Free Beloved Bodyguard by Bonnie Dee

didn’t shout at Danje. It wouldn’t have done any
good since the car door was already closed and the Jet was gliding
toward the exit. Unfortunately, Ja-hun’s own car was at the Baines
estate, but boosting vehicles was one of his many skills from the
old days.
    He located a V-1 not blocked by any other
cars and slipped behind the control panel. Since it was an antique
model, he could start it without a fingerprint ID and soon he was
speeding after the Jet 150 while keeping his distance.
    Ja-hun fought to hold his emotions in check,
something that had never been a problem in his job in the past. He
felt ready to leap out of his skin with worry, but he could only
help Leelah by keeping his cool, so he shut down every stray
thought and concern until he trailed his quarry with the
single-minded purpose of a shark. Leelah Blaine would not be
injured in any way. Not on his watch.
     

Chapter Six
    Her hands were stuck together. Why were her
hands stuck together?
    Leelah tugged on whatever was restraining
them as she opened her bleary eyes. She struggled to lift her lids.
It felt like someone had glued them closed. When she finally got
them open and looked down, her wrists were secured with some kind
of tape, which also bound her ankles. She pulled against the
binding, but there was no give to it. Her bound wrists and ankles
were also tethered together by another piece of the sticky tape.
She couldn’t even raise her arms.
    She lay on a bed in a room she didn’t
recognize. Kidnapped! As the daughter of the most important man in
the Free Worlds, this had been a threat and fear shrouding most of
her life. Now it had actually happened, and she didn’t feel at all
brave and clever as she’d always fantasized she’d be in such a
situation.
    If whoever was holding her hoped to use her
as a bargaining chip, they were sorely mistaken. Leelah had talked
with her father at length about the importance of the single versus
the many. No negotiation with terrorists. He would sacrifice her
for the good of the Worlds if he had to. It was what she expected
and wanted him to do. If there was to be any getting out of this
situation, she’d have to accomplish it herself.
    But first, she had to establish where “here”
was and who was holding her prisoner. The last thing she remembered
was going with Danje to his car. He’d said he had a bootleg copy of
a rare early performance by Kingset, performed in the club where
they’d gotten their start. As they’d descended the stairs from the
patio, it occurred to her that she should tell Ja-hun first, but
she shrugged off any worry. They’d be back by the time Ja-hun knew
she was missing.
    She cursed herself for that pivotal moment
when everything could have been different if only she’d listened to
the cautionary voice inside. But, no, she’d followed her impulsive
streak and look where it had landed her. Tied up on a bed in a what
appeared to be a crappy motel room.
    Was Danje kidnapped too? Or was he the
kidnapper? Had to be the latter, thought she could hardly wrap her
mind around the idea. How could she have ever guessed Danje wasn’t
exactly who she thought he was, a diplomat’s son and university
student from a similar background to her own? He loved to dance and
wanted to change the world. He was just a normal guy.
    “Comset on,” she said to activate the device
implanted in her ear. “Ja-hun.”
    Nothing happened.
    “You’re awake.” Danje’s voice made her jerk
and the sticky tape dug into her wrists.
    She’d thought she was alone in the room, but
he moved into her field of vision from wherever he’d been. He
crouched down by the bedside so they were on eye level. “Don’t be
afraid. This is temporary. Your comset has been deactivated.”
    “What…?” Her voice cracked, and she swallowed
hard, trying to work up some saliva.
    “This isn’t really about you, but a point
needed to be made. Your father must understand the gravity of the
situation. Change doesn’t come