LITMIR.BIZ

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answer any questions, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

      “Will do,” Sebastian said to him before nodding a polite good-bye to me.

      As I followed Agent Moss out the front door, he said, “Good job, Ware, getting the protectee’s son to feel comfortable. It’s always tough when one fears for a parent’s life,” Agent Moss had completely bought Sebastian’s explanation. “Next time, defer him to me or at least let me know you’re being held up.”

      I nodded as I opened the Town Car door and stepped aside, assuming my practiced rigid stance. Reverend and Mrs. Stokes and their middle son climbed into the car without a word of thanks or even a nod of acknowledgement. Agent Hold eased into the driver’s side and I took the passenger seat. Because I’d never been a Secret Service agent before, I had to admit I was experiencing new sensations and nervousness. Looking inwardly, I realized I just might really like this. After all, taking care of other people came second nature to me.

      When we arrived at our destination, the Georgia World Congress Center, I hopped out first and opened the back door. Reverend and Mrs. Stokes got out of the car the same way they got in it. They acted as if I was the chauffeur, saying nothing. Sebastian, however, winked at me and said, “Thank you.”

      I couldn’t help but smile back at him as I watched Sebastian and his parents walk into the crowded ballroom with Agents Regunfuss and Sawyer trailing close behind.

      “Ware and Hold, you guys take posts beside Cool Falcon when you get inside and the other agents will mix in with the crowd. Pitts and I are in the van covering the outside perimeter.”

      “Cool Falcon?” I asked Agent Hold.

      “All the Detail leaders handling the assignment get together and come up with a name for the protectee. Guess they named our guy,” Agent Hold explained before pausing as I stopped moving. “You’ve got this.”

      Moving into position, I realized anything could happen over the next six months to a year. Who knew how far Reverend Stokes’s candidacy would go. He could drop out any day, win the Democratic primary, or make it to the White House. One thing was certain: with his fine son around, I was definitely going to be enjoying the journey.

      Chapter 5

      Endless

      My unit was now in place at the grand ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center for a pre-presidential candidate party that was being held in the Reverend’s honor. It was an all-night affair and one of many stops we’d be making throughout his campaign run to pull in votes. The event started at ten, but we didn’t arrive until eleven-thirty because Mrs. Stokes wanted to make an entrance.

      And she did. Lights, cameras, and all eyes in the room were on her family. Reverend and Mrs. Stokes put on fake smiles, showing off their flawless teeth as they waved to the cameras with their many years of practice.

      About five hundred of Atlanta’s most influential people milled about, dancing, mingling, gossiping, and helping themselves to the sumptuous buffet. With the Stokeses were Attorney Larry Thomas, Mayor Macy Jackson, WSB-TV reporter Marsha Kauffman, Congressman John Sally, and many others. Escorting Reverend Stokes to the front of the room was strategic. Hold and I could see around the room from that angle, and Sawyer and Regunfuss could clearly see every exit and entranceway from the back of the room.

      Of the four Detail teams that guarded Reverend Stokes, one was off duty this week. Agent Johnson’s crew had taken the day shift. We were on deck for the night detail and the other team was this event’s site crew. They had come earlier to set up cameras and make sure guests were checked.

      “Agent Ware, you’re standing too close,” Agent Moss said into my earpiece. “Step down to the ballroom’s main-entrance doorway.”

      “Moving, sir,” I said as I discreetly moved over three feet.

      Sebastian tried to sneak in without attracting attention to himself. However, with his new look, everyone in the room paid more attention to him than they did to his parents. Reverend Stokes beamed with pride at the response his son was getting from the crowd.

      When the first slow song of the night began to play, Sebastian came my way.

      For a second I thought he was going to ask me to dance. I’d never learned how to dance, had never even wanted to learn. Besides, even though I wasn’t a real Secret Service agent, I knew I was there to work, not socialize.

      When Sebastian walked up to me, I moved away. My boss could see me, and Sebastian had stepped in front of my view of his dad. Guests surrounded his father—this was not the time for me to get sloppy.

      “You take this seriously, huh?” Sebastian teased.

      I pulled up my sleeve to show him my microphone. Then I turned and covered my mouth with my finger. He moved the mic hand out of the way.

      “Just wanted to say I like it better when you smile, beautiful,” he said, making me flush.

      How’d he see beauty? My body was draped in black from head to toe, thanks to my short leather trench and black linen pants. My eyes were covered with none other than Dolce and Gabbana shades. Regardless of how I looked to the rest of the world, Sebastian saw something that drew him to me.

      “You’re the one running for lieutenant governor, not me. I have to be serious if I plan to do my job and keep your dad safe. Now, go—my boss believed your excuse once,” I said lightheartedly.

      He winked and said, “That was a good save…admit it.”

      “Go,” I insisted, sort of wanting him to stay.

      Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “If I must.”

      He disappeared and I went back to making sure things were in order, which wasn’t an easy task. Tons of folks were very attentive to Reverend Stokes. Caterers couldn’t stop offering him food. Constant flashes were emitted from a camera that took shots of everyone that spoke to him. His campaign manager stepped in every few minutes to give various updates.

      I rolled my eyes, glad that they were hidden behind the sunglasses we routinely wore. We even wore them indoors so we could survey our surroundings without being detected. It was one part of the job I’d have trouble getting used to. Who wore shades inside?

      An hour later, Ryan came up to relieve me for my scheduled break. His timing was perfect. Not only was I overwhelmed by my current responsibilities, making sure everyone who came in contact with Cool Falcon didn’t pose any danger, but I also needed to visit the rest room.

      I headed down the hall, but a mass of females blocked my way. In the midst of the group stood Sebastian, enjoying the attention. His stock went down immediately in my eyes—I didn’t intend to stand there watching him gloat. My nostrils flared at the sight; a part of me was jealous. Not wanting him to see me mixed in with the fawning women surrounding him, I pushed through the first bathroom door I came to. The minute I walked in, I could tell I was in the wrong place. A man stood with his back to me, facing a row of urinals.

      Then a male voice from behind me said, “I think the ladies’ room is that way.”

      I turned around to find Sebastian grinning at me. I couldn’t dare ponder why he thought this was funny—I knew I would not let newfound emotions affect me so much in the future.

      I held my head high and attempted to walk around him before he spoke. When he moved the same way I did, I stepped in the other direction. Still eye to eye, I heard his shoes move again.

      I squared him. “Excuse you.”

      “You seem upset,” he asked as if he cared.

      “I’m in the wrong bathroom with only a few minutes to spare, and it took me forever to get through the hall with you and all your women in the way. Of course I’m agitated. I have to pee.” I walked past him, not caring what he thought of me.

      “You misunderstood what you saw,” he said from behind.

      “Yeah,

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