Bodyguards: A Twin Menage Romance (Mandarin Connection Book 9) Read online

  That dressing down from their boss did the trick.

  They barely look at me.

  Lois and I get to our room, with no incidents, and settle into our routines.

  As I practice my latest song, she makes some calls, and confirms our next gig – Singapore.

  Chapter Eight

  I wait for the elevator to my room, the attendant happily chattering on about the grand features of the Marina Bay Sands. It truly is a marvelous place, with outstanding views, and diamond-level concierge services. There is a large dining hall, with teak and rosewood tables, suitable for any large gathering we could want, says the attendant.

  He goes on while I watch the panel lights illuminating for floor after floor.

  I smile at him, noncommittally, and dig for some bills for a tip.

  “No, no, ma’am! No tipping! No gratuities! All is already pay for you by Mr. Brett Ghent!” he says, embarrassed.

  “Well, thank you all the same,” I say, and exit.

  Lois and I have been invited to an after party, in one of the many splendid dining halls.

  We are walking along the glamorous Main Atrium, Brad and Chad escorting us, and a team of Black Dog men discretely deployed, when Brad stops us.

  “Session Alpha,” he whispers into his wrist. At least, it looks like his wrist, but I know he’s got a microphone hidden there.

  “Derek White! You old son of a bitch!” Chad shouts to a man walking the other way from us.

  The man stops for a moment, and says something into his wrist! What the hell?

  “Hey, Chad! Brad! Good to see you guys! Busy at the moment, but we can catch up later, right?” he smiles.

  He’s immensely fit, good-looking and fuckable. He’s rugged and taut.

  The boys definitely know him. He looks as if he could be their older brother.

  Brad leans close.

  “Alpha Team?” he whispers. At least I think that’s what he says.

  Derek nods.

  He winks.

  “Ah. The Jaeger clan? I thought I saw Bone and Karl?” Brad says.

  Derek spins Brad to the side of the aisle, and I hear him hissing.

  “When did you see Bone? Shit! That’s not supposed to be public knowledge!” Derek says.

  A man walks by, wearing a black Drover’s hat, that is raked on his head at an angle. He’s dressed impeccably, with a slight bulge near his right-hand waist. He’s looking around, attentively.

  Derek spies him, and curses. He spins around, trying to be unobtrusive to the man.

  “Shit! It’s fucking Mitchum!” he whispers to the boys.

  Brad and Chad can’t help but stare, and Chad speaks into his wrist.

  The man with the hat just waves at the boys as he walks past, and laughs. He’s smoking a cheroot, which is odd, since I thought they didn’t allow smoking in here?

  He walks towards another group of men, who are with an older man, who is using a cane.

  The group stops at the doorway to the Great Dining Hall.

  The man with the black hat follows them, and then stops and laughs, astonished.

  “Travis! Randy! Walt! Son of a bitch! Look at all you guys!” he yells, loud enough to be heard on the mainland. He’s enjoying himself immensely, apparently reuniting with some old friends.

  “Keep mum about Bone Jaeger, guys. Okay?” Derek says, evenly.

  Chad and Brad nod.

  “Who’s that?” I ask. “You mean the swimmer? That guy with the huge di…”

  “He’s a diver,” Derek corrects me, cutting me off.

  I stick my tongue out at him.

  “Aren’t you Cheryl Walker? The country-western singer?” he asks.

  He smiles. It’s a nice smile.

  “Yep, that’s me!” I say, and pretend curtsey.

  “Hmm. You guys want to share anything?” he asks the boys, seriously.

  Chad fidgets for a moment. He looks at Brad, who nods.

  “You remember that tape a few months back?” he says.

  “Who doesn’t…oh, my apologies, Miss Walker. Curse of my trade. I see a lot of stuff,” he says, solemnly.

  I feel a bit angry, but it’s all in the past.

  “It is what it is,” I answer.

  Brad continues.

  “Rumor has it that the guy is going to try something more drastic, and we’re running interference,” he says.

  I gasp, and Lois rolls her eyes, staring at Brad, and shaking her head.

  Chad shoots him a look.

  “Ahem!” he grunts, giving me a side-eye.

  Brad looks at me, and smacks his forehead.

  “Shit. Sorry, bro,” he says to Chad.

  “Look, I’d love to stay and chat, but we’ve got a job to do here. Brett Ghent and the Jaegers are having a soiree, and the Alpha Team are covering. Don’t get into any trouble, guys! Talk to you later!” Derek says, and then walks back to the Great Hall, whispering into his wrist.

  As we walk along, I see many beautiful women. I think I recognize one or two.

  Lois spies Kady Ghent, and peels off to speak with her. There is a beautiful young woman, who is accompanied by Brian Cox, and I see it’s Kim Wilder. They chat amiably with Lois and Kady, then go into the hall, with the others.

  I wonder what they are going to be up to in there?

  Brett Ghent approaches with David Spalding, and a contingent of Black Dog operators.

  Brett has several days of beard on him, and is looking pretty cool, like a very young Steve Jobs, or maybe a rock star. Kady sees him coming, and looks radiant, her love for Brett illuminating her face.

  Brett joins Lois and Kady.

  David Spalding takes Chad and Brad to one side, while the Black Dog men circle us protectively. They chat animatedly, as I glance towards them.

  “You sure you can’t join us, Lois?” Kady asks.

  “Now, now, you know how much I would love to stay, but we’ve other plans. Mr. Noah Stone has requested our presence in a lesser hall. How he managed to not steal this one away from you is completely beyond my comprehension, Brett,” she laughs.

  “Noah and I have an agreement. It’s his turn to be in the guest house!” Brett chuckles.

  “If you’d like, I’ll buzz him and we can dine later on the yacht? I think Karl has the Miss T at the marina here?” he says.

  “Karl Jaeger? Om Jaeger’s son! That would be delightful! Can we expect the pleasure of your wonderful parents, Brett?” Lois asks.

  “As a matter of fact, they are indeed here, for this celebration!” Kady squeals.

  Lois hugs her! “Wonderful!” she exclaims.

  “Then, it’s a date!” Brett says. “I’ll text Noah and see if he’s available,” he adds.

  We excuse ourselves, and continue down to our dining room.

  “Captain Spalding and Derek have been surveilling the various targets of interest for us while we inspected the corporate filings for the various shells set up by Walter Reighland during the Ocaba Bien venture,” Chad tells Lois.

  “Really?” she replies, surprised. “I must ask Noah his perspective on that. I believe he had some competing interests with Reighland Industries.”

  Chad shoots Brad a strange look.

  A staff member holds the oak doors to the dining hall open as we stride into a magnificent scene. It’s all bustling with excitement and energy, as waiters are quickly organizing everyone and everything.

  There are fantastic displays of cuisine, with every gourmet delicacy imaginable.

  The wonderful aromas make me instantly salivate!

  I see all manner of tables, inlaid with exotic woods, such as teak, mahogany and rosewood. There are a billion flowers, and the servers rush around, immaculate and impeccably well-mannered.

  “Greetings, everyone!” says Noah, from the head of the largest table.

  Ushers lead us to our places, and the Black Dog team takes up positions around the room, trying hard to avoid notice.

  We are all seated at this gorgeous ta
ble, with white linens and flowers everywhere, alongside Noah and his fiancée, Tinsley. She looks like a queen.

  Next to them is seated Corban Winthrop and his wife, Ava. A genteel man and an elegant woman sit at the table as well.

  “Lois, I would like you to meet my sister, Athena, and her friend Aidan Wilde,” Noah Stone says, introducing everyone.

  I find myself sitting next to Tinsley, who is absolutely delightful!

  Noah sits back down, kissing her cheek and her eyes sparkle with her love for him.

  Such a lucky couple!

  We begin to dine.

  The finest goblets, and China dishware, and expensive silver, and all the trappings of wealth are laid out, and the courses are mind-boggling! I feel like a Princess, at the dinner of a King, with the full Court in attendance!

  The food is heavenly, and I am finally able to relax.

  Captain Spalding enters the hall, followed by a huge black Jamaican man, and several other men.

  “That’s the Alpha Team,” says Tinsley.

  She looks amazing! She is the perfect embodiment of royalty. It was only recently announced that she and Noah had become engaged.

  I am in awe of the Alpha Team men! They enter the room, commanding attention. Every one of them id buff, and looks like a linebacker. They are stern, and observant. One or the other of them smile at various Black Dog personnel, and I see a lot of recognition. David Spalding’s business has deep roots in the military.

  Surrounded by friends and Lois and all these rugged men, I feel as safe as I ever have.

  Nothing can bring me down!

  Chapter Nine

  It’s unbelievable.

  All those people killed!

  I am still shaking from the terrible disaster at the Marina Bay Sands.

  It’s like a bad dream.

  We’re just finishing dinner. Noah had told us he had great news, and that everything was coming together, finally.

  The concert had been a smash success, and we broke box-office records with my performance. The show was perfect!

  We’re ready to move onto the next phase, now. We’d proven we were money-makers, exceeding NLS Holdings projections, and were being courted by all sorts of companies.

  There were clothing and accessories, shoes and other merchandise offers from all sides!

  We had made it!

  The SECOND WORLD TOUR was almost within our grasp!

  And then, suddenly, it all comes crashing down.

  I don’t really know what’s happening. One minute, we were all cheering, and the next, it is a horrible nightmare!

  Gunshots ring out from the Great Dining Hall, where Brett and the rest are having their celebrations.

  Screams and explosions echo throughout the halls, as the wait staff and other employees scramble for cover.

  All I know is that Brad and Chad grab me and Lois and high-tail it out of there!

  I can hear Brad yelling over the noise, and the rest of the Black Dog team runs ahead of us, crashing through anyone in our path.

  I remember seeing Aidan and another young man; I think his name was Lucian? Lucius? They grabbed Noah and Tinsley and a cordon of security personnel appeared as if by magic and whisked them away just as we were exiting the hall. Noah was roaring out commands, but he was standing near Tinsley, pulling her close to him.

  And then we are gone from the dining hall.

  Lois is practically carried down the corridor by Brad, and Chad has me held tight and is carrying me like a babe in arms. I put my arms around his neck, and tuck in close.

  He smells incredible, and my brain flashes back and forth from the terrors around us to how it feels to be nestled against Chad’s manly chest.

  It’s crazy!

  We round a corner, and now are outside the hotel.

  It’s pandemonium, as police and emergency vehicles come screeching up to the drive.

  The boys don’t hesitate, and carry us past the incoming first responders, flashing IDs at a few who seek to stop us.

  Mr. Bloom has the doors to our limousine wide, and the boys practically throw us into the cabin.

  “Move! Now!” orders Chad, and I am surprised to see Mr. Bloom is holding a gun in one hand.

  “Where to, Sir?” he asks.

  “The airport!” Brad shouts. Chad nods, coming to a decision.

  “The Compound.” he repeats. “Good call, bro!”

  “Let’s go!” he orders, as Mr. Bloom slams the doors shut. He jumps into the driver’s seat as the boys strap us down. The limo roars and its tires squeal and I smell burning rubber as it heads for the highway. Taking a corner at speed, we are slung around and rocked, and I’m thrown into Brad’s lap.

  I look up into his gorgeous face.

  “It’s okay, Cheryl. You’re safe!” he smiles, grimly.

  I look over at Lois, and Chad. They stare behind us, and Lois has a strange look on her face.

  Almost as if she was expecting something like this…

  Chapter Ten

  A dull throbbing ache penetrates my skull.

  Laying on the bed, at least the room is no longer spinning.

  I can’t believe all this is real.

  I hear Lois in the next room.

  “What happened, Captain?” Lois says into the phone.

  I watch as she listens to whatever excuse he gives her. She’s silent for about three minutes, making some noises of disapproval now and again.

  Suddenly, I hear her bark out an ugly laugh.

  “You are joking, of course!” she says, and my blood runs cold.

  I try to rise up, but my head hurts too much.

  I fall back into the comforter and pillows.

  The air conditioner hisses above me.

  I feel numb.

  Lois is giving Captain Spalding a piece of her mind, all right.

  “Those boys? I want them off our detail. Immediately. I was roughly handled during the incident. What? I broke a heel! What? Jimmy Choo’s! Yes, of course! How rude! Very well. Good day, sir!” she says, and then disconnects.

  Storming into the room, she flips on the lights, which cause daggers of pain to shoot into my eyes.

  I shove my head under the pillows.

  “Can you imagine the nerve of that man, asking me if my shoes were knockoffs! Really!” Lois says, angrily.

  From under the pillows, I can see how agitated she is. She picks up the broken shoe, and hurls it across the room. It bangs against the window, and falls to the floor.

  She peeks over at me.

  “Can’t handle your liquor, eh, dearie?” she sneers.

  I roll my eyes, and then regret it.

  I feel terrible.

  I’m hungover, from all the drinking at the banquet; and then I got car sick in the limo; and now my head is just pounding.

  Hearing that Lois has fired Brad and Chad makes me sad. They aren’t so bad. Maybe just a tad.

  Jesus! I really am drunk as a skunk!

  I’m in a funk!

  Shit.

  I punch my fists into the bed.

  At least the rhyming has stopped.

  I roll over, and sigh.

  Personally, I thought they did a great job of getting us out of harm’s way. Me, especially.

  I felt all snug as a…fuck that shit! No rhyming!

  Okay.

  I loved that feeling. Safe and sound.

  I drift off thinking about that song…

  “Wake up, girl! It’s time to get on toward our next destination!” Lois says.

  Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I roll over, groaning.

  “What time is it?” I peer around, all bleary-eyed. It looks to be night, but it could be because all the curtains in the room are drawn.

  “It’s nine-fifteen, silly girl. Come now, let’s get going, I’ve given you enough time to rest, and you can go back to sleep once we are underway,” Lois orders.

  I get up, and go into the magnificently appointed bathroom.

  Brett Ghent cut
s no corners, for sure.

  I yawn, and scratch myself beneath my boobs. Sitting down, I do my business, and then turn to the shower.

  It’s one of those amazing automated things, with nozzles everywhere.

  You barely have to do anything, other than stand there and let it spray water and shampoo over your naked body.

  I feel the water cascading down my thighs, across my back, my boobs, and then wash my hair. I love the temperature; it’s perfect.

  As I finish, I twist my hair around my hands, wringing the last of the water out.

  I step out, and get the towels, and dry myself.

  I am feeling a bit better now, but I am still in shock from the events at the Stone’s dinner.

  I wonder how everyone else made out? I’ll have to ask the boys.

  Then, I remember that Lois had fired them.

  I’ll probably never see them again.

  “Cheryl! Come now, dear! Or, we will be late!” she prattles.

  I look over the clothes she’s picked out for me.

  Nothing too special. An Abercrombie hoodie, and some shades, of course.

  There are blue jeans, some Adidas sneakers, and my undergarments. A tie-dye blouse.

  What the fuck is she thinking?

  “Lois? Really, that’s the best you can do for travel clothes?” I protest.

  Lois peers around the corner of the door.

  “Suit yourself. If you aren’t in the limo in fifteen minutes, I am leaving you here,” she sniffs.

  I sigh, and get dressed. She can be so unreasonable sometimes. Not at all like Mother.

  “Your father sends his regards. He wishes that he could be here to assist, but I told him it was not necessary. He’s busy with his own things, as always. He did tell me to inform you that he’s going to be in New York City in a few weeks, and we should be able to see him then,” Lois says, not really looking up from her smartphone.

  I wonder about her and Daddy’s relationship. It’s been strained, before, that I can remember. But, somehow, he always relinquishes in the face of her leaving him.