Page 16 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

I can't help the small smile that tugs at my mouth. "There you go. Now you'll definitely incapacitate me if you have to. I should warn you: my screams are pretty high pitched and embarrassing."

Her eyebrows twitch above her glasses, a flicker of surprise breaking through the fear. The hard line of her shoulders softensjust a fraction and her erratic breathing has slowed. The high-alert warning in her system seems to be cooling down.

"Sorry for scaring you," I say, keeping my distance and hoping to put her more at ease. "I don't normally have that effect on women, so this is all new to me."

I catch the tick at the corner of her mouth, like she was about to smile.

I press on. "You were looking for me. That's the only reason I approached you."

Her eyes narrow as suspicion radiates off her. But her elbows bend, bringing the mace just an inch closer to her chest.

Good.I've almost got her calmer. "I'm Sean. Sean Walker-Choi."

She tightens her grip on the mace and widens her stance, but I can tell her tension is about to break and she's close to ending this stand-off. "Prove it."

Fair enough. I reach slowly toward my back pocket, telegraphing every movement. "I'm just getting my wallet." I extract my license and hold it out, careful not to step closer.

She leans forward just enough to read it, eyes darting between my face and the ID. Her posture finally shifts. Not exactly relaxation, but the panic recedes. She lowers the mace to herside, though her fingers remain curled around it like she's prepared to raise it again at the slightest provocation.

"Sorry again," I say, returning the license to my wallet. "Can I ask why you're looking for me?"

"I-I need security. You were recommended."

My head tilts to the side as I absorb her response. Her answer is unexpected but I'm glad this isn't somehow about Wunmi. "Recommended by who?"

"Old coworkers. Your last name is memorable, so I never forgot it. I just didn't know your company."

I study her, trying to peer through the gloom cast over her face by the baseball cap and hoodie. I try to place her in my memories. Still nothing. I'm also not sure what 'coworkers' could've recommended me. I've worked almost exclusively for Declan for the past eight years, only taking a few side gigs. Before that I was in the Marines.

Actually, between the Marines and Declan, I was with Wunmi for a year and also worked a few short gigs on Hollywood sets.

That's a period of my life I try to force myself to forget.

"I see." I tread carefully, not wanting to spook her further. "Unfortunately, I no longer work security. But I can recommend some excellent—"

"No. No, it can't be anyone else."

That stops me short and I start excavating my memories again to try and place her.Nothing."Do we know each other?"

"No."

I can't stop my frown, hoping my intimidation-face isn't coming out. I'm not trying to look scary, I just don't get it. "If we don't know each other, why does it have to be me?"

"I can pay whatever your fee is. I need security as soon as you can provide it."

I suppress a frustrated sigh, instead offering what I hope is a friendly smile. It has the opposite effect. Her frown deepens, and she shifts back a half-step, eyes watching my movements like I'm a predator again.

I step away, hoping the increased space between us will help. As gently as I can, I say, "It sounds like you need someone capable, so I want to help you find the right person. I have plenty of recommendations, people I'd trust with my life. But I don't personally do that kind of work anymore."

She points her chin at me, not giving up. Honestly, I like this fighting spirit of hers.

"Then why are you here?" she fires back. "At a security conference?"

"A favor for a friend." I shrug. "I'm just the pretty face for their booth today."

"Seems like a waste."

"Of my pretty face?"

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