by Cassie Cole
Of course, she was a senator. I buried my prejudices deep down and forced myself to look at her as a target requiring protection.
“She’s in the opposition party to the administration,” I said.
“So what?”
“I could understand offering a scared senator a Secret Service detail if they were a member of the same party. As a favor. But someone across the aisle? Why’s the DHS Secretary putting this out there?”
Agent Blixen stared at me for a long moment. “I can’t confirm this, but supposedly this is coming from POTUS himself.”
POTUS. The phonetic nickname for President Of The United States.
“Then my question is even more relevant. Why extend this courtesy to a member of the opposition party?”
“It’s not our job to question why. It’s our job to protect.” He tapped the photo. “And you’ve been chosen to protect Senator O’Hare. All the details are inside.”
“There’s got to be something you can do,” I pleaded.
“What I can do is tell you to stop complaining and do your job,” he snapped.
“Or maybe I’ll just quit.”
He laughed mockingly. “Luca, you’ve been doing this too long to throw a tantrum and quit.”
“I’ve been doing this too long to deserve this shit.”
“I don’t disagree.”
“Then help me fight this!” I exclaimed. “Push back. Give the assignment to a rookie. There are plenty of them who wouldn’t mind following a junior senator around like a puppy.”
Agent Blixen only shook his head. “Listen. You’re smart, so I’m going to level with you. You pissed off the wrong people, and now you’re in the shithouse. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah, you probably don’t deserve it. But you want to get back in the administration’s good graces? Here’s your chance. Senator O’Hare was almost assassinated this morning on her morning jog. The attacker got away. Follow her, protect her, keep her safe. That’s your assignment, Agent Santos.”
I stood and snatched the folder off his desk. “Yes, sir.”
I stomped down the hall of the U.S. Secret Service Headquarters. I must have had a look on my face because nobody called out to me or asked me what was wrong. Everyone gave me a wide berth.
I’d been a special agent for 15 years now. I’d protected three different presidents and their families. I’d traveled the world as part of their detail, always on alert for even the smallest potential threat. I’d served my country in a way that made me proud.
This assignment was a slap in the face to everything I had done.
I had always been good at controlling my emotions. The trick was not to fight it. To allow yourself a moment of weakness so that it was all out of your system, leaving only hardened resolve behind.
So as I stormed out of the headquarters, I glanced at my watch. I would allow myself five minutes to be bitter and upset. Five minutes to be angry at the people who had done this to me: the senior cabinet member who was careless enough to fool around with an intern in the Roosevelt room; the POTUS who agreed to allow such a ridiculous assignment; the bosses in the Secret Service who didn’t push back on the request.
By the time five minutes was over, I was walking down the street feeling much better.
I took a deep breath and changed my entire mentality. Like Agent Blixen had said, this was my chance to get back in the administration’s good graces. Senator O’Hare had almost been killed this morning, and according to the information in the folder the threat was still high. She was young and very smart. She had a bright career ahead of her.
So long as I kept her safe.
Being a special agent in the Secret Service meant protecting some of the most important people in our nation. A senator was not that far below the POTUS. More powerful, in some ways. This was an assignment I would take as seriously as possible.
I rounded a corner and the beautiful Capitol rotunda came into view two blocks ahead. I would protect Senator O’Hare. I would die to keep her safe if that’s what it took.
Even if this whole thing was bullshit.
13
Elizabeth
“This whole thing is bullshit,” Megan grumbled.
“I don’t understand,” I said as we walked through the Capitol Building. “I thought the Secret Service only protected the president and his family.”
“That’s why this is bullshit,” Megan replied. “POTUS must know you’re planning on running. So he’s assigning you a Secret Service detail to make you look weak, like you need protecting. Undercutting our entire message before the campaign starts.”
I groaned.
“The good news is you don’t need a private bodyguard anymore,” she grumbled. “He was supposed to be at your apartment tonight, but I’ll call and cancel.” She stopped at the entrance and faced me. “Don’t let this distract you. POTUS may be undercutting our campaign already, but he can’t silence our message. We’ll crush it when we announce this weekend.”
“Right.”
The special agent was waiting when I got back to my subcommittee. He wore the standard black suit and tie, with an American flag pin over his heart. He had short, sandy hair that might have had a few grey hairs mixed in, but it was tough to tell. His face was experienced, and he was a little older than me—maybe 40. He had a rugged handsomeness about him, but he was too grizzled and serious.
He stood very still and looked all around with his eyes, almost ignoring me as I approached. “Senator O’Hare,” he said. A statement, not a question.
“I don’t need Secret Service protection,” I said. “But I’m guessing it’s not up to you, is it?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Please don’t call me ma’am. I think I’m younger than you.”
“Probably, ma’am.”
“Seriously.” I extended my hand. “Elizabeth.”
He shook my hand and finally met my gaze. His cobalt eyes were sharp and searching. I got the impression he didn’t miss much.
“Special agent Luca Santos,” he said. “Where to next, Elizabeth?”
I gave a start. “Aren’t you supposed to know?”
“I’ve reviewed your file, but your full schedule has not yet been sent to my office. Tomorrow I’ll be clearing all areas prior to your arrival.”
“Fantastic,” I muttered.
By himself, he wasn’t annoying. He went into committee rooms ahead of me and checked my chair before I entered and sat down, then he took up a spot on the wall behind me. What was annoying was the attention it generated. I was like the kid who got to bring her puppy to school. It captured everyone’s attention and made it difficult to get anything done.
The afternoon session in the senate chamber was especially cumbersome. Luca followed me as I walked around and spoke with my senate colleagues. Some senators from the opposing party outright laughed when they saw him. Several more whispered to each other, and one loudly exclaimed, “I thought candidates didn’t get a Secret Service detail until they won the primary.”
I ignored him, but it took a lot of willpower. If there had been rumors about my possible candidacy before, soon it would be an open secret. By the time I did make the announcement, my candidacy would be old news.
Megan and I went out to dinner that evening to discuss the campaign some more. Luca tailed us in his own car and followed us into the restaurant. We had a reservation for two, and the restaurant was too full to accommodate anyone else, but Luca flashed his badge and a separate table was quickly prepared for him.
That’s how we had dinner: Megan and I chatting softly while a special agent watched like a stalker from two tables over. At least he didn’t insist on taste-testing my food for me.
Megan and I hugged outside the restaurant when we were done. “Have a good night. And maybe skip your jog in the morning?”
I snorted. “Shouldn’t you be telling me that the best thing to do politically is to put on a strong face? Go about my day as if nothing happened?”
“That may
be true… But I do worry about you, Elizabeth. Not just your candidacy.”
I gave her a strong smile. “I’m not letting one nutjob ruin my daily routine. Besides,” I added, “I have Agent Santos here to protect me.”
He nodded. “Yes ma’am.”
Luca was lockstep beside me as we walked to the cars, his head swiveling around, scanning for threats.
“I told you not to call me ma’am.”
“Force of habit.”
“Then I’m calling you Luca,” I said. “Maybe that will help you be less formal.”
“Whatever you say, Elizabeth.” We reached the cars and he held out his hand. “Keys.”
“Excuse me?”
“From now on, I’m driving you wherever you need to go. In case we are attacked in transit and I need to make a swift getaway.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
His face was hard and serious.
I sighed and handed over my keys. Maybe it wouldn’t be so annoying if I pretended he was a private chauffeur.
He left his car in the parking lot as we got into mine and drove away.
It was strange being in the passenger seat of my own car. It was strange suddenly getting all this security attention. It was strange having a man try to kill me.
Was this a taste of what running for president would be like? It was enough to make me doubt my path forward.
“So,” I said to distract myself. “Any leads on the guy who tried to kill me?”
His face remained blank, but his fingers tightened on the wheel. “Very few. They expedited the blood work collected from the scene, but there were no matches in the criminal database. And the only bullets recovered were from the officer who returned fire. They can’t find any from the attacker.”
“Is that unusual?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Might be unusual. Might just mean the USCP did a lazy job searching the surrounding area.”
“Hmm,” I said, thinking about that. “So how’s tonight going to work? Do you stand at the foot of my bed and watch me sleep?”
“I’m only covering you during the day,” Luca said. The alternating streetlights sent shadows running over his hard jawline in the darkness. “We’re working in conjunction with the USCP. The Capitol Police will continue watching your house at night.”
Anthony. The thought of him outside my apartment right now filled me with excitement. The first real lover I’d had in ages.
I’m about to begin my campaign. Last night was fun, but it was a one-time thing.
I still looked forward to seeing him the entire drive home.
But when we arrived, it was a police cruiser parked outside my apartment, not a motorcycle. And neither of the officers who stepped out of it were Anthony.
“Ma’am,” said the same officer who’d been taking notes last night. Her breath fogged in front of her face. “My partner and I will be watching the house all night.”
I resisted the urge to ask where Anthony was. “Alright.”
I grabbed my bag from the car and went up the steps to my porch. Both Luca and the officer followed.
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
She jerked her head over her shoulder. “One in the cruiser, one on the door. Not taking any chances this time.”
“Of course,” I grumbled. Then, after collecting myself, I said, “Sorry if I seem unappreciative. It’s been a long day. Thank you for protecting me.”
“Don’t think anything of it, ma’am. You expecting anyone tonight?”
A wave of panic gripped me until I realized she was asking for professional reasons. “No, nobody. I’m probably going right to bed.”
I glanced at Luca, who was still lingering too. “You waiting for a goodnight kiss?”
The officer snickered.
Luca was unamused. “I want to check your apartment before I leave for the night.”
I gritted my teeth, but didn’t resist.
Luca stalked around my apartment with slow, careful steps. As if an attacker would leap out at any moment. He reminded me of an adult checking all the closets for the boogieman to make a child feel safe. I didn’t like that I was the child in this scenario. I followed him as he made his rounds through the apartment and tried not to seem annoyed by his intrusiveness.
My bedsheets were still tangled from last night’s activity. I tensed, but Luca didn’t seem to even notice. He went into the bathroom, then checked the locks on all the windows. Finally he nodded as if he was satisfied.
“Everything looks secure.” He handed me a card. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be waiting in the morning. Have a good night, Elizabeth.”
I smiled, grateful that he hadn’t called me ma’am. “You too, Luca.”
When he was gone I locked my front door and engaged the deadbolt. Maybe I was overanalyzing things, but I got the impression Luca didn’t like being on my detail. Like it was a shitty assignment for someone in his position.
But as silly as it sounded, having him check my house did make me feel safer. That and the officers outside. I could see her silhouette through the windows next to my front door. Just standing there.
I wish it was Anthony instead.
I could almost feel his presence in the house. Like the smell of him still lingered on the furniture and carpet. I took a deep breath and sighed, the memories from last night still fresh in my mind.
And he’d saved my life this morning. He shot my attacker, and then carried me inside where I was safe. I felt closer to him, somehow. Like we shared a special bond.
Thank goodness they had sent two other officers. The temptation of having him here would have been too great.
Why hadn’t they sent him back tonight? Had he gotten in trouble for not responding quickly enough? Was it just a normal rotation of officers? I was almost tempted to ask the officer on my front porch. Or to call the station and request him personally. Senators did that all the time with Capitol Police they were familiar with on the Hill. It wouldn’t be unusual.
It would be extremely obvious. Stop acting stupid.
“What has gotten into you, Elizabeth?” I muttered to myself.
I changed out of my work suit and into a soft robe, then went into the kitchen. I ate a yogurt and stared at the counter where I’d been sitting about 24 hours ago, legs spread wide while Anthony worked me up and down. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
My doorbell rang.
I went to the entrance hall. Two shapes were on the other side of the glass. One was the taller, wider shape of a man.
The second officer, probably. But what my brain thought was: Anthony! Maybe it’s Anthony!
When I opened the door, I was faced with the last man I ever expected to see outside my apartment.
14
Elizabeth
He was tall and beautiful. He wore jeans and a black leather jacket, with a tight t-shirt underneath that clung to his powerful muscles. He had wavy blond hair like a surfer, a perfectly smooth face, and a nose and smile that reminded me of Owen Wilson.
He was a devastatingly handsome man.
The kind of man you would pick out of a digital catalog to meet you in a hotel room.
Ethan.
“What are you doing here?” I blurted out, like an idiot.
The officer frowned. “He says you’re expecting him, but you told me you weren’t having anyone else over…”
Behind her, the other officer was outside of his cruiser and speaking into his radio.
Pure fear smashed into my psyche. Ethan, the escort I’d been sleeping with, had learned who I was. He’d found me. He was here to blackmail me, to demand money or political favors or something worse. My candidacy was over before it had even started.
Ethan patted the air in a calming gesture. “Everyone relax. I was hired by your campaign manager, Megan Hanram. I’m from Silver Springs Security. I’m your bodyguard, Senator O’Hare.”
The relief almost knocked me
to my knees. It was quickly replaced by suspicion. What were the odds that the escort I’d been hiring also happened to be a bodyguard by day?
And one assigned to me?
He didn’t seem to recognize me from the hotel, though. Or else he hid it well. But how long until he found out? He always saw me nude, or wearing only lingerie. I always wore a mask with him. The tattoos on my arm would give me away, but my robe sleeves covered them right now.
A more immediate thought came to mind: why was he here? Megan was supposed to call them to cancel.
“I don’t need a bodyguard,” I said.
“Ms. Hanram said you would protest,” he said with a laugh. It was the same rich laugh he made in the hotel room when deciding how he was going to take me. Right before pinning me to the bed with his weight. Smothering me with his muscular body, wrapping an arm around my chest and holding me close while whispering dirty ideas into my ear…
I waved a hand. “No, I’m—it’s not that. We don’t need a bodyguard anymore because I’ve been assigned a Secret Service detail.”
“Secret Service agents don’t protect senators.” He stared at me with piercing green eyes. It felt incredible to actually stare into them without a mask separating us. Eyes like an Irish meadow. A girl could lay down and fall asleep in those eyes.
The officer rescued me from my dreamy daze. “We’re working in conjunction with the Service. Her detail left 10 minutes ago.”
Now Ethan looked really confused. He eyed me up and down as if wondering what was so special about me. “Ms. Hanram insisted I don’t take no for an answer. She said you were stubborn.”
I could have told him to leave. I didn’t need him now that I had Luca protecting me during the day. The Capitol Policewoman was staring at me, waiting for the word to kick him off my porch.
But now that Ethan, the man I’d been sleeping with for over a month in secret, was here in front of me? Staring into my own eyes without the hindrance of a mask? I didn’t have it in me to say no.