AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Across from me, she beamed in her nutcracker getup.
“Stay still,” she scolded. “I hope I’m half as funny-looking as you.” Her fancy nutcracker outfit clung to her body perfectly, accentuating her curves.
"You look like...a nut," I said.
She shushed me and gave me the once-over from the bottom-up. She met my gaze with hers, and screwed up her face like a clown.
“Stop making me laugh. We’re supposed to be invisible.”
“Good luck in that costume.”
She was right.We might just as well be wearing neon signs.
Eight sets of headlights cut through the darkness, gleaming off the crisp snow that crackled beneath eight large vehicles. The snow was piled so high this winter that making a fortress above the town below appeared to be no feat at all. White Christmas, with its flurry of snowflakes and cold-nipped noses, would make for a glorious sight. And after New Year, I was starting my dream job alongside my best friend and work wife, so life couldn’t get any better.
The bullet-proof SUVs crept around the bend and parked at the curb.
The faint hum of the electric engines echoed through the air.
As the eighth black SUV pulled up to the curb and the first door opened, Allie and I grabbed a door handle each at the lodge's entrance and stepped back. Cheerful holiday music rolled out from within the lobby. Elaborate decorations of red, green and silver, and sparkling lights strung in elegant patterns, cast a warm and inviting glow. The familiar smell of Gucci wafted through the air, bringing back a distant memory of past visits. I had been here as a kid.
My parents had sprung for private classes and the best gear money could buy, so skiing was a breeze. This security job they arranged for me before joining the force was not only a bid to maintain peace, but also a step toward full independence.
When I moved out of their house two years ago, they were upset; they thought I should have become a doctor like them, instead of choosing such a dangerous line of work. Yet, here I was, at this magnificent resort, surrounded by opulence that far surpassed those of the hotels we stayed in growing up. Although Cindy and KarlYoung were well-off, none of the hotels we visited came close to this luxurious resort’s level of grandeur. My mother and father might be rich, but there’s a stark contrast between a millionaire and billionaire.
“Behave yourself this evening,” Allie uttered under her breath.
“When do I ever misbehave?” I asked, forcing a deep breath into my lungs. I squared my shoulders, taking my position. We had two hours of security detail left.
The first bachelor stepped out of a vehicle and held the back door open. His broad shoulders filled out the cotton turtleneck sweater, each bulging bicep visible underneath the fabric. I took in his fitted black jeans and a stunning, tight posterior. Colorado never looked better.
“Psst, Laura!” Allie whispered and my spine snapped to its original position.
My heart hammered in my chest, and I shifted to see his reflection in the glass door Allie held steady.
Another bachelor escorted a woman out of the car, her hand clutching his arm. Dressed in an all white outfit, she gripped his elbow and waited with her chin held high. The furry snow jacket, white leggings, and Wookie boots, though ill-suited, complemented her figure. Her raven hair spilled over the fur in straight wisps. Another woman emerged from the car. This one was a blonde twin of the first, but the exact opposite. Her black jacket, skintight leather pants, and black Wookie boots were a contrast to her sister’s. They each held one of his arms as he slowly led them forward into the fresh snow floating around them. It looked like a scene from a movie, and I couldn’t stop staring. Again. The remaining Silver men left the vehicles, some with partners, others alone, as the first man who strolled toward the entrance, turned around and bellowed. “Hurry up! We’re late as it is.”
The sound of his deep voice sent a chill down my spine, and as he walked toward the building. His hard lips, chiseled cheekbones, and neatly trimmed facial hair gave him a James Bond look. I gaped as he lifted the aviator sunglasses to the top of his head. His face was gorgeous, and his light blue eyes seemed like they could see into my soul. Nervous flutters filled my stomach the closer he approached.
Allie must have sensed my unease because she moved the door, cutting off the reflection.
“Get a grip, Laura. And. Be. Quiet,” she mouthed.
Right.
We’d signed contracts and agreements not to disclose details about this event and the attendees.
Three wealthy families, each with multiple kids and grandkids, had arrived for the holiday—all now part of Silver Securities, et al. They formed the prestigious company of the best private investigators, bodyguards, and lawyers in the country.
The group strolled from the car to the entrance with grace, elegance, and sophistication befitting them. The twins exuded all the wealth the Silvers had, except it wasn’t theirs. Money wasn’t everything, though. The Silver brothers had class and style, and just enough arrogance to show it off. The smell of expensive cologne filled the air, wafting around us and sucking me into their aura.
The front man’s strong profile was immaculate - a chiseled jawline, gentle gray stubble and a streak of silver in his hair. He didn’t look like my type. In fact, he looked like everyone’s type. The type you absolutely couldn’t resist.
The lodge manager came forward to welcome the group.
“Good evening, Mr. Silver. Your suites are all ready.”
“Thanks, George. What’s the forecast?”
