Hostage (Bodyguard #1)(93)

‘Thank you for protecting me,’ said Alicia. ‘Without you, I could never have survived being a hostage.’

‘Without you, I wouldn’t have survived either,’ admitted Connor.

Alicia gave him an affectionate smile. ‘Well, you’ll be pleased to know I’ve accepted my role as the First Daughter. I appreciate that while it offers me many unique opportunities, my freedom is limited – and for good reason. I won’t be running away from Secret Service again!’

Smiling ruefully, she glanced in Kyle’s direction. Kyle nodded, before discreetly leaving the room. Now truly alone, Alicia took a step towards Connor. She studied his face, seemingly trying to commit it to her memory.

‘I know you can’t stay …’ she whispered, ‘but this is to remember me by.’

Alicia wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips. Connor’s breath was taken away and he became lost in the moment.

Suddenly the door to the room opened.

Alicia broke away. ‘Kyle, I asked not to be disturbed –’

‘Sorry, I didn’t get the message,’ replied Charley, wheeling herself in. She glanced at Connor who was guiltily rubbing away a faint smear of lipstick with the back of his hand.

‘Our car’s here,’ she stated pointedly.

Connor nodded, unable to meet her questioning stare.

‘Already?’ said Alicia, almost pleading for more time.

‘We’ve a plane to catch,’ Charley replied, breezily pivoting on the spot and heading for the door.

While Charley’s back was turned, Connor took Alicia’s hand and looked her in the eyes. ‘I definitely won’t forget you … or that kiss!’ he promised.

Then, with great reluctance, he hurried after Charley. At the threshold to the room, he glanced back. Alicia stood silhouetted by the window, gazing out across the south lawn.

‘Don’t worry, Connor, I’ll protect her,’ said Kyle, who stood sentry at the door.

Knowing she was in safe hands, Connor headed through the White House’s main entrance hall and out on to the driveway of the north portico. Charley was already waiting for him in the car.

‘Honestly, I didn’t make the first move,’ he explained, offering a sheepish grin as he clambered in next to her. ‘Besides, I’m no longer officially protecting her –’

‘It’s not important,’ said Charley, although Connor could tell that she was annoyed.

‘Surely you must’ve found yourself in similar situations,’ he pressed.

Charley gave him a look that he couldn’t quite read. Then her expression softened. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t tell the colonel.’

With that she placed a black folder on Connor’s lap. The folder was marked CONFIDENTIAL in red lettering and had a silver winged shield embossed on the cover.

‘Your next assignment.’

Connor stared at Charley in disbelief. ‘But I’ve barely got out of hospital. Besides, who’s to say I  still want to be a buddyguard.’

‘The colonel,’ she replied, handing him a scratched key fob. ‘He says it’s in your blood … and he’s never wrong.’

As they drove away from the White House, his Principal safe and secure, Connor studied the key fob. His father’s face stared back at him and Connor thought he could discern the ghost of a proud smile.

Connor couldn’t deny the fact. It  was in his blood. He was born to be a bodyguard.