Deadly Betrayal (The Rockford Security Series Book 1)

by Jones, Lee Anne

  “Okay.”

  They walked back to the first floor, and Stacy settled on the large brown leather sofa in the living room while Jan double-checked the security keypad. The fact that Marta had spotted someone snooping around her house, even if it was only Lou, had her unsettled. On one hand, she was glad she wasn’t the only one seeing strangers around her property. On the other hand, if it had only been Lou, that didn’t help her case with Dino at all.

  But why would Lou have been there? And who was the woman? She eyed her phone ... she could call him and ask, but she wasn’t in the mood for his banter. She’d find out what he wanted when she saw him tomorrow.

  Once she’d checked the locks on the front door, she joined Stacy on the sofa and clicked on the TV across the room then turned the volume low, doing her best to portray her normal perky self even though she felt the exact opposite. Her performance must not have been as convincing as she’d hoped, however. She settled back into the overstuffed cushions and glanced at her cousin, only to find Stacy watching her with a narrowed gaze.

  “What’s wrong?” Stacy asked. “You don’t seem like yourself.”

  “Nothing. Like I said, I’m just tired.”

  “I’ve seen you tired before. Remember that marathon tour across the South last year?” She kicked off her stiletto heels and proceeded to remove the old polish from her toes. “No. This is something more. And it’s definitely not nothing.” She finished one foot then tossed the soiled cotton ball on the towel she’d brought down with her and soaked a second cotton ball in the polish remover before starting on her second foot. “Tell me.”

  “I don’t know.” Jan sank back into the sofa and shrugged. “Lou thought I needed a bodyguard, so he hired one from a local firm.”

  “Why would he think you need a bodyguard?”

  Jan glanced out the window, her heart skipping when she saw a dark shadow. Was someone outside? No, just the trees. Damn, she was getting jittery. Taking a deep breath, she pushed down feelings of anxiety. There was no reason to go off the deep end—it was more than likely that the creep sending the e-mails would stick to harassing her from afar. Besides, she wasn’t one to give in to fear. She could handle this.

  “Long story. It’s nothing.” No sense in worrying Stacy about something that would likely turn out to be nothing.

  “Huh. Well, at least you get some nice eye candy to stare at all day, right? I mean, the guy’s probably in super shape, and some of them are pretty hot from what I’ve seen. What’s the problem?”

  “The problem is … it’s Dino.”

  “Dino?” Stacy looked up, her mouth open and her expression stunned. “As in Dino Machiavelli, from high school?”

  “Yeah.” Jan tucked her feet underneath her and lowered her gaze. “The same.”

  “What the hell, Jan?” Stacy tossed the second cotton ball on the towel then wiped her hands. “Isn’t that like a conflict of interest or something? I mean, you guys were a pretty hot item back then.”

  “Jesus, Stacy, that was fifteen years ago. We’re adults now. We’re both fine with it.” Never mind the fact that they’d almost made out like horny teens earlier that day in her dressing room. That wouldn’t be happening again. Not in this lifetime, anyway. “He’s good at his job, and it’s only for a little while, so it’s all good.”

  “All good?” Her cousin’s tone shifted from astonishment to anger. “Listen, Jan. That guy left you in the dust and broke your heart. Please say you won’t let him do it again.”

  “I won’t.” Stacy must have been really mad, Jan thought. She couldn’t even look Jan in the eye. Odd that after fifteen years, Stacy would feel so strongly. But then Stacy had been the one that had had to pick up Jan’s broken pieces back then. She’d seen how it had almost killed her.

  Jan sighed and thought about Stacy’s words—how Dino had “left her in the dust.” Actually, it had sort of been the other way around. She’d dumped him. But with good reason—he’d cheated ... or so she’d heard. Of course, it must have been true—Jan knew she couldn’t compete with those beautiful cheerleaders, especially since she didn’t “put out” like they did. Who could blame him? The girls were all over him, and he was a horny seventeen-year-old.

  She closed her eyes and pictured him once more, standing in the rain on the sidewalk in front of her house, looking completely lost and completely bedraggled. A niggle of doubt, the same niggle she’d had for fifteen years, squirmed its way forward. She’d never actually confronted him about Erin, never actually made him say it—that he’d been cheating. Perhaps…

  Nope.

  The evidence might’ve been all circumstantial, but it was overwhelming. Dino was smart, popular, gorgeous. The minute she’d seen Erin start throwing herself at him, she’d known their days as a couple were numbered. After all, what sane man would pick Jan—geeky, quirky, with her weirdo stepdad and crazy dreams of music stardom—when he could have Erin—bold, beautiful, and just as popular as he was. They had run in the same crowds. Jan had lived in her own universe.

  No way to beat those odds.

  Jan straightened and shook her head. “Believe me, I won’t lose my heart to him again. Never.”

  Eight

  Late the next afternoon, Dino lounged on the sofa in the production area while Jan crooned away at the same song in the sound booth again. Much as he loved hearing her voice again and listening to her heartfelt lyrics, after six non-stop hours, he was ready for a break. Too bad they still had an hour to go before quitting time. At least Lou wasn’t around today to ruin Jan’s vocal Zen.

  Butt aching from lack of circulation, he shifted in his seat and pulled out his phone. He’d already made numerous circuits around the perimeter of the building under the guise of surveillance. One more, and the receptionist would probably lock him out. It was a fine, sunny day and cool enough in the late autumn that he could stay outside for hours without coming in. But he had work to do and a body to guard. Namely, Jan’s body.

  He clicked his phone on then glanced up at her through the glass of the soundproof recording booth. She looked so damned pretty today with her hair down and curled around her shoulders, and her berry-pink lips, it had taken every ounce of his willpower not to pull her back into that dressing room downstairs and finish what they’d started the day before.

  Except that would’ve been a horrible mistake. She hadn’t mentioned a single word about what had happened yesterday, nor had she looked twice at him since. She’d obviously moved on, and so should he. Hell, she’d moved on from him a long time ago, if the way she’d left him so abruptly the day before graduation was any indication. It was time he did the same.

  Dino concentrated on his phone again and typed in his passcode. He’d just brought up his e-mails when a text arrived from his good buddy, Jace Rockford.

  How’s the new assignment?

  How was his new assignment? Boring as hell, that’s how it was. He snorted and typed back:

  Snoozefest. Your older brother has me babysitting.

  A few moments later, Dino’s phone buzzed with Jace’s typical smartass response.

  And you wonder why I only work special assignments for him.

  Dino snickered then responded:

  Ha ha. It’s not that bad.

  Seconds later, his phone buzzed again.

  Yeah, I bet it isn’t.

  Even in text, Jace’s snark came through loud and clear. Dino frowned, his thumbs flying over the tiny keyboard on his phone screen:

  What the hell is that supposed to mean?

  The next time his phone buzzed, it was with a link from Jace. Wary, he clicked on it, and his browser opened to a blog story about him and Jan, complete with a huge photo of him staring heatedly at her earlier that morning while he’d held the door for her as she’d climbed out of his SUV. Above the picture, the headline read, “Country Star Reunited with High School Flame”. Cursing, he skimmed the article below, which claimed an unknown source had informed them that Dino and Jan were lovers
in high school.

  Beyond irritated, he closed his browser. If they were going to make shit up, they should at least get their facts straight. He and Jan had never slept together. They’d done everything but.

  Dino sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face. Their sex life, or lack thereof, was the least important thing at the moment. What was important was the fact that someone had gotten close enough to get that picture and he hadn’t noticed, which meant he’d screwed up. And Dino wasn’t a man used to screwing up. He always double-checked everything, made sure all his bases were covered and his vulnerable soft spots guarded, in work and in life. In his world, vulnerability could mean the difference between life and death. Even with a telephoto lens, it meant someone had slipped past his barriers and gotten close enough to Jan to take a candid shot. The next time, it could be worse.

  He would make damned sure there wouldn’t be a next time.

  A niggle of fear wormed its way into his brain. Maybe he hadn’t been taking this seriously enough. From now on, he’d have to keep his mind off Jan and on business. Was she too much of a distraction? He could go to Blake and request someone else be put on the job ... but the thought of it left a hollow pinch in the pit of his stomach. He didn’t trust anyone else to protect Jan.

  Then again, maybe this whole thing was a setup. A publicity stunt. Judging by the picture, it almost looked that way.

  His phone buzzed yet again, and Dino scowled at the screen.

  You too embarrassed to answer?

  Dino shook his head. Jace, being Jace, should know better. He was the black sheep of the Rockford clan, with his tats and his piercings and his extreme sports addiction. Jace should be the first guy not to believe all the gossip and hype. He typed back:

  Don’t believe everything you read.

  Jace’s response buzzed through faster this time.

  I don’t. But you are babysitting Jan Winters, right?

  Shoulders slumped, Dino sighed. All of the Rockford clan treated him like another member of the family, just as close and just as nosy. Normally he loved being included in their tight-knit family, but there were times—like now—when a little more privacy and a little less invasion into his past would’ve been nice. He responded, short and sweet.

  Yeah. Nothing’s going on.

  Moments later, his phone buzzed a final time.

  Sure it isn’t.

  Dino was ready to send back an equally snarky retort, but the door to the recording studio opened, and Jan stepped out. She gave him a once-over, one brow raised. “What’s wrong? You look grumpy.”

  “Nothing.” He swiped away Jace’s last text then reopened his Internet browser. “You should have a look at this, though.”

  He handed her the phone and waited while she scrolled through the blog post. She groaned, her smile turning into an accusing frown as she handed it back to him. He took the device then held up his hands in the universal sign of surrender. “It wasn’t me who leaked the story. Promise.”

  Jan wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “No. It was Lou, that bastard. He’s been looking for a way to get me into the headlines before the next single drops. He questioned me about our relationship after he walked in on us yesterday, and he must’ve jumped to conclusions from what I told him.” She winced. “I’m sorry.”

  “What exactly did you tell him?”

  “Just that we dated in high school. That’s all, I swear.”

  “Pretty big jump he made, then. This says you and I slept together.”

  “We didn’t.”

  “I know.”

  They stared at each other. A few feet of empty space separated them, but it could’ve been the Grand Canyon for all the tension Dino felt. He wanted to ask her point blank why she’d left with no explanation, why she’d never tried to contact him again even after they’d gone their separate ways, why she’d turned her back on all they’d had together, but he didn’t dare. Not now. Not with the incident the day before looming over them like a thundercloud and the shadows in Jan’s eyes that warned him he treaded on dangerous territory.

  Shit.

  He raked a hand through his hair and looked at his watch instead. “What time does that promo event start?”

  “Six. They told me to be at the TV studio by five thirty for hair and makeup first. Why?”

  “It’s four forty-five now. We best get a move on if we want to make it across town on time with traffic.”

  “Fine.” She grabbed her purse then walked downstairs with him, only to halt halfway across the lobby. “Uh-oh.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  She fished her big sunglass out of her purse, the same ones she’d worn with the paparazzi, and cocked her chin toward the frosted glass windows at the front of the building. Beyond, shaded shapes jostled and swayed. “See that? Looks like we aren’t the only ones interested in that blog article you showed me.”

  “Huh?” Dino gave her a confused look. If she was worried about somebody tracking them, she didn’t need to. Security was his game. No one tailed him without him knowing about it.

  Jan started toward the entrance again, her shoulders squared and head held high. “Remember that joke I made the other day about privacy?”

  Dino trailed behind her. “Yeah.”

  “Welcome to my world.” She pushed open the door to a sea of reporters and photographers then beckoned for him to follow. “Come on.”

  He took her arm and barreled toward his SUV, parked along the side of the building, as bodies swarmed around them. Dino kept Jan close to his side and whispered near her ear, “Is it usually like this?”

  She lowered her glasses, winked up at him, and chuckled. “No. Usually it’s worse.”

  * * *

  Jan wasn’t kidding. When fame had first struck for her, she’d been overwhelmed by all the press and paparazzi that hounded her constantly. These days, she was more or less accustomed to it, although with the new developments and her mysterious stalker, she had to admit she was glad to have Dino by her side.

  “Ms. Winters, is this your new boyfriend?” a voice called out from the horde surrounding her.

  “Hey, January, looks like things are heating up for you this fall,” another one said.

  “How about you two love birds pose for a nice picture for us? Promise it’ll be front-cover material,” a persistent photographer said, stepping in front of them to block their path.

  Dino muscled them aside and made a beeline for his SUV at the curb. He got Jan settled on her side then jogged around the front and climbed into the driver’s seat, his normally stony façade somewhat fractured. He started the engine and clicked his seat belt into place then took a deep breath and faced her. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?” Jan slid down in her seat and lowered her glasses to look at him over the tops of the rims.

  “Face that everywhere you go.”

  “This isn’t my first rodeo. Like I said, this is my world. Fame is more than fancy limos and big bucks. This is a part of it too, good or bad.”

  “And you said it’s usually worse than this?”

  “Sometimes. Today was pretty bad though. Must be the fresh blood.”

  “Fresh blood?” Dino gave her a chastising look and shifted the SUV into Drive, easing through the surrounding crowd until they were safely on the road, free and clear. “That’s a bad pun, considering what’s happening right now.”

  “Sorry.” Once they turned onto the main thoroughfare, she straightened in her seat and pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head. “For everything.”

  “No need.” He stopped at a red light and glanced her way again. “Wasn’t your fault. Though I’d really like to know who ratted us out.”

  “I told you it was Lou. Had to be.”

  “Why would you think that about your manager? Aren’t you supposed to trust the guy?”

  “I do. But I also know him, and he’ll do anything to keep his clients in the headlines. It’s his job.” Jan did trust Lou, as much as she
would trust anyone, that is. She remembered Marta’s comment about the bald guy and a woman lurking. Had Lou been skulking around her house to try to get more intimate pictures of her and Dino? Maybe the woman was someone from some sleazy tabloid. Then again, she could hardly be surprised after Lou found her and Dino practically making out in her dressing room. It was in Lou’s nature to capitalize on stuff like that and her own fault for letting it happen. The light turned green, and they took off again. “Now that I think about it, I didn’t specifically tell him not to tell anyone about us, so I guess I’m to blame.”

  “Why do you do that?” Dino’s full lips compressed into a thin white line.

  “What’d I do now?” Jan gave him a disgruntled side glance.

  “You always take the blame for everything, even when it’s not your fault. That used to drive me up the wall back when we were in school. You never stood up for yourself.”

  She shrugged and looked out the window beside her at the brightly lit Las Vegas Strip whizzing by. “I don’t know. Keeping the peace always seemed more important than being right. Besides, I always had you to stand up for me. Most times, you were so ready to fight over some silly comment or taunt, I had to practically talk you down from the ledge.”

  “What are you trying to say?” He scowled over at her. “That I’m like my old man?”

  “What? No.” She scrunched her nose. “Don’t tell me you’re still worried about that.”

  “Forget it.” Dino signaled and turned off down the drive leading to the TV station. “It’s not important right now.”

  From the surly tone to his voice, Jan got the distinct impression it was way more important than he let on, but she didn’t have time to push the topic now. Now, she had to mentally prepare herself for Trixie LaFontaine, ex-showgirl and host of Viva Las Vegas Live. The show was a local hotspot for all the celebrities in town, and its stories were frequently picked up by syndication worldwide. Lou had scored her a spot on tonight’s show months ago, and she knew it was a big deal. Otherwise, she would’ve blown it off and gone home to bed like she desperately wanted to do. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten a decent night’s sleep.