Snow Blind - Lori G. Armstrong [128]
Martinez leveled a tough guy glower on all three men. “True. But I’m giving the headache to Buzz today.”
I opened my mouth to protest the headache moniker, but it snapped shut when Tony growled, “Out,”
and everyone scattered.
He stalked me, and damn if I didn’t retreat until my back hit the wall. “Quit bullying me.”
“I haven’t even started bullying you, so don’t 456
fucking push me. Three rules today, in order for you to walk out of this house with Jackal still on the loose. One—You will not go anywhere without Buzz. Two—
You will listen to Buzz. Three—You will not ditch Buzz. If you break any of these three simple rules, I will lock you upstairs in Bare Assets and leave your buddy Charity as your caretaker. Is that clear?”
“You are a cold, mean bastard, Martinez.”
“And your point is?”
I looked down at my hands. “Does Kevin know?”
“That I’ve assigned you a temporary bodyguard?
Yes. Specifically why? No.” His warm fingers lifted my chin. “He knows I’ll go to extremes to keep you safe. Once Jackal is gone, things will return to normal.”
“Promise?”
“Yes. Sure you’re up to going into the office today?”
“I have to do something . . . normal.”
“I understand. At least Buzz won’t bitch about the music in your truck. He loves that caterwauling crap you’ve been listening to lately.”
“If you’re done insulting me, can I go?”
He gifted me with a steamy tie-my-insides-inknots grin. “Uh huh. Just as soon as you say it.”
“Sadistic fucker.”
“Such a sweet talker.” Martinez nuzzled my ear and whispered, “You know what I want.”
Perverse of me to withhold it? Yes. But dammit, I liked that he was as greedy to hear it from me, as I was 457
to hear it from him.
“I’m waiting, blondie.”
“Fine. I love you, okay?”
“Mmm.” His teeth nipped my earlobe and he
backed off.
“Forgetting something?”
“Fine. Te amo, okay?”
“That wasn’t I love you.”
“Yes, it was. As heartfelt as you said to me.” He kissed my forehead. “Later.” And he was gone. Buzz let me drive. He wasn’t chatty, but he wasn’t as scary/stoic as Bucket. He didn’t bitch when I sang along to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
I wondered if he’d just sit in the reception area all day staring into space. Or if he’d brought a book. Or guns to clean. Or knives to sharpen.
Kevin gave Buzz a once-over before beckoning me in his office. He even shut the door. I was really in for it.
I moved to the comfy chairs across from the desk, but Kevin stopped me cold.
He whispered, “I want to know every fucking thing that’s going on, right now. You may have loyalties to Martinez, but you also have loyalties to me. 458
And if you don’t think you can trust me, Jules, when we’ve been friends since we were twelve, then walk out that fucking door and don’t come back.”
Kevin’s ultimatum pissed me off, yet I knew he was right. So I gave him the abbreviated version of my current saga.
Afterward, he paced. When he stopped and faced me, I recognized his hard expression, and I braced myself for another make-or-break moment in another relationship in my life.
“Is this the life you want, Jules? A bodyguard?
People gunning for you because you’re with him?”
“I know you don’t understand—”
“I don’t. Not at all.” Kevin’s hands cupped my shoulders. “What about down the road? Will you be swilling tequila in a biker bar, dodging bullets and rival drug dealers in ten years? Twenty? Don’t you want a family? Kids?”
“And a house with a picket fence, a nine-to-five job, a husband puttering around on weekends? No. I’d make a lousy fucking parent, Kev, and not just because of my childhood traumas. I don’t want the life everyone else leads. Not because I’m cool, or a rebel, but because I like the way I live.