Chapter 17
DECLAN
The pool house has become our unofficial war room.
It's the one place on the property where we can speak freely without worrying about Jade overhearing something she shouldn't, or Sophie stumbling in at the wrong moment.
The sun is just beginning to rise outside, casting pale gold across the hardwood floors, but inside, the mood is anything but serene.
The pool house is quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of Mateo's fingers on his keyboard. He's been at it for hours, eyes locked on multiple screens, hunting digital ghosts. I respect his focus. The way his usual playful demeanor gives way to intense concentration when he's working tech security.
After seven days of searching, we're still no closer to identifying who planted the camera in Jade's living room. No fingerprints. No traceable components. No digital footprint that Mateo can follow back to a source.
A dead end. Which makes the upcoming Bali trip a security nightmare.
"Any progress?" Ethan asks, sipping from the mug that's practically become a fifth limb.
"Nothing new," Mateo replies without looking up. "Whoever set this up knew what they were doing. The camera transmitted to a proxy server that bounced through multiple countries before hitting its destination. I'm still trying to isolate the endpoint, but they covered their tracks well."
Ethan runs a hand through his hair, a rare display of frustration from our usually composed leader. "We need to make a decision about Bali."
"What's there to decide?" Mateo asks, finally looking up.
"She has a contract. The magazine's already paid for the location, crew, everything.
Gloria and Sophie left yesterday to prepare.
" He stretches, rolling his shoulders to release tension.
"Unless you're planning to tell Ice Queen she can't fulfill her professional obligations because we failed to catch whoever's stalking her. "
"Watch it," I warn, the words coming out harsher than intended. "That nickname... it's not appropriate."
Mateo raises an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at his lips. "Look who's gone all protective. Didn't know you had a soft spot for our client, Old Man."
"It's not about having a soft spot," I say, though we all know it's partly a lie. "It's about respect. She's had enough from the press. We don't need to pile on that. She's nothing like what the press makes her out to be. We know that now."
Ethan gives me a measured look, then nods slightly. "Declan's right. What we call her matters, even among ourselves." He pauses, taking a sip of coffee. "Especially among ourselves."
The silence that follows is loaded with unspoken acknowledgment. We've crossed some invisible line from purely professional to something more complicated. Not unprofessional. Not yet. But teetering on the edge.
"About Bali," Ethan continues, returning to business. "The magazine has its own security team for the shoot, but given the situation, one of us should accompany her. I think it's best if you go, Mateo. You've got the background for international security. And Jade seems... comfortable with you."
I clear my throat. "You're also the only one she hasn't argued with this week. That helps."
Mateo grins. "She likes me. I have charm."
It's true. Over the past week, something's shifted between Mateo and Jade.
Small moments. Her laughing at his ridiculous jokes, him teaching her Spanish phrases in the kitchen, the two of them falling into easy conversation over tea.
There's a lightness to their interactions that she doesn't share with Ethan or me.
Ethan shoots him a look. "You're charming. But remember, that charm needs to stay professional. This is still a job."
Mateo's smile fades, but he nods. "Understood."
"I should stay here," Ethan says, pacing now. "Keep pressure on the police investigation, coordinate with our tech team on the camera analysis." He stops, turning to face us both. "And I need someone I trust here at the property, checking every inch again for anything we might have missed."
I nod, understanding the unspoken division of labor. "I'll handle the house. We'll do another full sweep, change all security protocols while she's away. Make sure everything's clean for when she returns."
What none of us says. What we don't need to say, is that this arrangement also keeps Ethan and me at a safe distance. Away from the dangerous pull we both feel toward her.
"It's settled then," Ethan says, his voice shifting into that authoritative tone that reminds us he was once our commanding officer.
"Mateo, you'll accompany Jade to Bali. Three days, two nights.
Standard protection detail. The magazine's security will handle general site security, you focus solely on her. "
Mateo grins, stretching his arms above his head. "Three days in paradise with a supermodel. Tough assignment, Boss."
Ethan's expression darkens, and he steps toward Mateo with sudden intensity. "This isn't a vacation. It's not a joke. It's your job to keep her safe, Rivera. She's..."
"I know the stakes, Ethan. Don't mistake the jokes for distraction. I see what's happening." Mateo interrupts, his playful demeanor vanishing. He stands, meeting Ethan's gaze with unexpected seriousness. "I've been in this business almost as long as you have. I know the lines."
The tension between them crackles, both men standing their ground. I move between them, a hand on each of their shoulders. "We're all on edge. But we need to stay focused, stay united. That's how we keep her safe."
Ethan steps back first, nodding once. "Just remember, all of us, we're here to protect her. Not to complicate her life further."
Mateo's usual smile returns, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Message received, Boss. Professional boundaries maintained at all times."
But there's something in his voice, something in all of ours lately when Jade comes up, that cuts through the professional distance we keep pretending is still intact.
We're bodyguards, sure. Hired to protect her.
But there's more brewing under the surface now, and none of us is quite ready to admit what it really is.
"The car will take her to the airport at nine tomorrow," Ethan says, returning to logistics, and safer ground. "Commercial flight, first class. You'll be seated beside her. We've coordinated with TSA for expedited security."
Mateo nods, slipping back into professional mode. "What about the hotel?"
"Connecting rooms," I answer, having reviewed the arrangements earlier. "The magazine booked her in a beachfront villa. We've secured the adjoining room for security."
"Full access, all hours," Ethan adds. "She doesn't go anywhere without you nearby. Not the beach, not dinner, not the bathroom."
Mateo raises an eyebrow. "Pretty sure she'll draw the line at that last one, Boss."
Despite the tension, I find myself suppressing a smile. Mateo's humor breaks through even the darkest moments. It's why he's the best choice to go with Jade. She needs that lightness now.
"You know what I mean," Ethan says, but the edge has left his voice. "Just... be vigilant. We still don't know who we're dealing with or what their end game is."
"Or if they'll follow her to Bali," I add, voicing the concern we've all been considering.
Ethan nods grimly. "Which is why we're not taking any chances. Standard protocols, elevated threat level. Mateo, I want daily reports, morning and night. Any anomalies, anything that feels off, I want to know immediately."
"Copy that, Boss," Mateo agrees, sobering. "I won't let her out of my sight."
A silence falls over us, each lost in our own thoughts. Despite our professional demeanor, the truth hums beneath the surface: what started as a standard protection assignment has become something more complicated for all of us.
I move to the window, looking out over the pristine pool reflecting the morning sun.
Beyond it, the main house stands majestic and isolated, like its owner.
From here, I can see Jade on her terrace, reading something, a slash of copper hair against white cushions.
Unaware of our discussion, our division of duties, our growing concern.
"She doesn't realize how serious this is, does she?" I ask, eyes still fixed on the window.
"No," Ethan says quietly. "And I'd rather keep it that way. She's already wound tight about this shoot."
I glance back at him. "Why? What's got her so on edge?"
Ethan exhales, scrubbing a hand down his face. "Gloria mentioned she's been avoiding the pool since the attack. Hasn't gone near the water. And if you checked the itinerary, the shoot's at a waterfall. It's like unintentional exposure therapy."
I frown. That hadn't clicked for me until now.
"She's trying to play it cool, like always, but she's barely sleeping. Pushing through it, but she's frayed. And this shoot is a big deal. Major visibility. No room for cracks to show."
Mateo speaks up, tone unexpectedly serious. "Then the last thing she needs is more pressure. Let her focus on the work. Leave the stalker in the background. If we do our job right, she shouldn't have to think about it at all."
I study him, seeing beyond the carefree exterior to the sharp observer beneath. "You notice more than you let on, Rivera."
He grins, but there's a seriousness in his eyes I rarely see. "That's why I'm good at my job, Old Man. People reveal themselves when they think no one's really watching."
The words hang in the air, heavy with implication. Is that what's happening with Jade? Is she revealing more of herself because she thinks we're just doing our jobs, just watching the perimeter, not really seeing her?
"We should wrap this up," Ethan says, checking his watch. "I told Jade we'd brief her on the Bali security arrangements at four."
"I'll go pack," Mateo says, gathering his equipment. "Beach clothes, sunscreen, and enough firepower to take down a small army. The usual vacation essentials."
His joke falls flat in the serious atmosphere, but I appreciate the attempt. As he heads for the door, Ethan calls after him.
"Mateo."
He turns, one hand on the doorframe. "Yeah, Boss?"
Ethan's face is unreadable, his voice carefully neutral. "Take care of her."
Three simple words that somehow contain layers of meaning beyond professional obligation. Mateo holds Ethan's gaze for a long moment, something unspoken passing between them.
"Always," he says finally, and it sounds like both a promise and a challenge.
After he leaves, Ethan and I stand in silence. What remains unsaid fills the space between us. Our growing attachment to a woman we're paid to protect, the blurring lines between duty and desire, the complications ahead.
"I don't like this," I admit. "Splitting up the team when we still don't know what we're dealing with."
Ethan's gaze is steady, his voice calm but firm. "We don't have a choice. She has obligations. We adjust and adapt."
"And if something happens?" I press.
"Then Mateo handles it," he says with unexpected conviction. "For all his joking, he's one of the best I've ever worked with. I trust him with my life." He pauses, looking toward the main house.
"And with hers," Ethan adds. But the weight in his voice says more than just trust. It says surrender.