Page 51 of My Bodyguard’s The Boss

“Austin didn’t do anything,” Video-Dominic continued. “It’s me.” Another pause. “Meet me at the beach? Usual spot.”

The video stopped. Austin stared at the terrible video, frozen with Dominic’s phone to his ear. What morning was this? It had to be one of the several nights he’d stayed over the last week. Austin shouldn’t have bothered talking him into it.

Levi piped up from his tiny FaceTime in the corner of the screen. “At least he said it’s not you!”

“That’s the line everyone uses when they dump someone,” Austin said flatly. He stared at the balcony, with a sour taste in his mouth. What did Domnic do after that call? Come back to bed and kiss Austin like nothing was wrong, knowing that he was ending it? What was tonight, a last-minute hurrah? Did he have someone else lined up?

“It might not be that bad,” Levi tried. “He said he’s quitting the job. Right? Not you.”

“I think he was pretty fucking clear,” Austin spat.

“Austin—”

“I need to shower,” Austin said. He stabbed the END CALL button and threw his phone onto his bed, stalking toward the bathroom with a glower that would make anyone in the world shrink back in fear.

Well. Almost anyone.

CHAPTER 17

Dominic parked down the street to watch Austin’s gates.

A metal bucket of rose petals sat in the passenger seat. Not very subtle, but Dominic was tired of playing it safe. He’d been holding himself back from Austin, even after they finally started sleeping together. Time to go all-in.

And never, ever tell Ben about the rose petals. Ben wouldn’t let him live it down in a thousand years. He was still teasing Dominic about the collar: a classy black band with a simple O-chain, currently resting in a velvet box next to the roses.

Dominic ran his fingers over the soft material of the box. He couldn’t wait to see Austin’s face when he opened it.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out distractedly, his mind still running over what he was going to say. Then he saw the email.

Your contract with Austin Wayne has been terminated, read the subject line.

Dominic frowned and clicked the email. It definitely looked real. He skimmed over the message text: Effective immediately… severance pay package… provide a reference on request…

“What the fuck?” Dominic asked.

He looked up at the gates. Still closed, no sign of Austin leaving yet. That was good; Dominic needed a word.

He pulled into Austin’s wide driveway just in time to see him stalk out of the house. His hair was wet, which was strange. He usually blow-dried it if he had something important on, and a line read definitely counted.

Dominic climbed out of the car. “Hey, I just got an email⁠—”

Austin cut him off. “Then why did you show up? Even if you were still working for me, you shouldn’t be here. You’re not on shift.”

His shoulders were tense, his head down as he made for the car. But it was his eyes that really worried Dominic. They were flat and empty. It was an eerily familiar look.

He was playing a role, Dominic realized. This was what his characters looked like as they walked away, covered in blood. If this was a movie, he would be limping, bloodstained, walking wounded away from an explosion shot that would inevitably make it into the trailer.

Dominic stepped in front of him. “Austin. Tell me what happened.”

“Nothing to tell,” Austin gritted. “Get out of my way.”

He tried to shoulder past him. Dominic caught him easily, yanking him to a halt.

“Austin,” he tried.

“Don’t,” Austin snapped. He moved for the car again. Dominic’s hand tightened on his arm, and Austin glared at him.

“Don’t make me call security,” he warned.