Bodyguard Rescue. Donna Young

Southern decorum. He moved to the center of the living room, taking everything in with a brief glance before he turned to face her.

      “Just a minute ago,” he observed, “when you answered the door, it sounded as if you were expecting someone. Do you mind if I ask who it was?”

      The hum picked up its tempo.

      “My brother,” she responded immediately, knowing Roman was her only protection if these men were here to harm her.

      “You’ve been in touch with him then?”

      “No,” Kate struggled for an explanation. “I left word for him to meet me here if his schedule permitted.” She tossed her head back before pinning him with her best imitation of her father’s business persona. “Why?”

      “As we said, your life is in danger, Doctor,” Dempsey interjected and walked to the window. He eased the curtain open, addressing his next statement to the glass. “We’re here to protect you.” His voice, absolutely emotionless, chilled her.

      “Your brother has reason to fear that a mutual friend of yours, a Mr. Roman D’Amato, is not what he seems.” Dempsey paused for a moment while he continued looking outside. “He was right.” He let go of the curtain, leaving it open and swung around to her. “But then I’ve never known Cain not to be right when it came to situations like this.”

      Slowly his gaze circled the room, his eyes searching, the look unreadable when it rested briefly on her before continuing. Kate gripped her elbows in an effort to stifle the urge to make him stop.

      He did, finally, in front of the fireplace. “You know, Cain’s invited me up here on several occasions, but I never could seem to make the time.” He picked up the framed picture of her parents from the mantel. It had been taken the previous year, on their fortieth anniversary. “I wish the circumstances surrounding my first visit could be different.”

      “You know my brother personally?” She raised her eyebrow, deliberately allowing some uncertainty to show in her face.

      “Over five years now,” he responded absently, continuing to study the picture. “Handsome couple, your parents.” He smiled before putting it back, an easy good-ol’-boy smile that set Kate’s teeth on edge. “I haven’t had a chance to meet them yet.”

      It was obvious Dempsey wanted her to believe that Cain and he were friends. Cain had many acquaintances but few friends. Her brother never allowed anyone, with the exception of family, into his inner sanctum of trust. As far as she knew, his only close friend was Roman.

      As if sensing her suspicion, Dempsey continued. “We met when he was working on a security job for the Agency. Hit it off right from the start. He called me when he started to worry.”

      “I don’t understand,” she said, furrowing her brow in feigned confusion. “Why is Cain worried about me?”

      The men shared a subtle look before Jackson took over the conversation. Kate saw the pass, tough agent to sensitive agent, but chose to ignore it for now.

      “Your brother told us about your history with Roman D’Amato, so this might be difficult to accept.” He hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “Several weeks ago Cain started becoming suspicious of D’Amato’s business activities. At your brother’s request, we did a little digging. It turns out that the man you know as Roman D’Amato is a man the Agency’s been tracking for a few years now. He calls himself Cerberus.”

      He pulled out a small notebook from inside his jacket and flipped to a middle page. “We also believe he operates under the aliases of Xavier Roman, René Arneau and Ramon Cordova. He’s wanted by our government, and several others, for selling illegal contraband to foreign countries.” After closing the notebook with a snap, he placed it back into his pocket. “He’s considered unstable and extremely dangerous.”

      The hum rushed through her ears and the floor started to give way under Kate’s feet. She dug her nails into the backs of her arms to offset the shock.

      “Contraband? Do you mean drugs?” This time she didn’t have to fake her confusion.

      Her question had been directed to Jackson, but it was Dempsey who answered, his voice grave. “Weapons mostly. Some drugs.”

      She was suddenly cold, as if her blood had stopped pumping. Roman? An arms dealer?

      “Do you need to sit down?” Jackson asked the question, his concern apparent.

      Yes, her mind screamed, but Kate shook her head, not trusting herself to speak yet.

      They were lying. They had to be. Roman wouldn’t hurt her. Or would he? Logic conceded that his appearance could’ve been more than a coincidence, and his concern for her an act. Her heart contracted painfully against her mind’s reasoning.