Protect Me

by Avery Katz

  Protect Me

  Avery Katz

  Published by Avery Katz, 2019.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  PROTECT ME

  First edition. July 16, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Avery Katz.

  ISBN: 978-1393958901

  Written by Avery Katz.

  Also by Avery Katz

  Forgive Me

  Marry Me

  Protect Me

  Rock Me

  Watch for more at Avery Katz’s site.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Also By Avery Katz

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  Further Reading: Rock Me

  Also By Avery Katz

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  RUPPY

  When I was a kid, I used to think that living in Lockridge Palace was the epitome of cool. My childhood was a real Disney movie, and I was the handsome prince. A prince who had two younger siblings and wonderful doting parents.

  I was lucky to have been raised in a country like Raplen. Our family ruled this kingdom for centuries. We descended from a long line of warriors who fought off the Roman Empire before establishing their own monarchy. I was proud of my heritage. I was also heir to the throne, which gave me the freedom to venture out into the world and explore everything. I was a free bird without an ounce of responsibility. My brothers, Danny and Greg, had nothing on me.

  Yes, I was being sarcastic.

  Sarcasm was my weapon of choice. Being the face of Raplen meant that I had to represent my country at international forums and global conferences. I spent most of my time in airplanes and airports. I perfected the art of looking camera-ready during my many travels. Rubbing elbows with representatives of the European Union and royals from other neighboring countries was part of my duty as the future king. It was great, for the most part.

  Being hounded by the paparazzi came with the territory. I’m not gonna lie. I loved the attention. I reveled in it. American airports were my favorite. They were infested with thirsty cameramen who sold their souls to the devil in exchange for candid photos. Their desperation was beyond entertaining. Tabloid magazines in the States were a lucrative business. I needed to invest in them.

  Now that would be the mother of all ironies.

  The world would be a better place without gossip and trashy tabloids. Everyone was interested in my love life. The folks at Snapchat begged me to create my own content in exchange for ten million dollars. I was one email away from calling them delusional. Like I would ever post nonstop snaps about my hair and jewelry. Not everyone was thirsty for attention. The threat to my safety alone made me say no. I had bigger fish to fry.

  My upcoming trip to the United States was at the very top of my to-do list. It was the reason I woke up this early for breakfast today.

  I usually requested my tray to be delivered to my bedroom in order to avoid Lady Edith. Listening to her snide remarks was music to my ears. She was my favorite family member. I adored her. Not! She was hands down the most obnoxious person I had ever met. I could hear her grating voice, the closer I got to the dining hall. As usual, she was complaining about her gay son and his equally queer cousins.

  “Like dinosaurs, this family will become extinct in a matter of decades. Mark my words.” She complained. Lady Edith was married to Uncle Peter, who passed away years ago. She lived in the palace, and her hobbies included spreading rumors and negativity. “Gregory, stop laughing!”

  “No offense, Aunt Edith, but you sound like a broken record.”

  “It must be some kind of genetic defect. Producing gay offspring is something we all have in common. I need to look into this. Maybe funding a research study on the subject will give us some answers.” The ridiculous woman said over the loud clatter of forks and knives.

  The smell of scrambled eggs and hash browns greeted me at the door. I wrapped my fingers around the tulip-shaped doorknob and rolled my eyes at her words.

  “Look on the bright side, Edith. Rupert is still open to marrying and settling down with the right woman.” My grandmother remarked. She tolerated her daughter-in-law better than anyone else.

  “Which bright side? The boy is thirty-two. He has many potential suitors who bat their eyelashes at him day and night, yet he hasn’t settled down. I say we confront him about it. The sooner, the better.”

  I pushed the door open and entered the large dining hall. The conversation died down, and everyone turned their attention to me. I was ten minutes late for breakfast, which was a crime in my father’s book. He expected me to be punctual even during our family gatherings.

  “Good morning. Nice of you to join us.” He gave me a pointed look before wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin. I apologized for being late and sat down next to him. Lady Edith shot me a malicious glare from across the table. The old bat knew that I heard her earlier rant, but she didn’t care one bit. She was shameless.

  I ignored her and feasted my eyes on the plates of freshly baked goods lining the table. My brother Greg and his husband were here so my grandmother made sure his favorite pastries was on the menu.

  The newest member of the kitchen staff poured me a cup of tea. She was a shy twenty-something with an eye for detail. I loved the butterfly theme she created for breakfast. The queen often encouraged our staff to unleash their creativity when it came to food and table settings.

  There was a crystal vase at the center of the table with freshly cut tulips from our popular flower garden. Greg and his husband Quin admired it while eating. Cousin Lizzie always referred to them as couple goals. She even tagged their photos on Instagram with a similar hashtag. I was happy for them and proud of what they had achieved. My younger brother used to be a commitment-phobe before he met Quin. Their love story was a Nicholas Sparks novel, no sarcasm this time.

  I draped a napkin over my lap and helped myself to a slice of raspberry pie. Schubert classical music floated from the gramophone in the corner while I ate my breakfast.

  There was something incredibly soothing about this dining hall. The mint green wallpaper and gold paneling were brand new additions to the previously monotone room. My grandmother was big on makeovers, and the castle was her ongoing project.

  “Rupert, your fans have been hounding the palace for days now. When are you going to stop stealing their hearts?” She asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

  “Stealing their hearts was never my intention, grandmother. Cupid is at work here, not me.”

  “Cupid or your dashing Lockridge genes?” She smiled.

  “Both, I guess.” I smiled back. “Speaking of fans, I will be visiting the United States in two days time to take care of some business and sign a couple of autographs.”

  “God only knows what he does on those trips of his.” I heard Lady Edith say. Her voice was loud even when she tried to whisper. She was sitting two chairs away from me, right next to Uncle M
aximilian, who came to visit all the way from Norway. He was more of an honorary uncle rather than an actual member of the family.

  “Ruppy was groomed to be king. He worries about this kingdom more than Emmeline. Trust me. The boy will come through. If he was a closeted homosexual, the paparazzi would have outed him years ago. After all, he is more popular than anyone else in your family and those photographers follow him everywhere, even to the loo!”

  “Makes sense.” Lady Edith nodded, seemingly satisfied by his answer.

  I rolled my eyes and finished my food. There was no point in telling them that I heard their entire conversation. I had thick skin when it came to rumors and nosy questions about my sexuality. I never allowed them to bother me. Not one bit. I had enough confidence and experience on my side to last me a lifetime.

  “Tell us, Rupert, is there a future wife in the picture?” The old prune asked in an attempt to provoke me. No wonder Freddy stopped talking to her. She was relentless in her quest for answers.

  “Maybe we should ask the crystal ball you keep hidden in your study, Lady Edith.” I retorted. Cousin Freddy told me his mother spent her free time playing tarot cards and holding séances in the dungeons. It was very non-catholic of her. Her tiny face went pale at my words. I flashed her an innocent smile and decided not to antagonize her. She wasn’t worth the effort anyway.

  “Joking aside, I really am thinking about settling down and getting married. It might be sooner than you think. It’s time for me to steal some thunder from all of the happy couples in this family.” My heart skipped a beat when I said those words out loud. They sounded fake coming from my lips.

  My parents greeted my announcement with a smile. They were obviously happy and relieved that their eldest son was going to get married and finally produce an heir. It was my duty as future king to pass the torch to my son or daughter. Someone had to carry the burden of our family bloodline. It was the right thing to do.

  Protecting our family legacy was my mission. Just because I was gay did not mean that I was going to abandon this mission. I grew up knowing that I was interested in men. Tabloids and other media outlets told the public that I was bisexual, which was far from the truth. Keeping them guessing was my game. I took lessons in public relations and media training. They were necessary tools every royal needed in order to cope with the media circus of today.

  I finished my tea and excused myself before my head exploded from all the meaningless gossip Lady Edith loved to share. The warm, morning sunlight streamed from the tall windows as I made my way down the hall. I wished I had more time on my hands to enjoy spring in Raplen. We had the best weather this time of year, and our Alps were a coveted skiing destination.

  “Uncle Ruppy!”

  Quin and Greg’s daughter, Adley, ambushed me in the corridor. She was a delightful three year old with a unicorn obsession. She squealed and threw herself at me. I picked her up and twirled her in the air like I always did.

  “Hey, smarty pants. I missed you. How is school?”

  “School is out, silly.” She giggled.

  “Yeah? You should have told me. We could have gone to the zoo together.” I pinched her freckled cheek and asked her more questions about school and her favorite teacher, Mrs. Noon. She was so fond of that woman. I felt like I already knew her.

  Adley made me think about starting a family of my own. Marrying a woman to please my parents was high on my agenda but having kids was also something I wanted. Kids these days were more aware of global issues and capable of changing the world at an early age, thanks to social media. Having someone to share my legacy and dry sarcasm with was tempting. Very tempting.

  Greg stepped out into the hallway along with Quin. I was honestly a little envious of their relationship. They made marriage look easy and uncomplicated.

  “Where is the fire, brother?”

  I lowered Adley to the carpet and ruffled her curls.

  “I need to go see the head of security at the palace regarding my trip to the States. He always hooks me up with the best bodyguards during my travels.”

  Greg shook his head in amusement.

  “Ah. Yes. Your rabid fans will tear you into pieces if you visit America without a bodyguard. You’re the only one who needs protection twenty-four seven thanks to your charm and sex appeal.” He teased me. “How come we never get harassed at the airport?”

  “Because unlike Ruppy, we look like two suburban dads with a child in tow. There is nothing special about us.” Quin grinned. “We are your average, everyday San Franciscans.”

  “Speaking of our lovely home, we will be traveling with you on Monday, so get ready for twelve hours of Adley and My Little Pony marathons.”

  “Great. I could use the company.”

  Chapter 2

  JUSTIN

  “You should be a model. Look at you. Oh my God! you’re totally gorgeous!”

  The obnoxious woman threw herself at me for what felt like the hundredth time tonight. She ran her glammed up, nails up and down my chest. They were fake acrylic claws that looked cheap as fuck. I rolled my eyes and cursed my luck for getting assigned to a spoiled brat for the night. She was draped in Gucci and Louis Vuitton from head to toe, but money did not guarantee good taste. This was what I fucking deserved for coming into this line of work. I was currently getting assaulted by a woman whose perfume could be used as tear gas. It made me nauseous.

  I gently removed her prying fingers from my chest and escorted her to her penthouse apartment. She fluttered her fake lashes at me and handed me her red Birkin bag. There was a bottle of vodka in there.

  “Hey, Blondie. I like your beard and your bulging biceps. My gal pals were eye-fucking you all night. I should hire men like you more often.”

  She leaned against me and started scratching my beard.

  “How about a nightcap?”

  “Lady, please get your claws off me. I’m gay, alright? G-a-y.” I spelled it out so she would finally get the message. Why did I have to be so damn good looking? Not complaining, but it was both a blessing and a curse.

  Little Miss Frisky pouted and grabbed my crotch instead.

  “Boo! What a waste.”

  I snatched the keys from her hand and unlocked the apartment door for her.

  “There you go. Now kindly let go of me before I file a million dollar lawsuit against you for sexually harassing me.”

  She tossed her head back and laughed. I watched her as she stumbled into the foyer before I turned around and rushed out of the building like it was on fire. The past twelve hours felt like an eternity to me.

  “Fucking hell. This is the last time I babysit some high society socialite who’s afraid of her own shadow.”

  Getting fondled and harassed was not part of my job description. I crossed the busy street and strode over to my Dodge. It was parked right across from the most expensive penthouse in town. I climbed into my worn out leather seat and started the engine. I thought working as a bodyguard would be a lot more exciting than this.

  Yeah, the money was great and all but where was the action? Where was the real danger? The only high-risk situation we encountered today was a tiny Chihuahua who kept barking at Miss Lola. She was afraid of dogs. She also threw a tantrum when the barista at Starbucks screwed up her order.

  “Fucking Chad. I’m going to kill him.”

  Going from CIA agent to bodyguard felt like such a downgrade. I wanted to do the tough stuff, to really protect someone who needed protecting. Someone who was constantly at risk of getting kidnapped, tackled, or killed. That was my mission when I first started my own private security company with Chad, my brother-in-law. He was the brains behind our operation while I was the brawn, thanks to my height and build. The boys used to call me Mr. Intimidation.

  If only they could see me now, guarding Malibu Barbie and her Birkin bag. I drove straight to our headquarters while listening to the local news on the radio. There was a car accident on the highway, but other than that, the city was calm an
d blooming with spring flowers.

  I tried not to feel anxious and restless about my job, but there was this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that told me I could do better. I practically stormed into our fourth-floor office and marched straight towards Chad. My partner was poring over a stack of papers on his desk. I plopped down on my usual chair and watched him take off his reading glasses. He looked tired and sleep deprived.

  “Welcome back. How was your day?”

  “Fanfuckingtastic. This is the last time I ever guard a petty, narrow-minded socialite who only wanted a bodyguard to show off her wealth and status. The only security risk we came across today was a fucking dog. From now on, you handle the shallow pool of celebrities and socialites. Find someone else to play secret service Ken to those Barbies.”

  Chad gave me a sheepish look and cleared his throat.

  “Too late. We already have a new client on deck. He’ll be arriving later today. We’re scheduled to meet him tomorrow. Sorry!”

  I groaned and buried my face in my hands.

  “Shit. How bad is it?”

  I held my breath and waited for him to give me the deets. I was sick and tired of catering to fellow American clients who only needed my services to keep up appearances and look important. It was a growing trend, especially in the West Coast. Ever since Kim Kardashian got robbed in Paris, the demand for private security had more than doubled during the past two years. Rappers and pop singers insisted on hiring an army of guards for their concerts and parties. Chad thought it was a good idea to attract big names and companies to our business, so we did.

  “Our newest client is none other than the heir of Raplen himself, Prince Rupert Lockridge.” Chad revealed. “He’s our very first European client.”

  “Rupert who? The guy must be a nobody because I’ve never heard of him.”

  “Are you sure you were in the CIA? Because your ignorance is astounding.”

  “Your dry sense of humor kills me, Chad. It really does.”