Page 13 of LA King

“No, it’s fine.” He leans back in his chair like he feels more comfortable. “On my last tour, I took a bullet to the shoulder. I was a sniper, and my aim was never the same after that. I was medically discharged, and I got into private security.”

“That must have been tough.”

“Well, we’re kind of trained to handle tough.”

That’s certainly true. But I’m not sure he signed up for watching over a bored housewife. “Did my husband force you to come here and apply for this babysitting job or were you given a choice in the matter?”

He laughs at that. “The boss told me to come here this morning, and I do as I’m told. He definitely didn’t sell it as a babysitting job though.”

Well, now I’m intrigued. “Oh? What did he tell you it was?”

Hugo narrows his eyes at me. “He told me I was being given the opportunity to be his wife’s personal bodyguard. This is a promotion for me and the other four men who were in here before me, Alana. I don’t like to toot my own horn, but he only chose his best men for this. This is most definitely no babysitting job, ma’am.”

Embarrassment heats my cheeks. “I didn’t mean to belittle what you do.”

“You didn’t. Don’t underestimate your importance to the boss is all I’m trying to say.”

That confuses me a little, but I suppose for appearance’s sake alone, Alejandro must be seen to be protecting his wife. I recall all too well how incensed he was when I tried to sleep in my own bedroom, worried about what his staff would think. “What happens now then? Do you start straight away?”

His blue eyes sparkle. “I got the job?”

“You sure did.”

He rubs his hands over his knees and nods. “Then yeah. Orders were to start immediately.”

This day is turning out so well. I can already tell Hugo and I are going to get along, and he is much better company than Hank. “Great. I have a lunch at one today. Is that okay?”

“Of course. Wherever and whenever you need to go, I’ll take you. That’s the deal.”

Wherever and whenever, huh? “How does this actually work though? Do you work seven days a week? And how many hours a day?”

“I usually have Wednesdays and every other Sunday off. I’m flexible with my working hours, but I’ll be needing your schedule. However, I’m also on standby whenever you need to leave the house. At least when you leave it without Mr. Montoya, obviously.”

His meaning isn’t obvious to me. Alejandro has a personal bodyguard, although as far as I’m aware, he maintains his distance at all times. But I assume Hugo will also be that for me. “Who protects me when I’m with Alejandro?”

He blinks at me as though I asked the stupidest question in the world. “He does, of course.”

That I’m being protected by the one man I have every reason to fear would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic. Although I’m not afraid of Alejandro Montoya. Not at all.

Chapter

Nine

Alana

Hugo opens the back door of the car, and I climb in. I’d prefer to sit up front, but I don’t know the proper protocol for having a personal bodyguard. My father has security due to the risk politicians face, but I was always allowed a high degree of freedom. Probably because I preferred to be behind the scenes as much as possible.

On the one occasion I left the house after my fateful wedding day, I was in the back of a limousine with Hank and another man with a gun.

Hugo climbs into the driver’s seat and starts the engine. “It’s safer in the back,” he says as though he read my mind. “The driver is always the first target. Although most of Mr. Montoya’s cars are bulletproof, so we’re pretty safe.” He gives me a grin in the rearview mirror.

“I’m just happy to be out.” I put on my seatbelt and lean back against the seat.

A short time later, we pull into the parking lot of the exclusive yacht club. Hugo jumps out first and looks all around before he opens my door and reaches for my hand. He remains hypervigilant as he escorts me through the club to the room where the charity committee is meeting.

“I’ll have to come inside, but I’ll wait near the exit,” he says in my ear. “It will be like I’m not even here.”

I let him know I appreciate his discretion, and after a deep breath, I walk into the room with him close behind. Everyone is already seated, and they look up when I enter. Breathe, Alana. Smile, Alana.