Hostage (Bodyguard #1)(57)
As Darryl was dragged somewhat unwillingly from his chair, Steve and Paige rose to join them. Alicia turned expectantly to Connor.
‘Are you sure you want to risk it again?’ said Connor.
‘Don’t worry, I can handle a little danger,’ she assured him with a toying smile. ‘And I know you can.’
‘OK,’ agreed Connor. ‘But be prepared to take your feet to hospital!’
Alicia glanced over at Kalila and her date. ‘How about you two?’
Fariq seemed decidedly uncomfortable at the idea.
‘Maybe later,’ said Kalila, offering a strained smile.
Reluctantly leaving them alone at the table, Connor and Alicia made their way over to the others on the dance floor. The music was pumping and everyone was swaying and jigging to the beat. Alicia immediately got into the rhythm, her flowing movements making her appear like she was dancing on air. By comparison, Connor appeared awkwardly stilted, but as soon as Alicia took his hand and reminded him of some of the salsa steps his movement became more natural.
‘That’s more like it,’ beamed Alicia, stepping away and beginning to lose herself in the music.
Dancing alongside Alicia, Connor momentarily forgot his role as a bodyguard and began to properly enjoy himself for the first time since arriving in America. He hadn’t fully appreciated how stressful the past fortnight of covert protection had been. There hadn’t been a single moment in Alicia’s presence when he hadn’t been thinking of her safety. That constant alertness eventually took its toll. So, all things considered, he felt he deserved a short break. Besides, after preventing the attempted mugging by the two gangsters, he was feeling more confident in his role. He’d proved he was up to the task.
As the dance floor grew more crowded, Connor’s enjoyment was rudely interrupted by a sharp elbow in the ribs. Then another. Harder this time. Cursing himself for being in a state of Code White, Connor turned round to discover Ethan right behind him.
‘Sorry,’ said Ethan harshly. ‘I didn’t see you.’
Connor doubted that, especially when a few moments later he was knocked into again.
‘Watch it!’ Ethan snarled as if it had been Connor’s fault this time.
Realizing the boy was trying to goad him into a fight, Connor moved away. But he was bumped into from the other side by the mass bulk of Jimbo. Blocked in, Connor was unable to avoid Ethan’s fist, disguised as a bad dance move. It struck him in the kidneys and he almost buckled under the blow.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Alicia, suddenly noticing Connor’s pained expression.
Ethan and Jimbo had danced away into the crowd.
‘Fine,’ he replied through gritted teeth.
But, as soon as Alicia turned away, Ethan and Jimbo moved in for another attack. Connor didn’t want this to escalate into a full-blown fight. That was a sure way to get thrown out of the prom, embarrass Alicia and, most importantly, prevent him from protecting her.
But he had to end their bullying tactics. There and then.
Still appearing to dance, Connor spun on the spot, stepped on Ethan’s toes, then drove his shin into his attacker’s lower leg. Pushing against the joint, Ethan’s knee locked up and, with Connor’s foot pinning his toes to the ground, Ethan lost all balance. Connor’s subtle jujitsu attack went unseen. But Ethan went sprawling across the dance floor in full view of everyone.
‘What’s he doing?’ asked Alicia, as the school’s baseball star took out two dancers and Jimbo on the way down.
‘Not sure,’ replied Connor, edging them away from the scene. ‘I think he was attempting to breakdance.’
‘I’m FREE to do what I WANT!’ sang Alicia along to the band’s music, as she pirouetted on the dance floor.
Connor grinned at her gleeful performance. She’d hardly stopped dancing all night, only pausing for the buffet. With no Secret Service agents permitted within the gym hall itself, Alicia had felt able to spread her wings and truly let go. Connor knew Kyle and his protection team were standing post around the school grounds, securing the perimeter. But there was no one directly looking over her shoulder – that she knew of, at least.
Following the previous incident, President Mendez had requested that Secret Service give his daughter more freedom. In return, Alicia promised not to run off again. Dirk Moran wasn’t convinced about the idea of relaxing security arrangements. But the President had argued that Connor’s presence meant there was less need for agents in close proximity, especially during social engagements like the prom. The director had finally submitted to the President’s will on the proviso that Connor wore his covert earpiece. With so many non-vetted guests attending the prom, he wanted Connor to remain in radio communication with Kyle on a secure channel. Consequently, every so often Connor would hear a burst of radio chatter in his ear as each Secret Service post reported in.
‘Bravo Three to Bravo One. All clear.’
‘Ten–four,’ acknowledged Kyle. ‘Bravo Four, send update –’
‘I thought it would be a real drag looking after yet another summer exchange guest,’ admitted Alicia, as Connor suddenly became aware she was talking to him. ‘But you’re like no other boy I’ve met …’
She was dancing closer, her deep brown eyes gazing into his. With the prom in its final hour, the band had slowed the pace and several couples were already dancing hand in hand. As Alicia swayed nearer to him, Connor sensed her intentions might be heading in the wrong direction. Or is it the right one?