Author's Note: I am immensely grateful for my editor John who went above and beyond in helping me whip this story into shape!
Chronologically, this story happens after "Lost & Found". However, you do not need to read that first to enjoy this one. As always, comments and feedback welcome!
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Chapter 1
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Damien sat under a beach cabana at the Marriot Resort on Marco Island, Florida. He had spent most of the day in his swimming trunks, trying to avoid the heat of the sun. Sipping a beer, he watched what seemed to be an endless stream of girls strolling up and down the beach. As the latest pair passed, they waved, giggling with each other, and Damien waved back. He smiled to himself, knowing that they enjoyed the view as much as he did.
Damien considered hitting the bar that night. He was single again. His parents were disappointed when he had told them that he had recently broken up with his girlfriend Miranda. Both his parents and Miranda had thought that he was ready to settle down since he got out of the Marine Corps over a year ago; they were wrong.
He noticed the sun was beginning to set and checked his watch, wondering where Bryan was. He and Bryan ran a security team based out of LA, and they had just completed a one-week security detail for an EU commissioner visiting Washington, DC. After weeks of back to back gigs, they took some time off in Florida. Bryan had spent the time with his wife and kids at Disney World and Universal Studios, and then was to drive to Marco Island to meet up with Damien.
Damien waved when he saw Bryan walking towards him. After their traditional fist bump and hug, Damien asked, "How was the land of enchantment?"
Bryan replied, "Next time, I'll pay someone else to go to Disney Land with my kids."
Damien chuckled, "Well, you're here just in time for happy hour. I could sure use you as my wingman when I hit the bar tonight."
Bryan smirked, "You can thank your parents for your genes. Unlike us mere mortals, all you to do is smile and remember to ask for consent, and the ladies' legs will part."
Damien laughed. "It's not that easy. I don't have your glib tongue nor gift of gab to charm the ladies."
Bryan replied, "We'll have fun tonight, but I have booked us a flight back to LA first thing in the morning tomorrow."
Damien was surprised Bryan had cut their vacation short, "You got a new job lined up for us already?"
"Hey, it's a fantastic job! Once in a lifetime, in fact."
Damien raised an eyebrow. The amount of excitement Bryan was exuding was unusual. "Are we guarding the Princess of Monaco or something?"
Bryan smirked like a teenage boy as he revealed his big secret, "Loretta Atkinson. The 'Loretta'."
Damien's face paled as he muttered a "fuck" under his breath. Turning to Bryan, he asked, "How did you pull that off?"
Bryan, too exuberant to notice Damien's somber look, answered, "Connections! Remember the security detail I did for that celebrity accountant in Hollywood? Well, their daughter, Jeanne, is now Loretta's manager. She gave me a call while I was at Disneyworld."
Damien gulped down his beer. "How long is this gig supposed to be? I thought we don't take long term contracts."
The two of them only did short term contracts, and mostly for politicians and foreign diplomats. Bryan did not want to be away from his family for extended periods of time. Plus, neither of them liked shooing away paparazzi or crazy fans. They preferred security work where anyone who would approach their client would have an appointment, and if they did not, the response was to shoot.
"It depends. Jeanne says Loretta is involved with a Dubai businessman named Lufti Atwan and she might be in trouble. She won't elaborate, but at the very least, she wants us to accompany them to Loretta's rendezvous with Atwan next month."
Damien's mood was dark, "Does Loretta already know about us? I mean, has she seen our bio?"
"Jeanne already knows me! And I told her you are the best of the best."
Damien took another sip of his beer. He was certain that his name had not been dropped to Loretta. If it had, he was certain Loretta would have outright refused to interview them.
Damien was conflicted about telling Bryan that there was a good chance Loretta would kick him in the balls at the first sight of him. He couldn't be sure, though. It had been a long time since they last saw each other.
It felt like yesterday when she growled at him with tears in her eyes, "
Don't you ever dare show up in my life again
!"
He stared at his empty bottle. "I'm going to go grab another beer."
Damien went to the bar and grabbed two more bottles of beer. His mood had been completely destroyed. He sat at the bar and stared blankly at the TV screen. As luck would have it, Loretta's latest hit came on. In a quick succession of bustling New York street scenes, she power-walked towards the camera. In one scene, she wore a skin-colored cat suit covered in crystals. In another, she wore a black-laced tank top with ultra-short jeans and her hair was up in a ponytail. She danced to the camera and her bright pink lips sent out powerful messages of feminine independence. Her body was smoking hot and she knew it.
Damien withdrew his gaze and cursed. Tomorrow was going to be tough day.
They arrived at Loretta's mansion in Beverly Hills the next day. Damien paid little attention to the house, while Bryan was already making notes about the placement of security cameras.
Bryan's friend and Loretta's manager Jeanne answered the door, "Hey Bryan, nice to see you again! Loretta is waiting for you."
Bryan introduced Damien. Jeanne looked at the latter, "You're awfully good looking for a bodyguard! Ever thought about modeling?"
Bryan chuckled, "Damn, Jeanne, still brutally honest, aren't you?"
"Hey, that's why Loretta likes me! What goes on here...," Jeanne pointed at her head, then at her mouth, "Comes out right here. No filter whatsoever."
Jeanne led them into the house. Loretta was sitting in the living room. The singer was dressed in a casual T-shirt and jeans but looking just as beautiful in flesh and blood.
The smile left the singer's face when she saw Damien walk into the room. Before Jeanne could talk, she snapped, "Why is he here?!"