard, since watching her try to be sneaky made me rock-hard. I fought back my response as I stood to intercept her.

Ignoring the maids, I stepped in front of my girl. They veered into the penthouse’s private elevator while I took Linzey’s upper arm and propelled her to the middle of the great room.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

She huffed and tossed her clutch onto the sofa. Angrily, she crossed her arms, her brat energy just edging up the dark need pulsing through me.

“You forgot to say ‘young lady’ like you’re my dad. Which you’re not. You’re just the bodyguard my brother-in-law hired to watch over me. But you could leave me to one of your many minions. Why don’t you go work in your actual office and leave me alone.”

My hand curled just itching to spank that brat right out of her. I pushed down the crazy urge I never would have had before my brain injury. “I can work here,” I said evenly, as if she hadn’t just sassed me. “If you want to go someplace, I can escort you. As usual.”

“I don’twantyou toescort me.What am I? Your prisoner?”

“For the hundredth time, no. But I promised you, you’d always be safe. And you will be safe. Even if I have to force it on you.”

Fire slashed through her eyes, her pupils growing wide before she directed her gaze away from me.

“Don't you have other work to do?” she muttered.

My eyes burned into her. “No, actually. There’s no one but you.”

Three

Linzey

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