Page 10 of Max

Max sighed heavily. When he’d agreed to come onto KSI, he’d specifically asked Viktor to keep him away from bodyguard cases. He really didn’t want that responsibility.

“I don’t think I have a choice. There’s a credible threat here, and if I refuse to do what she’s asked, she won’t take any help at all. I’d feel like shit if something happens to her because of me. And let’s not even talk about the fit my sister would pitch if her friend got hurt.”

Viktor nodded. “Just checking. I’m good with it if you are.” His eyes swept to Jasper. “You have any pending assignments?”

His gaze flickered to Viktor. Max knew Jasper had suffered a few bad spots the last two years, especially when it came to guarding Kade’s wife. He was, however, the best KSI had. Better than Cole. Even if he still didn’t quite trust his instincts. The rest of the team trusted him, though.

“You just finished up the last job I had you scheduled for. Then you were supposed to be off for your two-week rotation. Up to you if you want to take a new job or not.”

“Sloane would never let me hear the end of it if I didn’t take the job. She loves Shayna. Records that damn soap every single day.”

What was it with women and soap operas? His own mother had loved her afternoon soaps. His grandmother too. Max had no clue what the appeal was. Drama, drama, drama…and then the same drama on a different day. Exhausting.

“It’s settled, then. Jasper, why don’t you head on down to the studio and shadow her while Max and I do a few things and get our forensic team to the apartment?”

“Security at the studio is nonexistent.” He still couldn’t fucking believe that shit.

“I remember. Jasper, make sure to stay close, but don’t make her nervous. I’ll call the head of the studio and let them know you’re coming.”

“I’ll text the woman and make sure she’s expecting him too. I wouldn’t put it past her to have him thrown off set.”

“She’s that skittish?” Viktor drained his coffee and set the mug down.

Jasper snorted. “You go through a divorce with one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood, and you’d be skittish too. The presscrucifiedher.”

Max frowned, not liking that at all.

“What do you mean?”

“It became her fault that her bastard ex cheated on her with multiple women. She was the reason he was addicted to heroin and had to go to rehab. When she miscarried, that was her fault as well, even though theTMZvideo clearly showed him shoving her away from him. She tripped and fell down the stairs. She has every right to be wary.”

Max and Viktor both eyed him like he was some alien from another planet.

“Sloane keeps up with that shit.” He threw his hands up in a what-am-I-supposed-to-do kind of way. “She tells me about every single piece of gossip she comes across.”

“So, you’re telling me your wife is going to possibly try to weasel an introduction?”

He’d meant it as a joke, but Viktor didn’t take it that way. His gaze sharpened, and Jasper’s facial features cleared of laughter and embarrassment.

“If she wanted one, she wouldn’t get it. This is my job, not a damn social circle.”

Viktor nodded, and something in Max eased, not even realizing until that moment even he was afraid Sloane might weasel said invite from Jasper and put Shay at risk. Jasper loved his girlfriend, and if it came down to a choice between Sloane or Shay, Sloane would be who he saved. Not that one man in KSI would fault him.

“You motherfucking motherfuckers!”

Mason Kincaid stood glaring at them from the door, his eyes centered on the scraps of burritos currently on their paper plates.

“Tell me you didn’t eat them all.”

“What, these were yours?” Max asked innocently as he shoved another bite in his mouth.

“You know damn well they’re mine, Sheridan.”

He stalked forward and looked in the trash then stabbed his finger at them accusingly. “That was a new bag!”

“Community food, my friend, community food.”

“Community food, my ass.” Mason shoved a hand through his hair. “It’s too fucking early for this shit.”

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