The Bodyguard (Norcross #4) - Anna Hackett Page 0,18
bug Liana to get married and have babies?”
“You’re my firstborn.” A gusty sigh. “You’ll make a great daddy one day.”
He felt pain under his ribs. He wasn’t so sure. He hadn’t taken good care of Lola.
“Has Vander got you working a job?” his mother asked.
“Yeah.” He saw Sofie’s shadow walk past a curtained window. “I’m the bodyguard for Princess Sofia of Caldova.”
His mother gasped. “I’ve seen her in the magazines. Liana will lose her mind. That girl is royal crazy.”
It was true. Liana had a thing for anything royal.
“We were thinking of coming for a visit soon,” his mother continued. “Lia has some time off work coming up.”
“I’d love to see you, Mom.” His mother had retired, with Rome’s help. He’d bought her a cute little house, and she kept busy volunteering at a local shelter.
The throaty roar of an engine caught his ear. A black motorcycle zoomed down the street and parked in front of the house. The rider pulled his helmet off, before swinging his muscular body off the bike.
“Mom, I’ve got to go. Vander just arrived.”
“Okay, baby boy.”
Rome mentally shook his head. It didn’t matter that he was a grown man, who towered over her, he would always be her baby boy.
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, Rome.”
He set the phone in his pocket as Vander sauntered up the path. The man had black hair, and a face that showed his Italian-American heritage. He kept his body as fit as he had when he’d been Rome’s commander on their Ghost Ops team. Rome had never worked for a better man than Vander Norcross. The guy kept his fingers on the pulse of everything that happened in San Francisco, and if there was a fight, Rome wanted Vander by his side.
“How are things?” his boss asked.
Rome just nodded. He decided to not tell Vander about the part about having his tongue in Sofie’s mouth. “Fine. The princess is upstairs. I’m just about to message Ace about a blind spot in the cameras.”
Vander’s dark-blue gaze flicked up to study the cameras. “It’s not big, but yeah, plug it.”
“The princess has several engagements to promote the exhibition this week. I’ve got prelim security plans done.”
“You know what’s best. We ran the note from the stalker.”
“That was fast.”
“No prints, other than yours and hers. Paper’s generic.”
“Shit.” Frustration hit Rome. “So, nothing.”
Vander raised a brow. “I didn’t say that. Let’s go inside.”
Vander had found something. Rome let them into the house.
“Nice place.” Vander circled the kitchen and living area. No doubt cataloguing every window, door, and exit point. “Hell of a view.” He stood with his hands on his hips, looking out at the rotunda.
“So, the note?” Rome prompted.
Vander turned. “Lab found a chemical on the paper. Something unique. It’s used for preserving leather.”
Rome frowned. “That’s…weird.”
“Right. Doesn’t help us yet, but I’m hoping it might. If we get any leads on the princess’ stalker, this could help narrow it down.”
Rome nodded. “Better than nothing. You hear that some jewelry earmarked for the exhibition was stolen?”
“Yeah. Pretty ballsy job.”
“I got the sense Sofie wasn’t surprised by the theft.”
Vander cocked his head. “Sofie?”
Crap. “That’s what she likes to be called.”
“You think she’s involved with the jewelry robbery?” Vander’s brow creased.
“No, but I think she knows more than she’s telling.”
“Senses tingling, Rome?”
“Yeah.”
Vander jerked his chin. “We both know it pays to listen to those senses.”
It sure did. Too many times in the field, it had saved their lives.
Light footsteps sounded, moving fast. “Rome, tell me you want a smoothie. I’m going to—”
Sofie skidded to a halt and looked at Vander.
Relaxed, smiling Sofie turned into cool, polite Princess Sofia. “Hello. I didn’t know we had a guest.”
“Sofie, this is Vander Norcross.”
“Oh.” She relaxed a little. “Mr. Norcross, thank you. Rome’s been fabulous.”
Vander’s gaze flicked between Rome and Sofia. “Call me Vander. It’s a pleasure to provide your security. Rome’s the best.”
“And I prefer Sofie behind closed doors.”
“I hope you have a good, safe stay while you’re here in San Francisco.”
There was a knock at the front door.
Rome frowned. The guards hadn’t alerted him. “We weren’t expecting anyone.” He looked at Sofie. “Stay here.”
He opened the front door and raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing here?”
Vander’s older brother, Easton Norcross, stood behind a beautiful blonde in a long, fitted skirt in a bright red, and a fancy, white shirt.
“I couldn’t stay away any longer,” Harlow exclaimed. “Can I meet the princess?”
Easton tipped his head to the side. “Sorry, I held her off as long as I could.”
“Come