the armored communication center?” As a journalist, I am familiar with it.
“One and the same.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t have that ugly SATCOM dome dish on top.”
“No, it does have its own Wi-Fi signal and communication devices, though, along with protective armor.”
“But…” Why does he need an armored vehicle?
“Working the type of job I have, I transport billions of dollars’ worth of jewelry at times.”
Oh. A work vehicle. That makes more sense. It’s just his armored work car, kind of like the armored vehicles that transport large amounts of money. Okay. There is a reasonable excuse for it. Otherwise, I am going to start believing my boyfriend is part of the mob or something.
“It’s beautiful here.” I’ve never been to Arizona before. It is definitely a different view then the lush green environment of southwest Washington State, where I am from.
“It is.”
“I can see why you have your vacation home in Arizona. Although, it makes you like, seventy. You know, a snow bird?” I laugh. My grandparents were snow birds until they died. They summered in Washington at the lake, and wintered in Florida.
“Haha.” He pauses for a moment. “We are almost home. See the gate up ahead?”
How could I miss the gate? Two large white brick columns stand on either side of the galvanized steel cantilever gate. It is the type of gate you would see outside a prison or a high-priced country club.
The camera on the top of the left column turns on, and the gate slides open at our approach. As we drive through, I get my first glimpse down the long, winding road at the house at the bottom.
Bentley owns a mansion. A fucking mansion. My mouth is open wide enough for a sparrow to fly inside as I stare at the towering building off in the distance. Even in the dark, I can see the looming, white marble building.
“Are you sure you don’t have a hidden family somewhere that I don’t know about?” I tease him. Why does a single man need a house this big? Hell, why does any human need a house this big? Emotion flashes in his eyes. Sorrow? Sadness? It sends a chill down my spine. As quick as it appeared, it disappears, and his smile is back.
“I like the privacy.” He shrugs. “I have more money than I will ever need, I might as well spend it on things that make me happy.”
“Giant fortresses hidden behind eight-foot-tall, steel gates make you happy? Got it.” I am only partially teasing this time, the unease growing in my gut. I’ve been dating Bentley for over a year and yet… there is a sudden feeling that the man I thought I knew, I might not know at all. The tingly feeling that tells me he is hiding something is back.
The road to the house is longer than it appeared, and lined with perfectly groomed bushes. We’re circling the front of the house when two men, dressed in all black and wearing earpieces, appear.
“Good evening, sir.” One opens Bentley’s car door. “I trust your travel went well?”
“It did.” Bentley nods to the man. Who is he? What is going on? My door is opened by the other man. He reaches out his hand to help me exit the car. As I step out, I am hit by the warm Arizona night air. Warm, but comfortable, not too hot, the perfect temperature.
“Ma’am.” The large man standing in front of me nods again, shutting the door behind me. Bentley is beside me in a flash. I must have been staring at the other man longer than I had thought, or else I’m imagining things.
“What? How?” I look at Bentley, a million questions coursing through my mind. “Who?” I looked pointedly at the two armed men standing between him and me.
“I will answer all of your questions soon enough, Butterfly,” Bentley soothes. “You knew I am in the jewelry business. With that amount of money comes vast responsibilities. I need security to keep my home and my businesses safe. It is what it is.” He shrugs.
It is what it is? Armed security? At his home? Is he in danger? Do people threaten him? Am I in danger? The feeling of unease grows in me. What is Bentley into? Is he part of some crime family? Some mafiosa? My imagination begins to run wild. What if there is a rival family, and they find out about me and kidnap me to hold me against him, or even