Page 150 of Tangled Like Us

His name is Farrow Keene, and he’s across the gym. Akara Kitsuwon and Oscar Oliveira are also ten times better than he will ever be.

Hell, I would take every fucking bodyguard on the team over Tony Ramella. I wouldn’t trust him to have my six. I punched Farrow and I still trust that he’ll have my back at the end of the day. Because that’s who he is—but that’s not Tony.

Jane tenses. “You’re a bodyguard?”

I glance down at her. “Tony protects a boy band out in LA.”

“The most popular boy band in the entire country,” Tony amends with outstretched arms. “Worked my ass off, and now I’m a hot commodity.”

It was a big deal among family and friends when Tony Ramella, Banks, and I ended up in the same career field. Gossip, mostly. People comparing and talking about who works for the mostfamouscelebrity.

Like I give a fuck about that.

“Why leave themost popularboy band?” Jane wonders.

“It wasn’t easy. I didn’t want to leave LA,” Tony admits. “Philly is a fucking armpit in comparison. But Price sounded desperate, and I like to think of this as my civil service.”

I hate how he’s talking about this team like he’s doingcharitywork by being here. We’re not fucked enough to where we’d ever need Tony. “The 24/7 roster is full,” I tell him.

It’s what I know. There are only openings for temp guards.

Tony grins and rocks forward on the balls of his feet. “Not true. I just signed-on for a full-time position, Moretti.” He lowers his voice. “My training course starts tomorrow, but it’s just for show. The Tri-Force doesn’t want the other guys to think I’m getting special treatment.”

I clamp an iron-stiff hand over my mouth.Furious.

Because Price is rolling out the red carpet for Tony and pushing him into the foldfast. And truth is, I have no idea why. He could be thunderstruck by Tony’s experience working for Hollywood celebrities for all I know.

I’m not used to being in the complete dark. And I have no power to complain or overturn this hiring.

Neither does Akara, who’s a part of the Tri-Force. He’s one vote against two.

“Full-time?” Jane repeats. “Who exactly are you protecting?”

“Guy named Silvio is retiring,” Tony says. “I’m taking his spot.”

I unclamp my hand and rake my fingers through my hair. Silvio is Xander’s current bodyguard. I hadn’t heard about him retiring, and I doubt Xander knows. He would’ve mentioned something earlier today.

“You’re going to be Xander’s 24/7 bodyguard,” Jane realizes out loud.

Tony rests his hands on the back of his neck. “The best he’s ever had.” He grins smugly at me. Knowing that I was on Xander’s detail. “I always gotta come behind you, Moretti, and pick up your slack.”

Don’t sock him in the face.

It’s the only thing I can think right now.

Do not put your hands on him.My breath heavies in my burning lungs. I’m not hitting another bodyguard, and he’s about to be on the team.

Even if I’ve knocked him out before.

In middle school.

In high school.

Right before I deployed.

He’s tried to punch me, but he’s never landed a single one.

“Why don’t you go pick up my slack then?” I retort. “And stop talking to me.”