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Another pair of guards appeared at the doorway Passwords were exchanged, holy water was sprayed by both sides I approved Since we’d had a verified i any chances Very professional I like professional

One of the guards pressed a series of buttons on the keypad next to the front door A light flashed green, the door opened, and I stepped over a threshold with enough buzzing power to take my breath away

Baker noticedmy already sore arms "Sorry, Princess But we upped the wards and also spelled the building so nobody can to teleport in or out"

Actually, that was nice to know "Thank you"

"It’s ed with your personal security"

I had my own secret service detail? Seriously Oh, that was just wrong on more levels than I could count

"I’d appreciate it if you could give us a couple "

I could understand that, having worked the other side of the equation "I’ll do that I’h"

"Thanks" She s all you want Your suite is the top floor and has a balcony with an ocean view It’s a sheer drop, so there’s no good spot for a sniper, and the space has been spelled No chance of getting pushed off, either"

She was giving ain, she’d probably been briefed that I worked in security and wassure I knew they had all the bases covered

"Thank you"

"Again, it’s my job But you’re welcome" She bowed and let herself out

There was a lot to explore, all of it gorgeous and still coh to make you feel like you could put up your feet and unwind I found Bubba in the TV roo screen Beside hi bowl of buttered popcorn

"Yo, Graves" His greeting lacked its usual warmth

"Yo, Bubba" I walked behind the wet bar and opened the fridge It was fully stocked with several different varieties of beer, juices for rabbed one of the latter, flipped open the top, and went to make myself co, keeping his eyes glued on the gaive rab the bull by the horns

"Bubba, I’ bad, but I didn’t expect it to be that bad"

"It’s not the boat" He dropped his feet to the floor, rose, and went behind the bar to get another beer Twisting the cap off, he tossed it toward the waste canand missed He never misses He was drunk Holy crap Bubba can hold his alcohol He must’ve had a lot of beer--more than the empties indicated Still, his feet were absolutely steady as he came around the bar and took the stool next to mine

"Howood

"A few"

"You’ve been to my kid’s birthday parties, helpednowhere good "Yeah"

"And you never toldsecret service detail?"

I interrupted hied I needed to nip this in the bud I’d thought he was pissed about the boat This orse He thought our entire friendship had been based on a lie "I knoeird is that?" I shook uards?"

He opened his ran You’re my mom’s bail bondsrew up I didn’t hide anything from you Until Vicki’s wake, I had no idea any of this shit existed I swear it to you"

"But--"

"I didn’t even know I had siren blood until after the va me over, the talents wouldn’t have manifested and none of this would’ve happened To be honest, I didn’t really believe the woman when she told me I was siren royalty I mean seriously, that is soDisney"

Surprised, he choked a little on his beer butin that hter, eight years old and every inch the little princess down to her rhinestone tiara and pink tulle bedrooer and had ain