Free Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Cowboy D-Force (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Brotherhood Protectors Book 4) by Elle James Page A

him, she turned on the water in the shower. “Just in case anyone is listening in or recording our conversation,” she explained, even though he hadn’t asked. Nervous now, she tugged at the hem of the T-shirt, noticing too late that her nipples poked into the fabric making little tents.
    “Start talking,” Duke ordered.
    “I will. I will. Keep your britches on.” She turned away and pushed her wet hair out of her face. “Last night when Lena was at the bar, she consumed too much alcohol and did things she would never do sober.” At least Angel hoped she wouldn’t flash someone when she wasn’t high or drunk. The truth was that Lena was a loose cannon, on a one-way trip to cratering her career if she didn’t get sober. “We found her in the ladies’ room passed out on the floor. Someone had written a message on her face in indelible ink.”
    “What was the message?”
    “ Bitch. I’m going to make you pay .”
    Duke shook his head. “Did you ever consider that information might be important to a bodyguard?”
    “I suppose it would have been nice to know.”
    “So, who are you?”
    “I’m Lena’s stunt woman and body double.”
    Duke snapped his fingers impatiently. “Do you have your own name?”
    “Angel Carson.”
    “Background.”
    “Prior military, currently a stunt woman.”
    “Branch and specialty?”
    “Army Ranger.”
    “Seriously?” He stared at her, as if seeing her for the first time. “Not many women have made it through Ranger training.”
    “I know. I was in the second class that allowed female trainees.”
    “Why did you get out of the Army?”
    “Not because I wanted to.” She glanced away. “TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury.” She touched a finger to her head. “My team got caught in an explosion. I survived, but the impact scrambled my brain enough the Medical Review Board processed me out.”
    “And you thought being a stunt woman would improve your brain injury?”
    Angel shrugged. “What else was I fit for? I trained to go into dangerous situations, to shoot and be shot at.”
    “How did they know you had a TBI?”
    She snorted. “I was in a coma for a week. When I came to, I had temporary amnesia and situational amnesia of the attack.”
    “That’s normal. The brain protects you from reliving the trauma.”
    “Not completely. I had terrible nightmares, but couldn’t remember them when I woke. At first my sense of taste and smell were off. I had dizzy spells and really bad headaches. Those symptoms faded as time passed.”
    “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that.”
    “I was sorry I lost my team, my career and everything I knew.” She shrugged. Three years had passed since then.
    “How did you land a job as a stunt woman?”
    She gave a short smile. “It’s one of those Hollywood stories you always hear about. A scout spotted me at an oil change place. The rest, you could say, is history.”
    “Where is the real Lena Love?”
    “Phillip was supposed to get her checked into a rehab facility to dry her out and clean up her face. Meanwhile, I’m the bait for her attacker.” She drew in a deep breath, glad to get all of that off her chest. “I never was a good liar. I’m glad you know. But you can’t tell anyone. In order for Lena to get the privacy she needs, I have to put on a convincing act as the real Hollywood diva.” She gave him a crooked smile. “So, was I convincing?”
    Duke chuckled. “At first, yes. But I think I knew deep down, you weren’t the same woman from last night. For one, Lena Love would never have pulled me out of the pool. She probably would have let me drown before she called for help.”
    Angel nodded, her lips twisting into a wry grin. “You’re probably right.”
    “The question is, where do we go from here?”
    “Nowhere,” Angel said. “I’m here for the remainder of the two weeks, making the staff nuts and being a pain in the ass to anyone and everyone with whom I come in contact.”
    “I don’t like