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I open it and get the small gun out to load it with a high-capacity mag. I hand her the gun. She wraps her small fingers around the handle and pulls it from my grip a little too fast, making her fumble and almost drop it. Good thing it has two safeties on it.
“Oopsie.” She giggles while Dallas and Griffin groan quietly.
“You got a safety on the handle and one on the barrel,” I explain, showing her how to work both.
“Are you sure you want her to carry it?”
“You think I’ll do anything I’m not sure about?” I growl. His mouth snaps shut at the sharpness in my voice. “She’s new to all of this. She is trying her best.” He arches an eyebrow, giving me a curious look while taking a deep breath. Either he knows better than to retort or he figures his expression is enough to tell me how he feels about my outburst.
“Teagan, only use the gun when you absolutely need to. Any other time, keep it in your purse and listen to everything we say. We’re trying to keep you safe. If I tell you we’re going, we’re going. If I tell you to crawl under a table, you find the nearest table and get under it.”
And before she can make a big deal about that, I add, “That was just an example off the top of my head. I don’t predict you crawling around on the floor tonight.”
“Okay.” She seems to draw herself closer together like she’s shrinking.
All of that changes when the limo comes to a stop in front of the venue. Floodlights positioned along the structure’s exterior cast beams of light onto massive banners extending from the roof to the ground, featuring images of soldiers from all branches of the military. It’s a dramatic look, and between that and the well-dressed guests walking a red carpet leading inside, Teagan is awestruck once she’s out of the car.
“Think you can handle this?” I squeeze her hand, and it seems to bring her back to the present moment and away from whatever childhood fantasy she thinks is coming true.
“I don’t know.”
I wasn’t expecting that, though I should have. I did chastise Dallas minutes ago. “You can handle it. We aren’t going to ask you to do anything dangerous, and I’ll be by your side at all times.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” She bites her glossy lip. “I don’t belong here. This isn’t me. Look at these people!”
“I have, and I’m not impressed.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Would it help if I said you’re the most beautiful woman on this red carpet?”
Her nose wrinkles as if she smells something bad. “No.”
She has the unique ability to make me laugh at the least likely times. “Too bad. You are. And you’re brave. Think you can be brave for me tonight?”
“I think so.” She gulps, and her wide eyes reflect the glowing lights we pass on our way beneath a marble archway leading inside. “It really is incredible, isn’t it?”
It’s not fair for her to be this gorgeous and alluring. It’s not fair I can’t spend my evening drinking in her presence and her simple joy.
But there are plenty of reasons I can’t. Not only because I need to keep her safe—which means I can’t afford to ogle her like a teenager with a crush—I need to cover my own ass, as well, and somehow deal with the people talking and drinking in clusters around the interior of a large, marble-floored lobby. Once the ballroom opens, there will be a little more room to breathe.
“Be natural.” I lean down to speak into her ear and regret it when the scent of her shampoo threatens to knock me on my ass. “Enjoy yourself if you can. At least make it look like you are.”
“I’ll try.” When a uniformed server approaches with a tray full of champagne flutes, she accepts one with a bright smile. This time, when she gazes around the room, she doesn’t look quite so much like her eyes are going to pop out.
I take a flute of my own but treat it as a prop rather than a beverage. I can’t let myself get fuzzy. It’s bad enough I’m so distracted by the beautiful girl at my side. Dallas stands at the wall to my left, scanning the room. I catch his eye, and he shakes his head slightly. Griffin is posted near the entry, where I know he’s in contact with our people on the outside of the building. He, too, shakes his head when our eyes meet.
“This is amazing!” Teagan can’t help but be awestruck by our impressive surroundings. I wish I could share her amazement. The best I can do is smile down at her, then lift my hand to acknowledge a vaguely familiar-looking guy by the bar.
