Cold Peril_Military Romantic Suspense

by Emily Jane Trent

  “Well, you wouldn’t have hired him if he wasn’t.” Anna grinned. “But he will look amazing in a designer suit.”

  Marlene didn’t have the heart to reveal that her new bodyguard wasn’t in the habit of wearing suits, designer or otherwise. “I’m glad you approve.”

  “So what’s his name? Am I going to meet him?” It was just like Anna to turn any event into a social occasion.

  “Sure, you can meet him. He’s out there now. His name is Garrett Flynn.”

  “Mmm, sounds sexy.”

  “Oh, will you stop?”

  Anna laughed. A makeup artist approached, distracting them from conversation. “Okay, I have to get ready. See you out there.”

  Marlene grabbed a bottle of water from a food tray and made her way to her station. Two artists were waiting for her. The production was a historical war movie, and it took a lot to transform her. Once her makeup was done, then her hair was styled and she was sent to costuming.

  She was ready in time for her first scene, and the director gave instructions. Nicholas Hayes had been a respected actor before his career in directing. He understood how actors worked, the best ways to make them understand what he wanted. It was a pleasure to work with him, and Marlene felt that he brought out better performances. She found that she reached deeper, portrayed her role more authentically.

  During the filming, Marlene spotted Garrett a few times. He wasn’t sitting and enjoying the entertainment, but was milling about. No doubt that, even with the security on hand, he wasn’t at ease. Heightened awareness of his surroundings and continual vigilance was probably in his DNA.

  While she was performing, Marlene had to block him out. She had to forget yesterday, and that her life was in an uproar. All that mattered was the film, and her role. It meant so much, and she was a professional. Once Nicholas called for action, Marlene was the woman she played. The real world didn’t exist, only the fictional creation.

  Acting was Marlene’s passion. Losing herself in a role was therapeutic, as it was an escape from the real world. When playing her part, she was the character, and the story was more real than life itself. She’d been told that was what made her good, the fact that she had the talent to become the woman she created on film. At least, for the duration of the shooting she did.

  It took a bit to come down from the experience afterwards. When the director called for a break, it took a moment for Marlene to reorient to her surroundings. Garrett walked up to her, out of place in her fictional world, serving to call her back to the present. She rose to meet him. “Did you find your way around?”

  “Yes, no problem. This set is probably one of the safest places you can be…provided the security company didn’t botch any of the background checks, including the ones on their own staff.”

  Marlene threw up her hands. “Is anywhere safe to you?”

  “There’s no guarantee. I’m just more aware of it than most. And being alert enough to head off an attack is what I’m paid to do.”

  There was no way to argue with him. “Let’s go over to the food station. I’m dying of thirst,” Marlene said.

  Many of the crew were eating and drinking, including the director. When Marlene approached, he looked up. “Nicholas, I’d like to introduce my new bodyguard, Garrett Flynn.”

  Garrett accepted a handshake. “It’s good to meet you,” Nicholas said.

  “It’s an honor to meet you. I’m a fan of your movies.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. If we have our way, this film will go down as one of my best,” Nicholas said, then narrowed his eyes at Garrett. “Take care of Marlene. I don’t want any repeats of yesterday.”

  Garrett nodded, and Nicholas went on his way. “Can we talk privately?”

  Marlene selected a bottle of iced tea. “Sure, we can go to my private dressing room.” She led him away from the main area to a door with Marlene Parks on a gold nameplate. She shrugged. “I am a star, after all.”

  Inside was a sitting area next to the dressing table. Marlene took a seat in a velvet chair and motioned for Garrett to sit on the loveseat. “Did you enjoy watching the performances this morning?”

  “You’re impressive.”

  “I wasn’t looking for flattery. I just thought it would be a new experience for you to watch the filming.”

  “It’s quite the production.”

  Marlene took a sip of her drink. Her stomach rumbled, but she wanted to hear what Garrett had to say before focusing on lunch. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  “I got some feedback. It’s not much of a clue, but it’s something.” Garrett leaned back and crossed his ankle over the opposite thigh. His biceps flexed seductively when he gripped his knee. Marlene needed to stop doing that, looking at him that way.

  “What did you find out?”

  “I have an inside track to the police. Don’t ask how. But I have some early information that isn’t released yet.” Garrett paused. “The bullet was recovered. It hit the wall on the other side of the carpeted walkway. Ballistics says the ammo was armor piercing.”

  “Why is that significant?”

  “It’s a type of bullet used to pierce body armor or shoot through cinderblock walls.”

  “You’re losing me.”

  “It isn’t the type of bullet a civilian would use.” Garrett waited to see if she understood now. “It penetrates metal barriers and is used by the military.”

  “Some ex-military guy is after me?”

  “It’s too soon to say. Like I mentioned, it’s only a clue. For all I know the dude got the ammo on the black market, or maybe he snagged some in army surplus. I’m not sure yet. But it’s a start…something to go on.”

  Marlene shook her head. She’d lost her appetite. If the guy was trained military, she was really in trouble. That meant he was no amateur. But the important question was why. She looked at Garrett. “Why would some guy from the military want to kill me? Much of my time is spent fundraising for vets, and doing all I can to support related charities. You’d think he’d be grateful, not vindictive.”

  “I don’t have any idea who the guy is, or why he’d want to harm you,” Garrett said. “But I intend to find out. For now, consider that your security just got tighter.”

  Marlene had difficulty imaging how it could be any tighter.

  “I’ve already let Travis know. He’s my boss. A team will be at your home to ensure that no one gets over that wall. They’ll work in shifts.”

  “Do you really think that’s necessary?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  Marlene assessed his body language, his expression. Garrett wasn’t messing around. “I don’t know if this guy is ex-military, or a wannabe. But I’m not taking any chances,” he said.

  Her life just had gotten a lot more complicated.

  Chapter 5

  Garrett noticed Marlene’s reaction, and hated that she faced such a threat. Yet posting security at her home was vital. The wall was electronically protected, but an intruder could disable that long enough to get inside—especially if the guy knew military tactics.

  “Come on,” Garrett said, and stood up. He reached for Marlene’s hand. “You need to eat.”

  Marlene sighed, but let him help her up. “I have a long afternoon ahead. I can’t afford to dwell on the negative.”

  The feel of her hand in his upped Garrett’s commitment another notch. Marlene was depending on him, and he didn’t want her worrying. He wasn’t going to let her down. She was an amazing woman, and the sooner he could handle this situation so she could get on with her life, the better.

  During the performance, Marlene had been deeply focused. It was unlikely that she’d noticed Garrett looking at her as much as he was. But he could hardly avert his gaze. In her historical garb, she was just as sexy as she had been in her sweater and tights outfit the night before.

  The woman looked good in everything. But it wasn’t only that. Given the opportunity to observe her, Garrett had gained insight into
her personality. She was a talented actress, but not only in front of the camera. When she was with the director, she took on a particular attitude. And a different one with her cook, her chauffeur, and even the head of security at the studio.

  Marlene seemed able to gear her demeanor, even her choice of words, to a particular person. It was enthralling. Garrett hadn’t seen anything like it before. It was a skill he didn’t possess. He was a straight shooter, in his actions and his words. He didn’t know how to pretend.

  Yet Marlene was capable of molding to the situation. In the short time he’d known her, Garrett had seen her do it frequently. She’d be a heck of a special ops weapon. The enemy wouldn’t see it coming. She could make them see anything she wanted them to believe, just as she did the audiences she played to.

  The danger was that Garrett might misjudge. He could err in thinking that he’d figured her out. He’d have to guard against that. It was important to base his actions on reality, not fiction. With Marlene, it might prove to be a trick to have clarity on what that was.

  When they rounded the corner, Garrett released her hand, and one of the other actors came up to them. She was a pretty woman, a little shorter than Marlene. And she had a friendly face. “Marlene,” the woman said with a brilliant smile, “are you going to introduce me?”

  “This is Garrett Flynn, my new bodyguard, as you know.” Marlene smiled at her friend. “And Garrett, meet Anna Tucker, a great actress and my dear friend.”

  Garrett took Anna’s hand when she offered it. He bowed in an overly dramatic fashion and lifted her hand. “Anna, it’s a pleasure.” That made her giggle.

  “I’ve been anxious to meet you since I saw your pictures…you know, from the other day.”

  Garrett cringed. That was all he needed, to be recognized wherever he went. He’d scanned social media and wasn’t pleased. But there hadn’t been any shots from the front, just the back. That must have been what Anna meant. She certainly wasn’t shy, but then, he wouldn’t expect that an actress would be.

  “I wouldn’t have necessarily recognized you,” Anna said. “None of the pictures showed your face clearly.”

  Thank God. “That’s just as well.” Social situations were sometimes awkward. Garrett was used to clandestine affairs, where banter about lighthearted matters wasn’t a part of the scene. He probably came across as too serious to a woman like Anna.

  “But then Marlene told me that she’d hired you, so I figured it out.” Anna started toward the food carts. “Are you guys eating? I’ll join you,” she said without waiting for an answer.

  “Anna and I have been friends for a long time,” Marlene said. “You’ll have to excuse her boldness. She says what she thinks.”

  “I appreciate that in a woman,” Garrett said.

  Marlene looked up at him. “I’ll have to remember that.”

  The three of them sat at a small table and hot food was served. The fare was better than Garrett expected. The pasta he ordered wasn’t overcooked, and the meat sauce was hearty. Marlene and Anna had salads that were meals, complete with shrimp, avocado, and sprouts. It was going to be a long day, so feeding the cast and crew well made sense.

  Since everyone had to eat, the stars mingled with the lighting crew, and the director ate with a couple of assistants. The arrangement gave Garrett a chance to size up more of those who were in the studio, as some of them had been tending to business, so hadn’t been as visible. He wasn’t aware of any cause for alarm. He’d determined a baseline, and the activity didn’t violate that. All seemed as it should be.

  “They treat you well on the set,” Garrett said.

  “They kind of have to,” Marlene said. “We’re stuck here for sixteen-hour days when filming. And overtired, poorly fed people get cranky. It’s not a pretty picture, trust me.”

  Anna munched on her salad. “So, tell me, how long will you have to guard Marlene?”

  “That depends.” Garrett gulped his Coke. “I’ll be around until the crisis is taken care of. At this point, how long that will take is undetermined.”

  “So you might be staying with Marlene for quite a while, then?” For some reason, that seemed to delight Anna.

  “I could be. Like I said, there is no way to know how this will unfold. It would be my hope that we nab the guy quickly. I want Marlene out of danger as soon as I can manage it.”

  Anna grinned as if she knew something he didn’t. “Well, I’m sure having you around isn’t too much to suffer through.”

  Garrett had to smile at that. “I will try to make the situation as livable as I can. It’s not my job to interfere, just to protect.”

  Anna looked over at Marlene. “I had a thought about the scene we’re working on. I’m going to run it by the director. If he likes it, we can practice.”

  “Sure, I welcome your insight. It wouldn’t be the first time you had an idea that stuck.” Marlene stood up. “Excuse us while we go get ready. It might be a long afternoon.”

  Garrett thought of missions he’d been on, waiting in the cold, without food or worse. He’d been in circumstances that had required keeping still for so long that his limbs had ached with fatigue. Hanging out on a movie set for the afternoon didn’t pose much of a challenge.

  *****

  As Marlene had told him, it was late before filming was finished for the day. More food was being served, and Garrett was hungry. But instead she steered him toward her dressing room. “Let me get out of this costume, then we can go to dinner. I don’t want to eat with the crew. I’ve been here all day.”

  Before Garrett could argue, she disappeared into her room, leaving him to wait in the hall. It didn’t take long for her to reappear, dressed as she had been that morning. “I have to go home and change first. There’s a great place that serves late dinners. They cater to the theater crowd. But I can’t go looking like this.”

  Marlene seemed to note his hesitation. “I won’t be long. I can dress quickly. I’ll decide what to wear on the way home, so that will save time.”

  Garrett waited until they were in the limo pulling out of the lot before he voiced his objection. “You have a cook. I’m fine with eating at your place.”

  Marlene scrunched her brow. “I need to unwind. It’s been a long day. I’m craving a drink and the lobster bisque at my favorite place.” She paused. “I could find someone else to invite if you don’t wish to join me.”

  The mention of Marlene on a date irked Garrett. “There’s no need for that.”

  “You have to eat too, so why not eat together?” She gave him a heart-melting look. “And you wouldn’t refuse a woman what little relaxation she can muster, would you?”

  “I want you relaxed. It’s just safer at home.”

  Marlene raised her brows. “Am I a prisoner?”

  “That’s not funny. Of course you aren’t a prisoner. But staying home poses less threat than a public place does.”

  Marlene put her hand on his forearm, sending heat coursing through his veins. “But I have you to protect me.”

  Countering that argument would have done no good. Garrett knew when Marlene had made up her mind. He’d just have to see that no harm came to her. “What restaurant do you have in mind?”

  “Diamonte’s Grill on Franklin Avenue. It’s a hub for celebrities. It’s one of the places I can go without being stared at…at least not too much. Most of the clientele are in the entertainment industry, so they aren’t gawkers.”

  Garrett scrolled on his phone, gleaning as much information as he could about the place. It had a brick storefront with a patio on the sidewalk. The French bistro had been around since the seventies. It didn’t look too bad, as far as well-established, crowded eating establishments went.

  Earlier, Garrett had received a text to confirm that security was in place at the mansion. He’d been contacted by the guard in charge of the first shift. That put his mind at ease. Any team that Travis sent wouldn’t be easy to penetrate; Garrett considered it next to impossible.


  When the limo rolled up to the gate, Garrett sent a text to let the team know they’d arrived, but they wouldn’t be staying long. Marlene seemed anxious to get inside and get ready. She might be stubborn about wanting to go out, but she didn’t interfere with Garrett handling his duties.

  While Marlene got changed, Garrett went to his room to do the same. He passed over the suits in the closet and grabbed a suede jacket. Somebody had good taste in clothes. The jacket was tailored, so it would be passable in an upscale restaurant, yet it would easily cover his holster.

  He found some nicer pants and a shirt to wear, pairing it with shoes that were presentable but good for running. Then he sat down to text Rip.

  The bullet was tungsten carbide.

  Rip responded in less than a minute: Yes, that got my attention.

  I don’t like it. Find out who this guy is. He’s acting like ex-military. I want to know what the hell I’m dealing with here.

  I’m digging. I’ll have the risk assessment soon. If there is any connection to Marlene that’s suspicious, I plan to find it.

  If Rip said he was digging, then he was scouring for every shred of information. Garrett could only hope he’d turn up something soon that would be helpful. The bodyguard gig only went so far. Garrett preferred to go after the target, not to be on the defensive. Waiting to be attacked went against his nature.

  *****

  The bistro was as upscale as it had appeared online. The guests were well dressed, and the décor was classy. The dining room was larger than Garrett expected. From the outside, it had looked smaller. He spoke to the greeter. “We need a table at the back.”

  The server nodded then looked at Marlene. “Good to see you again, Miss Parks.” He guided them through the establishment to a table near the back wall.

  As they strode past tables, Marlene garnered attention. Despite her conviction that the patrons would be other celebs, it seemed there were plenty of guests who were thrilled to catch a glimpse of her. Marlene appeared comfortable under the scrutiny, if she even noticed. Garrett hated it, and once again, wished they’d stayed home.

  “Will this be satisfactory?” the greeter said.