Page 4 of Better Watch Out
“And I’ll pick up Mr. Malone when he arrives and take him to a meeting before he goes to the hotel to meet with his daughter.” Oskar flipped through the folder Andrew had given to him and Joey. “Do you want Joey Rigatoni with me or you?”
“He’ll stick with me,” Andrew answered, noticing Joey already seemed unfazed by Oskar’s nickname for him—or he understood reacting would only egg Oskar on.
Joey looked up from his file. “And why isn’t their personal security detail coming?”
“Mr. Malone has only ever traveled with one security officer, who came down with the flu. The officer was familiar with Amanda and recommended our team.”
Andrew had done his homework on the Malone family. Simon Malone had been married to Patricia Kline, who was the daughter of a British hedge fund investor who made billions through his company, Kline Capital. Patricia Kline worked for her father and was expected to take over once he retired but she died in a skiing accident in the Alps. When her father passed a few years later, he left his money and the majority shares of his company in the control of Simon who was to manage the very large trust fund and inheritance that was waiting for Valentina when she turned thirty in five years.
“Mr. Malone is in town to finalize a multi-million-dollar investment with Gerald Kline, his wife’s uncle.” Andrew sat back in his chair. “It’s garnered unwanted attention and threats against the family. Our job is to make sure Mr. Malone and his daughter make it back home safe and sound.”
“Failure is not an option.” Joey sat forward in his chair. “Great slogan.”
“Also, a quote fromApollo 13.” Andrew laughed.
“Days like today make it hard for me to believe you were allowed to protect the President of the United States.” Oskar stuck a piece of gum in his mouth and chewed. “Why did you leave the job?”
Joey shifted in his seat, his expression turning serious. “The career wasn’t for me.”
Oskar frowned in disbelief before he caught Andrew sending him a silent message to drop it. Amanda hadn’t given any of them details on why Joey left the Secret Service but assured them he’d be an asset to the team.
“Back to the assignment.” Andrew redirected their attention to the itinerary. This shouldn’t be too difficult; Ms. Malone is meeting up with some friends and doing holiday shopping. Oskar, you’ll be with Mr. Malone during the day. Doug is working out the details with Mac and Brayden for the overnights.”
“Got it.” Oskar snapped his gum. “Standard protection detail.”
“If we do our jobs right, yes,” Andrew answered. “This should be eas—”
“Don’t say it!” Oskar cut him off. He rolled his chair backward and grabbed the biscuit sitting on his desk. He kissed one side and flipped it, kissing that side too before putting it back on his desk. He turned it until it was in the exact same position as before. “Bad luck and all that.”
Joey coughed to cover his laugh as he eyed Andrew, who was used to Oskar’s superstitious ritual. Back when he played in the NHL, he’d had his own fun teasing teammates for their seemingly silly traditions to ensure luck for a winning game. Andrew didn’t believe in lucky charms, such as wearing the same nasty underwear for each game, but when he was growing up playing hockey, his mom always made him sit in the car while she prayed before each practice and game. With one eye open, he’d watch his teammates stroll past the car, making faces at him to see if he’d crack. But eyes closed or not, praying with his mom, it seemed she had the magic words because he’d made it through his childhood without the serious injuries some of his friends endured from the sport.
Until he went pro.
The memory seemed to awaken the old injuries and Andrew rolled his shoulder, feeling the pull of mended muscles still tight from multiple surgeries.
“Speaking of doing our jobs.” Oskar rose to his feet. “We should probably head out to get ready for the fundraiser.”
“I guess this is one reason I can be glad I’m not a famous hockey player.” Joey shrugged on his jacket. “Tonight, it’ll be me, a Mario’s pie, and the Cowboys.”
“Yeah, it’ll be tough hanging out with beautiful women dressed like sexy reindeer,” Oskar teased and then held his hand up like a measuring stick over Joey’s head. “Though, the Radio City Rockettes might be a little too much women for you.”
“God knew when to stop once He hit perfection, unlike with you. Needed another foot to figure out it was the best He could do.”
Andrew laughed at Joey’s witty comeback. “He might have you there, Oskar.”
Oskar pulled a knit cap over his head. “You can laugh all you want but if you think a night with pizza and football compares to champagne with beautiful women, I’m going to have to talk to Amanda about that cognitive test.”
A flicker of something shadowed Joey’s features before he pulled his own beanie cap onto his head. “Isn’t Deke Landry going to be there?”
“Yeah,” Oskar answered.
“Well, then I’d get ready for a night sipping that champagne on a bench while watchinghimwith the ladies.”
“Har. Har,” Oskar deadpanned and looked ready to say more, but Joey was already waving at them on his way out the door. Oskar faced Andrew. “That kid needs to spend some time with me on the ice.”
“Reminds you of your little brother, eh?”
“It’s infuriating.”
