Free 5 - Together To Join by Jackie Ivie Page A

echo wings. They left her face unadorned, adding only the slightest touch of mascara to her lashes and a bit of clear gloss to her lips. She’d been fitted into a silver metallic band-aid dress that ended just above the knees. It was so tight they’d had to put a film of baby powder on her to slide it on. Platform glitter heels with clear straps lifted her off the floor, while the tiara atop her head would’ve been worth millions if it had been real. She had a sash proclaiming her “Miss University”, but they pinned it in place to hide the last three letters. She was to act like a newly crowned beauty queen. She looked more like a really sexy angel. The beautician staff had been in raves over her.
    She was meant to stop traffic, or in this case, a party. It showed. But it all felt so wrong. She’d done this hundreds of times, yet now it felt uncomfortable. Sinful. Maybe a bit evil. Someone should have warned her how different it would feel when she was in love. Being with Garrick meant life and love and wonder to her. Using her face and form to attract another male was the exact opposite.
    She belonged to Garrick now. She didn’t want anyone ogling her, starting with the slack-jawed look she got from Len when she stepped from the limo. His whistle had been cut off by a quick hand to the back of his neck. She had Akron to thank. He’d sent her not just Athlerod, but Ethelstone as well. The Icelandic duo pretended to be her bodyguard. The identical twins looked like pro wrestlers in their matching form-fitted tuxedoes, their hair pulled back into queues, and lumps beneath their coats showing weaponry. They didn’t need it. It was for show. They fully expected to be picked over and disarmed, and had to wear the equipment to back up the act.
    So now they all stood, waiting behind the smoked glass wall at the foyer. Len had greased enough palms to get them in. He’d even paid for a bit of crashing cymbals when she appeared. Angelique took a deep breath. Now, it was her turn.
    “You ready?”
    It was Len. She frowned up at him.
    “What?”
    “Of course she is ready. As are we.”
    Len took a look at the men flanking her, and then ran his eyes down her body again. The man on her right growled and Len backed up, both hands in the air.
    “All right. All right. Let’s go, then. Showtime.”
    He looked like the weasel he was portraying, especially with his hair holding a ton of grease and slicked back behind his ears. That was another lie. The man was deadly accurate with any weapon, and eternally loyal. But human.
    They stepped in, the music stopped, and a cymbal crashed to the floor. All conversation ceased, although the disco ball kept rotating atop the dance floor, and a glass dropped somewhere. Someone put a solitary spotlight on her, too.
    “ Madre de Dios!”
    The exclamation came from one of the dancers, who turned into Pedro Ramon el Rodriguez as he twirled his partner out of his arms and turned to Angelique. From all around him, male bodies swarmed, encircling her, Len, and the twins. She didn’t move her eyes from the target. Swishing sounds of clothing and grunts meant the men were getting disarmed, and then Len was in front of her, blocking Pedro.
    “Uno momento, Senor?”
    “Who are you? What do you want?”
    The man was more incredibly handsome than his photos, especially up close. He should be a male model, not a murderous leader of thugs. Len cleared his throat.
    “I’m the lady’s uh…promotion manager.”
    “What is her name? I must be introduced!”
    “Not so fast. There’s the matter of…”
    Len’s voice went to a whisper while he must be asking for some enormous sum. Angel kept her eyes steadfastly on Pedro. It made her skin ripple with unpleasant shivers. He may be a beautiful man, but it was only on the surface.
    “Whatever you say! You have brought me an angel from heaven! Manuel, order more champagne! Allow the lady’s men some room! And you! Lucida! Move. I must speak with this