Page 31 of Her Bossy Bodyguards

“So what do you want with us then?” I pressed. “What kind of crazy chess game are you even fucking playing?”

“I want what I’m owed,” Barca answered. “Mr. Hanson, the man who paid you so handsomely to guard his little flower of a daughter? I think he forgot to mention that he and I once struck a deal, when he was first running for state senator.”

“What kind of deal?”

“He was going to advocate that the agents at the border don’t bother with checking every shipment that comes through,” he explained. “And in return, I was going to fund the rest of his political career. But then, Texas’s Little Angel threw a fucking grenade right in the middle of our plans.”

“What are you talking about?” Natalie asked, her question coming out quiet. “What the hell did I ever do to you?”

“Your little stunt cost me a state Senate seat!” Barca growled. “Your father lost all his nerve. He told me that the deal was off, and instead of taking my generous donations, he paid me back in spades. However, your father didn’t seem to fucking understand one thing. When you’re in business with Montel Barca, you’re in business with Montel Barca forever.”

“What’s this shit I hear about you endorsing Peter Hanson for the presidency, then? By throwing this huge party?” I asked. “What, were you going to let him know you had his daughter and then give him a call?”

“Don’t be so overdramatic. The party is just a party,” Barca answered. “And the presidency just a rumor. But that’s how these things get started, isn’t it? Someone floats the idea one time at a party, and the next thing you know, everyone’s talking about Peter Hanson as the next president of the United States.”

Barca let out a deep sigh. “And no. My plan was much simpler than a phone call. I was just going to let him figure out that his daughter was missing. And then, when he was ready to do what he was always supposed to do for me, when he was ready to go to fucking work, I’d let him have his daughter back.”

“After you fucked around with her first,” I said through gritted teeth.

Barca laughed, the sound twisted and dark. “What can I say? I’m a curious man, and Ms. Hanson is a beautiful woman. Besides, can you blame me? I’d love to know what’s so special about her pussy that she’s worth sharing.”

“Don’t you dare talk about her like that, you sick motherfucker.”

“Relax!” Barca fired another warning shot, this one coming a little too close to my thigh. “I don’t want to fight with you or your sleeping partner. In fact, with the way you two so easily made it through my toughest line of guards, I’d like to recommend a collaboration. You two will serve as my main security from now on, and for as long as I have Ms. Hanson in my stables, you’ll have access to her, too. Now, isn’t that the best of both worlds?”

“How about this?” I asked. “How about you let her go, and I don’t kill you with my bare hands?”

“That sounds like you’re turning me down.” Barca hummed. “Tell me, do you speak for your sleeping partner, as well? If I put a bullet through his head, will he be happy with your decision?”

“Zeke, please!” Natalie cried out. “Please. Don’t do this. I can’t…I won’t watch you get hurt.”

“Natalie—”

“He can have me,” Natalie cut me off, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t care. He can have me. I just want you and Kingston to be okay. Please.”

“I advise you do as Ms. Hanson says,” Barca chimed in. “She’s a very wise girl. You should see her grades.”

“I can’t do that, Natalie,” I answered, every bone in my body feeling like there was a fire blazing through it, adrenaline pumping through my system. “I’m sorry. I can’t just let him take you.”

“Zeke!”

“I love you, princess,” I murmured. “Just know that, okay? Know that’s why I couldn’t just let you go.”

“Zeke, don’t—”

I went low, throwing myself to the ground, waiting until I heard a gunshot. And when Barca did exactly as I expected, sending off a shot as a reflex to my sudden motion, I quickly shot up from the floor. It didn’t take me long to find Barca, his eyes wide as my hands went straight for his neck. We were both on the floor, and I crouched over him as I continued to tighten my grip, his veins popping under my palms.

And then, there was another gunshot.

I knew that I’d been hit, but I kept my focus on Barca, not letting up for even a moment, even as a circle of red began to stain the lower half of my shirt. And as Barca’s eyes rolled back in his head, the life finally leaving his body, I winced in pain, the stain on my shirt only growing wider and wider.

As Barca went limp beneath me, I let go of his neck, my own body slumping over at his side, my breath feeling ragged and so impossible. A few seconds later, the whole world was blurry and wrong, my eyes blinking, seeing nothing, the pain in my abdomen spreading like a wildfire to every nerve in my system.

And then, like someone had just unplugged a TV screen, everything cut right out.

Chapter 16

Natalie

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