Free Resisting Velocity by Trinity Evans, Xoe Xanders Page A

senior security with you.”
    “Whatever. That’s fine. Anything else you need? My face hurts like hell and I’m seriously considering beating someone’s ass just to blow off some steam.”
    “You need personal security detail.” Her tone was matter-of-fact.
    He just looked at her. “In layman’s terms? I don’t particularly feel like trying to speak the language of security right now.”
    “Oh, for the love of God, Alexander—you need someone with you 24/7.”
    His forehead wrinkled. “No.”
    “What do you mean no ? You just got your ass whipped and if you really want to know what I think you need, then that’s it. You need to have someone to watch your back at all times until this is figured out. End of discussion.”
    “Fine, you’re hired.”
    “Quit arguing, it won’t—wait, what?”
    “You heard me, you’re hired. Me and you, together constantly. I’ll even let you use my pillow at night.”
    “Zane, listen. I’m trying to be professional-ish here and you cracking jokes isn’t going to help us any. I’d suggest Conner, but he’s got his hands full.”
    “Charlie, babe, were you the one that got hit on the head? If I have to have some pain-in-the-tail security type up my ass the whole time, then it’s going to be you. If it’s so god damned important that I have a keeper, then I just figured out how to keep you busy. And I’d be glad to keep you busy in more ways than one, if you were wondering.”
    “Perv.”
    “I might need some meds before we get that far, but I’d be happy to see what I can do for you to make sure that I live up to that title.”
    She couldn’t help but laugh; it was typical of them to go back and forth at each other like a couple of fencers, but the end result was that she was in a surprisingly good mood despite seeing him all beaten up.
    “I just wonder why they didn’t do more damage when they had the chance—not that I’m not happy to see that they weren’t particularly successful.”
    “Maybe something came up. Maybe they got interrupted and made a dash for it and I just happened to come around? Hell, I don’t know, but I’ll say thanks as well if it’s all the same to you.”
    “All right. I’ve got to brief Conner. Why don’t you go lie down and rest?”
    “Fine.”
    After Charlie pumped a couple Tylenol down Zane’s throat and sent him to bed, she reached for her cell just as it began to ring. Conner. She tapped the screen and sat down once more. “Yeah?”
    “One of the guys said they saw Zane headed into your trailer, roughed up and looking pissed as hell. If he had been going anywhere else, I would’ve already tailed his ass. Anything I need to know?”
    She spent the next half hour relaying information and learning what Conner had found out about yesterday’s incident—which was basically nothing. With a sigh, she rubbed at her forehead and wrapped up her phone call. “Just so you know, you’re definitely learning via trial by fire…”
    “Yeah, no shit. I have guards assigned to the other guys, but Zane—”
    “No need to worry about Zane. I spoke with him about personal detail and the only reason that he’s agreed to it is because I’m going to be that personal protection.”
    “Are you sure? You two were pretty loud last night…”
    “It’s fine, Conner. I’ll be as professional as I need to and I’m sure that, given what’s happened, we’re going to need all hands on deck for this mess.”
    “I’ll take the help I can get. Fuck, I’m in a rut right now and if you had taken off like planed… I probably would’ve tucked tail and run.”
    Laughing, Charlie pulled the phone from her ear. “I think I hear sleeping beauty. Send detail to come and collect him while I pack some stuff to move into his trailer. Until then, try to keep yourself from running off.”
    Zane glowered at her from across the room and Charlie couldn’t help but smile at how much like a cranky child he seemed right now. “Yes?”
    “Try to