Flash Point

by Brooke Blaine

  Jason looked over his shoulder to see her watching him.

  “Ready,” he told them, and walked to the parlor without waiting to see if they’d follow. She needed to learn how to obey an order, and quickly, or risk getting killed.

  The twosome weren’t far behind, and he stood aside so they could file in and take a seat. It seemed strange to him that she seemed so passive about the threat to her and her father’s safety considering her past, but it wasn’t any of his business.

  Her father didn’t waste any time and nodded to Agent Thompson to begin.

  “We’ve spoken with the university, and they’ve agreed to our conditions. The first being a private room off campus—”

  “I have to leave my dorm?” she immediately interrupted. “What about Bree—”

  “Katherine,” her father said. “Let the man finish.”

  Miss Shaw crossed her legs and sat back on the leather sofa, and Thompson cleared his throat.

  “Your roommate will stay at your joint apartment, and we’ll be moving your things into a private space until the threat has been”—he glanced at the Justice and rocked back on his heels—“eliminated. Two of our agents will be assigned to you, and you are restricted to scheduled classes and your room—no extracurricular activities can be allowed at this time.”

  Katherine rubbed her forehead, her lips pulled into a thin line.

  “Do you have a question for me?” Thompson asked.

  She looked to her father then. “No. I was just wondering why I bothered coming back. I should’ve stayed in London. At least there I didn’t need babysitters.”

  “They are your security,” Thompson clarified. “Not your babysitters.”

  “Same thing, just a different word.”

  “Katherine,” her father intervened before Thompson could continue. “These men are going out of their way to accommodate you, so try to work with them, okay?”

  She stared at him with a defiant tilt to her chin, but the way Jason noticed her hands trembling in her lap before she clasped them made him realize she wasn’t completely invulnerable.

  The ice princess has a soft side. What a cliché.

  Katherine hesitated and then slowly nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Okay.”

  “It will take them a day to set up for your arrival, so you’re welcome to stay here—”

  “Not on your life.”

  A pained expression crossed the man’s face, and she bit her lip.

  “I mean, I’d rather not,” she backtracked.

  “I didn’t think so. If you and Steven would like to rent a room at the Hyland tonight, you can put it on my card and head back to school in the morning.”

  “Awesome,” she said before looking around the room. “So which of these noble bodyguards will have the honor of escorting me around campus?”

  Thompson gestured to the quiet man next to him. Jason had worked with him several times before, and he was always on point. A good pick for a rebellious client.

  “Kirkpatrick. And since I have a feeling you might need someone a bit rough around the edges to set you straight, I think Garrett is an excellent choice for your personal protection, Miss Shaw.”

  Well, this should be fun.

  There was a mischievous gleam in Thompson’s eyes as he caught Jason’s. He knew the last thing Jason wanted was to be assigned to a college student after his high-profile stints with what he’d consider the more elite clients. This was probably payback for the prank he’d instigated at the company holiday party.

  No matter. A job was a job, and regardless of the client, he was damn good at it. And the money wasn’t so bad either.

  “Set me straight, huh?” Katherine said, as she eyed him. “I’d like to see that.”

  No, sweetheart, I don’t think you do.

  He pinned her with a no-nonsense look and she arched a brow, taking on his challenge.

  Add courage to her list. It was buried deep beneath all that sarcastic bravado, but the woman had it for sure if she thought she could take him on.

  “So can we go now?” she asked, as she severed their connection, not bothering to wait for an answer, and jumped to her feet. She looked down at Steven, but he didn’t follow quite as fast, instead running his hand through his hair as he slowly straightened.

  “Actually…” he said, hesitating. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stay. I’ve got a group project due tomorrow, and I need to head back.”

  She whirled around. “What? Can’t you work on it at the hotel?”

  “Wish I could, but we’re meeting tonight to finish it up.”

  “But…you have to stay.” She looked like a little girl lost right then, grabbing on to the front of Steven’s shirt.

  “It’s sixty percent of my grade, Kit Kat. Besides, it looks like you’ll be in good hands.”

  She glanced around the room, and her expression turned to one of mild panic. “You’re going to leave me in a hotel with trained killers?” she asked. It seemed as if she was trying to sound blasé about the fact, but there was an underlying hint of sincerity to the question. She really did seem slightly alarmed by the thought.

  Steven laughed and rubbed her arms. “Yes. Which is exactly why you’ll be fine.”

  “Ahh…that’s not comforting. At. All.”

  That made him laugh harder. “C’mon, Kat—”

  “Please, Steven,” she said. “Call them and cancel. Just for tonight.”

  Jason watched the struggle on the guy’s face as he blew out a breath and ran his hands through his hair. Katherine pushed away from him and grabbed her jacket off the couch.

  Sympathy play didn’t work on the lovesick fool. Color me shocked.

  “It’s fine,” she said. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it.” After shrugging into her coat, she turned around and glanced at each of them. “So who’s driving?”

  “Kat, I can still take you—” Steven began.

  “No,” she said, holding up her hand. “I said don’t worry about it. It’s cool.”

  Agent Thompson spoke up then. “You and Kirkpatrick will ride with Garrett whenever you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready now.”

  “Katherine,” her father said, standing up. “Can I talk to you alone for a minute?”

  She blew out a breath and then followed him across the hall reluctantly.

  The rest of them gathered around Agent Thompson to go over logistics while Katherine’s buddy lingered awkwardly on the outskirts, licking the wounds Katherine had inflicted. He wasn’t great at pretending not to eavesdrop, so when Jason glanced up at him, the look must’ve inspired a bit of fear, because he ended up moving to the far side of the room while he waited.

  As they finished up the impromptu meeting, the voices behind the closed office door rose in volume, becoming more agitated as the conversation continued. Katherine’s voice rang out, clear and strong. “I don’t know how you can bear to stay here.”

  “I couldn’t make myself leave if I wanted to,” was her father’s response.

  “The blood stains on the hardwood aren’t enough of an incentive?”

  “You wouldn’t—”

  “What?” Katherine asked. “I wouldn’t what? Understand? You think I can’t comprehend what you must be feeling? I know your job is more important than your family has been for years, so you’ve probably forgotten, but let me refresh your memory—I was there.”

  “Katherine,” her father said as the door flew open and she came shooting out. “Stop—”

  “No.” She whirled around, seemingly unable to stop the words from tumbling out. “I will never, ever be able to get Mom’s screams out of my head. I will never be able to erase the reel that plays in my mind over and over of what they did to her. Do you not think I don’t feel guilty every single day of my life for even standing here? There isn’t an hour that passes that I don’t feel overwhelming panic and helplessness from being able to do nothing to save her. And since you regret so much that it was her they killed instead
of me, let me assure you.” She stared at him at eye level, toe to toe. “I feel the same way about you.”

  Before the man could respond, she was rushing down the hall and then gone, the slam of the door shutting behind her echoing throughout the empty house.

  Jason and Kirkpatrick were on their feet and running out of the living room after her, Steven trailing just behind them.

  “She’s got a habit of slamming doors,” Jason heard Thompson remark.

  Her father’s tired voice responded, “Only around me.”

  THEY PULL INTO the Hyland downtown at 4 p.m.—the woman and two bodyguards.

  The room they check into under her father’s name is 1201, but in actuality, they stay the night in room 1724.

  It’s a nice attempt at misdirection, but unfortunately for them, there’s no hiding.

  No running.

  Nowhere I can’t get to her when the time is right.

  And that hour is coming.

  But for now…

  I wait.

  THESE GUYS ARE a ball of fun and then some, Katherine thought as Tweedledee pulled into the parking space of her new, temporary cell the next morning. She knew she ought to be feeling grateful that she was even allowed to come back here under the circumstances, but this was not how she had planned her return to college when she’d re-enrolled last fall.

  There had been enough time to think and dwell on the past during her self-imposed break from school. She’d spent the past year with her Aunt Doris just outside of London, spending her days checking out the many galleries and museums and then sitting at an outside café, drinking too many lattes and sketching for hours. It had been rejuvenating in a way, but spending long days navigating the city on her own had made her realize how alone she felt in her own life.

  After a visit from Steven, he’d convinced her to come back and start living it. She’d re-enrolled, and, still undecided on what to major in, she’d settled on a wide-reaching business management track, though she was coming to regret that decision. It had been dreadfully boring so far. Regardless, she’d been ready to feel carefree again. To go to meaningless classes, to drink too much at a frat party and dance her ass off, to stay in with her friends and eat too much pizza while watching a romantic Hugh Grant movie.

  But as the other bodyguard, Tweedledum she called him, scanned the perimeter of the apartment complex and opened the passenger door, the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach threatened to pull her down.

  Everything had changed less than forty-eight hours ago with a phone call. Not that she didn’t already know from experience how a moment could change your life, but the thought of being back in the same state of constant panic had her struggling to breathe.

  Putting on a brave face as though slipping on a jacket, she watched Tweedledum, the leaner one with threads of auburn scattered throughout his unruly short brown hair, as he exited the car and went upstairs, presumably to check things out before giving the okay to go inside.

  Of the two bodyguards she was stuck with, he was the one who’d actually managed to speak more than one word to her so far. Kirkpatrick, she thought his name was. Now that she really looked at him, he was remarkably attractive, but she felt none of the flutters that unleashed in her belly like she did with Tweedledee.

  The other one, the hot, antisocial one, kept his eyes on the car’s mirrors, alternating between the rearview and side ones, but never once glancing at her. He seemed to have an impenetrable coat of armor; if she touched him, she’d likely feel cold, smooth steel instead of warm flesh. That thought should’ve given her peace of mind, being in such strong hands. Instead, it made her wonder what that powerful body could do with hers if he were on top of—

  “Let’s go,” he said, popping open the door and exiting before she could change her trail of thought. Hot damn, is that three words now? He must really like her.

  Grinning at the thought, she got out of the car and followed him up two flights of stairs to her temporary safe house digs. It was closer to campus than the apartment she shared with Bree, so she hoped that would mean a brisk walk would suffice to go to class instead of having to take the sleek sports car that Tweedledee preferred over the standard black bodyguard SUVs the others drove around.

  Walking through the entrance, she first noted that it was quite a bit larger than she expected. It was also fully furnished; the large living room that greeted her was already decorated in pristine style, with textured cream walls, rich chocolate curtains, and elaborate floral arrangements, and the kitchen had spacious granite countertops and seemingly brand-new stainless steel appliances.

  She stopped in her tracks. “Uh…are we in the right apartment? Or did we just break, enter, and commandeer?” The hot one raised a brow at her, and she shrugged. “I mean, I’m cool with that. Jail time would do a lot for my street cred.”

  “Model apartment,” Kirkpatrick said as he went around the room, closing the drapes of each window. “Best we could do under the short notice.”

  Exploring the apartment further, she took in the three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms and whistled. “Two bathrooms? I guess I should try getting kidnapped more often, huh?”

  When neither man commented, she sighed. “It was a joke, guys. Jesus, you two need to lighten up if we’re gonna be stuck with each other for a while.”

  Kirkpatrick walked past her into one of the bedrooms. “You should find all of your belongings in here, but if for some reason you’re missing anything, we can escort you to pick up the rest.”

  It hadn’t even occurred to her that they would be going through her stuff, and the cold grip of fear clenched her heart. Her eyes searched the room for the jewelry box, which they’d laid on top of a desk. Biting the inside of her cheek, she tried to keep her steps casual as she walked over to it and lifted the lid. Making sure her back was angled so Kirkpatrick couldn’t see her movements, she moved the top layer aside and reached for the pouch hidden beneath. When her fingers touched the broad ring inside, she released the breath she’d been holding. She quickly put the box back together and whipped around, plastering a bright smile on her face.

  Kirkpatrick opened the door on the far wall. “Everything should be accounted for. Feel free to check.”

  Her eyes widened as she took in the size of the closet, practically a mini bedroom, and with all of her clothes hanging neatly inside. Every pair of shoes she owned lined the right wall, and on the left was a dresser. After a peek inside the top drawer, she decided it was time to test her limits with the men she was imprisoned with. A little sarcasm would loosen them up—or at the very least, it’d let her know if they even had a sense of humor. Maybe if she focused on torturing those two, she wouldn’t have time to think of the reasons why they were there.

  She pointed at the neat stacks of cotton and lace inside the drawer.

  “Did you guys fold my panties?”

  To his credit, Kirkpatrick didn’t flinch. “Garrett and I did not personally move your items, as you well know, but—”

  “But one of your guys did, because my panties are folded.” Opening another drawer, she said, “And so are my bras.”

  “And this is a problem?” he asked, his brow furrowed.

  “Hell yes, it’s a problem,” she said. “Some random stranger was fondling my underwear, and you expect me to wear them now? Do we have a washer and dryer in this place?”

  He held up his hands in surrender and mumbled, “I believe you’ll find what you need in the kitchen,” before disappearing from the bedroom.

  Katherine chuckled to herself and shut the drawer. How the hell she got stuck with two bodyguards with the biggest, stiffest sticks up their ass, she had no idea, but she wasn’t about to spend another night listening to their watches tick in the dead silence as she tried to read.

  Chaos and loud movements she could deal with. But the quiet would drive her out of her ever-loving mind.

  If Bree was around, she’d definitely keep Katherine’s mind occupied with silly, tr
ivial matters. Her assigned roommate normally drove her crazy with her socialite, reality-TV-loving ways, but maybe she’d call her to come over and serve as a distraction. If their roles had been reversed, there was no doubt Katherine would be freaking out at the men in black packing up her stuff without a word as to where she went.

  Wait…speaking of…

  She reached into her jacket pocket for her phone, but it wasn’t there. She’d had it earlier at the hotel because she’d tried to call Bree to tell her what was happening, but her roommate’s phone had been off and her messages too full to leave one. She’d sent her a quick text to tell her she was okay and would call later, and then she’d stuck it in her pocket. Or did I?

  As she checked her jeans pockets, she headed out into the living room, where the two men were standing, deep in discussion.

  “Have you guys seen my phone?” she asked.

  Kirkpatrick grabbed a small bag off the coffee table and procured a flip phone. Holding up the outdated model, he said, “You can use this one for emergencies only. Either Garrett or myself, whichever one of us is on duty, will hold on to it for you, and when you need it, you can—”

  “Whoa, hang on a second. I’m not even allowed to have a phone? Not even a flip phone?”

  Kirkpatrick nodded. “Or your keys. Your car will stay at your old apartment lot for now, since we’ll be using Garrett’s for any and all travel. This is for your safety—”

  “The no-car thing I can live with, but my phone? Does that thing even work? And it seems your agency has forgotten what decade it is, which makes me a little concerned about you guys.”

  “I can assure you, we get on just fine.”

  Biting her lip, she contemplated her decision. An old-ass phone was better than none at all. Besides, it would only be for a couple of days. Hopefully.

  “Fine,” she said, reaching for it, but Kirkpatrick was faster, and dropped it in his bag.

  “Sorry,” he said. “Those are the rules.”

  He didn’t seem very fucking sorry.

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. No need to get worked up. Surely they could negotiate this tiny little issue like adults. Flashing an easygoing smile, she said, “Now, fellas. The bad guys don’t live in my phone, so I think we can agree it’s a harmless item that I can only derive pleasure from. My friends’ numbers are in there, and I can assure you they’re all completely sane, other than their questionable music choices. Should you need blood and urine samples or background checks, I’m sure they would be more than accommodating if you paid them. So how about you hand me back my phone, and I’ll keep this our little secret? Please?”