Page 2 of The Protection Agreement

“I will charge you double for her protection,” I state, just to see how far he’s willing to go for her. I notice Ice’s arched brow, questioning what the fuck I am doing?

“Fine, long as you keep her safe till I uncover who’s trying to kill her.” Now that’s interesting; he doesn’t flinch on the fact I’m charging double. My pricing is high in the market, so is my protection service, but his willingness to pay double makes me pause and wonder. Who’s this woman that would make Jonah fucking Lloyd beg and willing to pay more, but I will relish this moment.

“On your fucking knees then, and smile when you ask me nicely to protect your woman.” I mock.

“Okay, I beg you protect her,” he firmly reminds.

“Agreed, get on your knees.” He returns a sad chuckle with a sigh.

“One more thing before I beg: you do not touch, and you keep all your men away from her. No one touches her.” I see the fire in his eyes and I scoff. Like I would ever be interested in a woman he has touched, his fucking leftover is certainly not appealing to me.

“You are not going to tell me how to do my job now, are you?” I ask with a raised brow. I must admit, he’s got some fucking nerves.

“You do not touch her, and you keep your guys away from her, is all I ask.” He bellows and I scoff.

“Fine, now beg me.” I remind and watch him sigh.

He hesitates. “You’ve agreed, so you’ll protect her.” He’s emphatic, and I’m irritated with him droning on about protecting his woman. How could he possibly care so much?

“Yes, I agree to all your terms and double payment on the condition you fucking beg me.” I should walk away but the thought of him begging for my help has me in a fucking chokehold. He exhales and gets on his knees.

“Bruce Powell,” he pauses. “I, Jonah Lloyd, beg you to please protect my precious woman. Her name is Alexis Doherty.” His tone is without malice, which makes me wonder more about this woman that would bring Jonah to his knees in front of me of all people. I never imagined he would willingly abandon his hubris for anything. He certainly hasn’t before.

“Get up,” I say, and signal to Ice to relax, which he doesn’t. I watch as Jonah exhales in relief.

“Share all her information with Ice,” I say, getting up to leave.

“No, I only share it with you,” he retorts.

“Ice is my best man, and he’s not interested in your woman and won’t touch her,” I reply, annoyed by his royal demands. It’s not even a minute and he’s already upsetting the fuck out of me.

“My agreement is for you to protect her, not your best man.” I’m starting to question what I agreed to. I should tell him to leave, but I’ve waited years for a moment when Jonah Lloyd would beg me for my help, and now I sense I may have let it cloud my judgement. The Lloyds have always been the high and mighty motherfuckers. To have a Lloyd beg for my help is something my dad and I would relish.

“Fine,” I say, taking my seat and turning to him.

“She’s on a Delta airline flight from London; she arrives at O’Hare airport in six hours. I gave her your picture, and you should have this with you.” He hands me a yellow silk scarf with large, embroidered initials A D at the edge. “She will exit at door B and come to you once she sees the scarf. Please make sure it’s you and you’re visible to her. She will say something regarding the initials on this scarf, and you will reply, ‘hello, Sprinkles,’ to her.”

“I can’t be saying your safe sex word to her, unless you want me to show her a really good time,” I mock.

Jonah’s scowl is immediate, but he puts a lid on the anger.

“You agreed not to touch her, do not fucking touch her.” He’s calm but the bark in his tone isn’t for a moment. I’m flabbergasted by this woman that has Jonah this uptight, then again, I don’t really know him. We keep away from each other. “Sprinkles is her nickname, and no one else knows that unless you are extremely close to us.”

“Fine, I will use your messed up coded safe word,” I scoff, and notice Ice still uptight; he’s not relaxing. He always has my back.

“I have an apartment set up for her; your services can keep her protected.” He texts me the address. “She has a job at my family’s company, the Chicago office of A.J. Lloyd Shipping and Logistics.”

“Why the fuck does she need work? Can’t you afford to keep her in Gucci all year round?” I mock.

“To keep her sanity and skills. Would you like to be locked up 24/7 without end or human interaction?” he asks, his tone sarcastic.

“Fine, anything else?” I ask with just as much sarcasm in my words.

“Just protect her. Please, it is all I ask.” His whole demeanor is pleading. So unusual for him.

“Oh, I will, and I’ll also send you the bill,” I say, and notice a wry smile that’s quickly hidden.

“I will pay your price to keep her safe,” he retorts. I know he’s cursing me in his mind.