Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Garrison

The address turned out to be a high-end tailor. I stared at the scrolling gilded letters over the entrance, comparing the address to the numbers on my phone several times before I felt confident enough to step inside. A bell chimed above the door, announcing my presence to an empty room.

Dark wood paneling acted as a backdrop to the suits displayed along the walls. Just looking at the expensive fabric made me hyper-aware of the fact I was still in my running sweats.

"You got here quicker than I thought."

The man Garrison had saved last night stood framed in a doorway at the back of the room. Today, he was dressed more casually in dark jeans and a black button-down shirt. The top few buttons were undone, and the sleeves were rolled up to reveal his forearms. Yet, even dressed down, there was still a polish to him that fit right in with the rich ambiance of the store.

Before I could decide what question to ask first—he had a lot—the man turned around and stepped out of sight.

"Over here. We've got the place to ourselves, but I assume you'll want some privacy."

The man was so confident that his command would be followed that I had no choice but to comply. A short hallway lay beyond the main room, lined on either side by several doors. One stood open in invitation, revealing a moderately sized room with a single couch and a round pedestal in front of a wall of mirrors.

I froze in the doorway. "I'm sorry. Who are you?"

Propping one hip against the arm of the couch, the man pouted as if upset, but his dark eyes glinted with humor. "Aw. I'm hurt, you don't remember me."

Still eyeing the man warily, I took one step through the doorway into the light from the chandelier hanging above. I was certain Caden had said the man's name at some point last night, but in all the chaos I had forgotten.

"I remember you, but we've never been introduced. Who are you?"

The man stuck out his hand. "Alexander Mariano. Alex." He paused for a moment, an expectant air hanging over his shoulders as he waited to see what I would do.

Not knowing what else Alex expected, I shook his hand. Alex wore several rings, and the metal created points of cold contact in the otherwise warm handshake.

Before I could also introduce myself, Alex turned away and took a sprawling seat on the couch.

"No need to ask who you are. Garrison Reyes. Forty-two. Unmarried. No children. No siblings. Parents moved to the west coast years ago. Former Army Ranger. Served in the military for almost twenty years and reached the level of Sergeant Major before injury forced you to retire. Involved in quite a few black ops missions, especially in the later years of your service. Your files have more redacted spaces than actual words. Very impressive." He rattled off the information with the ease of reading from a list.

I took a step back until I was almost out of the room again. "You know a lot about me after just meeting last night."

Alex's laughter rose into the air and tangled with the jewels of the chandelier. "Of course. You can find almost anything about someone if you know where to look. The only thing about you I couldn't find was your measurements. Seriously, have you never gotten a single suit tailored before?" His eyes flickered over me from head to toe, lingering for a moment at waist level. "Not that this look doesn't suit you, but as my bodyguard you'll need to maintain a certain level of professionalism. So..." He gestured toward the pedestal.

Not one to be pushed around, I stayed by the door, crossing my arms over my chest in a stance of defiance. "Your bodyguard? Is that what this is about? I don't remember agreeing to such a thing."

I'd considered pursuing employment as a bodyguard, but security agencies required a license I didn't have, and my financial issues needed a more immediate solution. Plus, it was only a month ago that I'd finally started walking without a noticeable limp.

Alex waved away my concern. "I didn't ask, and I'm not asking now. Asking gives people the option to say no, and I don't like being denied. After last night, it's obvious you have the skills, and as you saw, I'm in need of protection. So, I've decided, you're going to be my bodyguard."

Carefully watching Alex's body language with my peripheral, I met the other man's gaze. "And if I say no?"

Instead of growing tense, as I expected, Alex's posture relaxed slightly. "Why would you? Your debts are racking up after being injured on your last mission a year ago. Those military benefits did not go far enough, did they? I'm offering you a salary that could solve all your problems, and all you need to do is follow me around and make sure I don't die. If you still insist on rejecting the job. Well... " He shrugged casually, spinning one of his rings on his finger. "You're about two weeks from ending up on the street. Maybe you'll find another job in that time... or maybe you won't."

Light from the chandelier danced in Alex's eyes, illuminating shades of green within the black. It reminded me of the iridescence of a scarab's shell.

This was a test.

Alex was being difficult on purpose to see how I would react. The man had the personality of a trickster god, pushing buttons and challenging boundaries just for the fun of a little chaos.

Well, I had plenty of experience answering challenges.

With slow but deliberate steps, I approached the couch. My height allowed me to tower over Alex's seated position as I stood just in front of the other man.

A heated moment of silence passed between us.

Both of Alex's arms were draped over the back of the couch and his knees spread just a little too much. It was an oddly vulnerable position that invited my eyes to wander.

And wander they did.

I couldn't help noticing the way the man's tight jeans emphasized his narrow waist and lean legs.

I caught a glimpse of my own reflection in the wall-sized mirror. The hint of gray at my temples reminded me of our age difference.

If only I were ten years younger.

Alex couldn't be more than twenty-five. A man that age wouldn't have any serious interest in someone seventeen years his senior. He probably had a harem of barely legal beauties eager to climb into his bed.

Knowing the other man wasn't serious with this teasing actually made it easier for me to play along. I'd always struggled with flirting, afraid to say the wrong thing and turn my partner off. Now, however, there was no pressure. I couldn't disappoint a partner who wasn't serious in the first place, so it wouldn't matter if I made a fool of myself.

Squaring my shoulders, I used every inch of my height to my advantage and smirked as I stared down at Alex. "You're a manipulative little shit, aren't you."

It was subtle, but for a brief moment Alex shifted forward like a child eagerly expecting a present. Then he seemed to catch himself and relaxed back into the sofa, tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear.

"I know how to get what I want. And I want you as my bodyguard. So, get on the pedestal. You need some proper clothing if you're going to be following me around."

I cast the pedestal and its wall of mirrors a considering look. Stepping onto that little disk would be the same as agreeing to Alex's demands.

"All right, I'll do what you want if you answer one question." This time Alex didn't respond, just tipped his head in a brief nod for me to continue. "Why do you need protection?"

It was almost anticlimactic how easily Alex answered, giving a brief explanation of how his father was a businessman who'd gotten in trouble with the law and made a lot of enemies. Now Alex needed to take over the family business, but his father's enemies were targeting him.

The explanation was so straightforward that it left me unsatisfied. I expected something more deserving of the promise I'd offered to earn the information. Still, we'd made a deal, so once Alex reached the end of the disappointing tale, I nodded and stepped onto the pedestal.

As soon as my foot touched the raised circle, another older gentleman stepped through the door. I didn't even have time to ask about the stranger's identity before the man pulled out a tape measure.

Ah, a tailor. Probably employed by the shop.

Had the man been waiting just out of sight for Alex's signal?

I wasn't sure if I was alarmed or impressed by such a level of efficiency.

The tailor, apparently named Raymond based on the name stitched onto his uniform, gestured to a side table by the wall of mirrors. "You can put your clothes here, sir."

I clutched the front of my sweatshirt as if it would be yanked off me. "Is that really necessary?"

The tape measure hung coiled around Raymond's hands like a domesticated snake. "The measurements will be more accurate without clothing in the way. I can't allow you to walk about in an ill-fitting suit. It would ruin our store's reputation." Raymond spoke with gentle, measured words, but he would obviously not be dissuaded.

Sighing in resignation, I started to pull off my sweatshirt but hadn't uncovered more than an inch of my stomach before I remembered my audience. Smoothing my shirt back into place, I raised an eyebrow at Alex.

"Do you mind? A little privacy would be nice."

Sometime during the exchange with Raymond, Alex had procured a glass of wine. The red liquid swirled as Alex continued to watch him. "I'm not going to miss a free show."

He sipped his wine, never breaking eye contact as he waited to see what I would do.

Another test.

I suspected this would be a common occurrence while working for Alex. The man may act unconcerned, but an obvious vein of distrust ran deep through his soul. Alex was prodding me, seeing what it would take to get me to react.

If I wanted to win my new employer's trust, I was going to have to match Alex at the man's own game.

Grabbing the bottom hem of my sweatshirt, I ripped the article of clothing over my head. "It's hardly free when you're paying me."

That reminded him, Alex had mentioned a salary, but not given any specific numbers. Before I could truly call myself the man's bodyguard, we would need to hash out the details of my employment.

Taking another sip from his wine, Alex crossed one leg over the other and settled more comfortably into the couch. "Well, then I'm definitely not going to miss a show I'm paying for."

The rest of my clothes found a home on the side table, each neatly folded before they were stored. I stood on the pedestal in just my underwear and knee brace, forcing myself not to shiver in the air conditioning as Raymond began measuring.

When would the questions start?

It was inevitable whenever someone saw me shirtless for the first time. My flesh was a complicated map of scars, charting the path of my service one injury at a time. The extensive burns on my back always earned the most questions. Still fresh and pink with new healing, they stood out more than any other mark on my skin.

The proverbial ‘X' on my map that marked the end of my military career.

Yet, the expected questions never came. In fact, Alex said nothing as he watched me being measured. Then, when Raymond brought out sample suits for me to try on, Alex's only comments were about fabric choice and color preference.

By the time we finished with the tailor, nearly three hours had passed. A basic black suit had been purchased that was close enough to my measurements for me to wear immediately. It was a little loose in the waist in order to fit the width of my chest and shoulders, but I'd been assured that the rest of the ordered clothing would be custom tailored to my size.

For my own peace of mind, I didn't ask about the price.

After everything was settled, Alex dragged me outside the shop into the backseat of a car already waiting for us. Apparently, when Alex said he wanted to hire me as a bodyguard, he meant right away. As the car pulled away from the curb, Alex thrust a tablet into my hands. On the screen was a contract spelling out the details of employment. It was a generous offer, with an even more generous salary.

I carefully picked through every word of the contract. I didn't even notice the city passing outside the car window as I squinted over the fine print. Everything seemed in order. The only oddity that caught my attention was the confidentiality clause. It took up a significant portion of the contract and reminded me of being initiated into the Special Forces again.

Suspicious, but not necessarily a deal breaker.

I knew the importance of secrecy, and I didn't care about whatever skeletons were hidden in the Mariano family's closet. I'd kept so many secrets in my life thanks to my previous job and I had no interest in digging up more.

By the time the car reached its destination, I had signed the contract. Perhaps it was too quick. Perhaps I should have gotten a second opinion before offering up my name.

But what choice did I have?

I needed the money, and I wasn't going to get a better job offer in the next two weeks.

Even if everything went wrong, what did I have to lose?

My life?

I'd already risked that so many times it had no value left.

As Alex took the tablet back, one of the man's hands came to rest just above my knee. It could have almost been mistaken for an accident, except for the way Alex squeezed the muscles of my thigh. Alex said nothing, and I didn't tell him to stop. We both pretended the hand was completely innocent, even as it crept another inch higher.

We were interrupted when the driver opened the door, silently indicating it was time for us to leave. Alex cleared his throat, then stored the tablet away in one of the car's compartments.

"After you." He gestured for me to get out first. "You've got to make sure everything's safe for me, right?"

"That would be a lot easier if I knew what we were doing."

"Meeting with my uncle." Once we were out of the car, Alex clung to my arm and pouted up at me like the heroine of a horror film begging her boyfriend to go investigate the weird noise in the basement. "You have to protect me. Uncle Lorenz isn't happy about me taking over the business. For all I know, he's behind the recent attempt on my life."

This gave me pause. "Do you really think your own family could be the ones threatening you?"

Alex laughed and dropped the helpless maiden act, but there was no hesitation before he answered. "Absolutely. My family would slit anyone's throat, even one of our own, if it meant securing a little more power."

How could he say such a thing so casually?

I had never been particularly close to the few family members I had left, but I would still balk at the idea of any of them trying to kill me. Yet Alex treated it as a common annoyance, like students cheating off each other in school. I didn't know the man well enough to tell if the nonchalance was a facade, or if Alex truly didn't care about familicide.

A red brick courtyard led to the front doors of The New Jersey Performing Arts Center. I had passed by the modern construction many times before, but never set foot inside. The building played with contrasts. Made out of brick and glass, the harsh materials were given a veneer of softness through the use of curved lines.

Just inside the front doors, another man approached them. My hackles rose as I tracked the man's movements. Even when Alex greeted the man—apparently named Valente—I didn't lower my defenses. We had just established that family could also be enemies. I hadn't been given a gun, or any sort of weapon yet. If I needed to protect Alex, the situation would get messy.

"Who's this?" Valente said in lieu of returning Alex's greeting.

Alex patted my arm. "This is my new bodyguard? What'd you think?"

Valente looked me up and down, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "We already have plenty of bodyguards on staff. There was no reason to bring in someone new."

It only took one look at Valente's stance for me to recognize a fellow warrior. The man was older than me, but not by much. Maybe late fifties at most. We both had gray in our hair. It was only a matter of ratio. My dark hair showed a little gray at the temples, while most of Valente's color had vanished.

Ignoring the obvious tension, Alex continued forward, forcing both me and Valente to trail behind him. "Yeah, but those are your people. I wanted one of my own. Now, I need to speak with Uncle Lorenz. Is he already inside?"

The building's contrast of hard and soft continued into the main theater area. Harsh red and gold were softened by arching lines, and the whole audience was seated in a curve around the stage. Crescent-moon layers stacked on top of each other to form walls of private viewing booths that loomed over the common seats.

We found a man sitting alone in a booth on the highest levels of the theater. His swarthy coloring and handsome features easily marked him as a member of Alex's family.

It seemed innocent, and I almost relaxed, until I looked toward the stage. Of all the things I expected to find, a teen beauty pageant hadn't even been on the list. I could only think of a few reasons for a middle-aged man to be watching a pageant of literal children, alone, in a private booth. Every single option churned my stomach.

Alex must have noticed my reaction, for he pulled us both to the other side of the hall. "Welcome to my uncle's version of a strip club. Disgusting, I know, but there's no law dictating how a person can enjoy a public event."

As much as I wanted to shout, I kept my voice down and whispered so my words wouldn't reach inside the private booth. "Shouldn't you warn the event staff? What if he tries to approach one of the girls?"

"We have warned them, but my uncle funds the scholarships that they award to the contestants, so they're not going to kick him out. I'm just telling you not to worry. I've got... eyes on him."

Looking back through the door, I saw Valente approach Alex's uncle, bending over to whisper something in the man's ear. I didn't trust either of them, but at least Valente was keeping Alex's uncle distracted. Every moment that man wasn't looking at the stage full of brightly dressed girls was a moment I could breathe.

"Is it wrong of me to hope that your uncle is the one who tried to kill you, so the police have an excuse to arrest him?"

Alex's laughter drew everyone's attention, including several people in the adjacent booths. He stopped only when he noticed Valente and his uncle looking at him, then leaned up to whisper directly into my ear. "If he is the one trying to kill me, he won't live long enough to be arrested." Then he laughed again.

Was that meant to be a joke?

Or was Alex truly entertained by the thought of killing his own uncle?

Either way, in this instance, I found I really didn't care.

Inside the private booth, Alex slid into the seat next to his uncle while I found a position guarding the door. It allowed me to watch the hallway outside, while also keeping an eye on the predator inside.

Nephew and uncle sat in silence, watching the pageant. Time ticked by with neither speaking as several more contestants paraded across the stage. I refused to check my watch, such fidgeting would look unprofessional, but at least twenty minutes must have passed in that same way. It was the quietest and most uncomfortable battle of wills I had ever witnessed.

The pageant announced that they were moving on to the swimsuit portion of the competition when Alex's uncle finally broke the silence and sighed. "Alex. Whatever you're here for, just get it over with."

Having won the standoff, Alex sounded too happy for the situation when he replied. I couldn't see either of their expressions since I was standing behind the pair, but I could already picture the way Alex's eyes would glint in the colorful stage lights.

"I assume you've heard about my father's predicament."

"And your recent promotion. Yes. What about it?"

"I just wanted to check in. Make sure we're on the same page."

Alex's uncle turned to face his nephew, giving me a clear look at his profile. The stage lights created a white line around the edge of his face, making him look like a paper cutout of a person that had been glued onto the scene. "I'm on the same page I've always been on. The well-being of this family is my first concern, no matter who claims to be in charge."

A bright flash of light cut through the shadowed atmosphere as Alex showed his uncle something on his phone. "That's funny, because I distinctly remember my father deciding to end our collaboration with the Vidales family in the northern warehouse. So, what were you doing there? Did you think, in the chaos of everything happening, I wouldn't notice. Or did you assume you'd be the one to replace my father and went ahead with your own plans?"

Growling low under his breath, Alex's uncle knocked the phone away. "That deal with the Vidales would be beneficial for all of us. David only called it off because he's a coward. It's no surprise he raised a fag son. You're even more gutless than your father."

Standing guard on the other side of the door, I noticed Valente growing tense.

Did the man have an issue with the disrespectful tone, or the reference to Alex's sexuality?

I really wanted a gun right now. Although I wouldn't use it in this situation, the weight of a holster on my hip would have provided some stability.

Clicking his tongue like a disappointed schoolteacher, Alex stood and stored his phone back in his pocket. "You can throw around all the insults you want. It doesn't change which of us is in charge. Now, stop whatever you're doing with the Vidales family, and I'll forget this whole thing ever happened."

As Alex turned to leave, his uncle called after him. "Boy, you clearly don't know what you're doing. This isn't how you make allies."

With one hand on the doorframe, standing half in the light of the hall, Alex smiled back at his uncle. "If it's true that our family's well-being is your first concern, then I shouldn't have to make you an ally. You should already be one. If you aren't an ally, then... what are you?"

No response, and Alex didn't wait around for one. He left without a second look back. The swimsuit competition was over, and thanks to Alex's distraction, the other man had missed everything.

I hid his inner smile behind a stoic expression as I followed Alex outside.

Once again, a car was already waiting for us. Right before stepping inside, Alex stopped to issue one final order.

"Oh, Valente. Since he's my bodyguard now, Garrison needs some proper weapons. Take care of that."

Valente's eyes narrowed at me and his teeth ground against each other. "Of course."

Such obvious hatred couldn't be ignored. It was going to cause a problem sooner or later, but I didn't have time to worry as Alex pulled me into the car.

The door closed behind us, and we were alone again.