Tara looked at the piles of paperwork on the desk in front of her. The business of the day was bodyguards.

Not her bodyguards: she had a private security company that rotated them through regularly. She almost always had at least four with her, but they often changed. This, she thought, was safer. Too much of a routine- or the same person with too much access- could be a security issue. She proposed the same thing to Gavin, but he'd balked at the idea of a "team of people crowding him".

He didn't want any; he considered his kidnapping an aberration. Tara wanted ten. In the end, she eventually forced him to agree to one bodyguard. Not one at all times, even- just one. To be around... whenever.

Tara sighed as she flipped through the papers again. Knowing Gavin, even getting one part time bodyguard was a win for her. 

She'd done her own homework and eliminated the vast majority of applicants. There were three remaining: Gerald, Kassandra, and Rex. All three were rated as excellent with both hand to hand combat, firearms, and situational awareness. Now she just had to find the right person.

***

Gerald sat in the chair across from her, and his pent up energy at cat-like eyes made Tara feel vaguely uncomfortable. There was something else, too. His posture, the way he was always watching the room... it was eerily reminiscent of Gavin himself. Tara smiled as she began.

"Tell me, Geralt, what draws you to this particular job?"

"Other than you? Well, I can never resist a pretty face..."

Oh God.

"Other than me- thank you."

"Heard you guys have the best bars in the country, and I need some drinking money. Speaking of drinks, can I buy you a-"

"And we're done here. Next."

Politely showing the man out and declining another twp propositions by the time he hit the door, Tara returned to her desk to wait for the next applicant. She'd be damned if she'd have to deal with not only Gavin, but a mirror image of his old self as well.

***

Tara was not romantically attracted to women, but she still caught herself staring with her mouth slightly agape at the person in front of her. Kassandra was... well, at least 5'9 or 5'10... and she was built like a Greek goddess- one of the fighting ones. Athena? Artemis? She was wearing a sleeveless shirt that showed off an impressive musculature; her brown hair was tied back into a low ponytail that rested on one of her shoulders. She was wearing a skirt that fell to her knees, but had at least one slit up the side, presumably for ease of movement. Tara's hand was swallowed up in a strong grip and she forced herself not to wince. She covered her pain with a smile as she sat behind her desk, the applicant across from her.

"Kassandra, yes?"

"That's me. But you knew that."

"I did. I do my homework. They tell me that you're one of the more talented mercenaries in the country, especially for someone so young. Why give that up to work as a bodyguard?"

"I've been traveling around for years. Mercenary life is... well, it's an adventure. For the record, I might take a lucrative job if someone offers it to me, but I think I'd like something steadier. Put down roots. Get a place of my own. You're also offering a shitload of money..."

"True. That does tend to be a powerful motivator. And I wouldn't have an issue with you taking other jobs as long as they're rare. Once a month, at most. You'd also have to let me know in advance."

"So I'd be working for you?"

"Yes, but watching my brother for me."

"Sounds easy enough."

Tara just smiled. Kassandra seemed confident enough. She might even be able to keep up with Gavin. 

"Kassandra, assuming you can perform a few more simple tasks for me, you're certainly qualified. But I do have one more applicant to meet with before I-"

"Who?"

The unexpected question caught Tara off guard, so she answered it without thinking. 

"Rex Krohn."

"Ah, I know Rex. Good guy."

Tara nodded, and shook hands with Kassandra as the easygoing young woman strolled out.

***

"Rex Krohn?"

Tara rested the phone in the crook of her neck, tapping a foot impatiently.

"No, I'm supposed to be interviewing him for a... in the hospital? Wait... describe her for me? I see. Thank you."

Tara hung up the phone with a raised eyebrow and a grin- although the latter quickly faded. Now she had to call her sister in law and tell her that her husband's bodyguard was a sculpted Greek ass-kicking beauty... she dialed the number with a sigh.

"Hey, Bella. It's Tara. So you remember our earlier conversation about me talking Gavin into a bodyguard, even part time? I have the candidate... she's the best qualified and the best fit...  I just... well... I'll send her by and you can see for yourself. Practice that poker face of yours, huh?"

***

Four hours later, Kassandra whistled to herself as she road the elevator up to the top floor of the Sewing Factory Lofts. She was wearing the same clothing as before: a teal skirt that fell just above the knee and slit halfway up the left thigh, a sleeveless shirt, and a ponytail. She also carried a small purse and wore a small smile. She knocked at the door- perhaps a little harder than she meant to- and waited for someone to answer. She'd met with the man's sister... and now his wife? The fellow was practically drowning in women. But, she supposed, why not one more? For a job as well paying as this, she'd put up with all manner of intrusive... no, involved... family members.

Tara had advised she practice her poker face.  She'd also mentioned it was a woman.  Bella was sure she'd be meeting with a beauty.  Which, if she was honest didn't really matter if the woman was good at her job.  Besides how pretty could a bodyguard be? 

When the doors came open Bella instantly became keenly aware of several things... the first was just how short she was.  All her life Bella had considered herself sweetly petite, the sort of girl any guy could feel strong around and that was a good thing while dating!  However, upon seeing the long legs standing before her, Bella felt as tiny as a child.  This woman stood a good seven inches above her head!  The woman could very likely pick Bella up and carry her like a sack of potatoes without breaking a sweat!

The next thing Bella felt was woefully aware of her clothes which seemed nice this morning, but messing around with a baby had left her... disheveled.  She was far from a homely housewife by any stretch, but standing next to a statuesque beauty left her feeling shabby by comparison.  She was glad Gavin wasn't here right now.

Bella looked her up and down considering for a moment what Gavin might think of her appearance.  She told herself repeatedly that he wouldn't care for her... too tall by far, also - he'd resent having a shadow all the time and so that would evolve into a dislike all on its own.  Why, even if this woman did outshine his wife in appearance, just by being who she was to him he'd never look at Kassandra twice!

Bella smiled and offered her hand.  "I'm Bella Byrne, come on in.  We can talk at the kitchen table.  Please excuse our mess - as you can see we're having some construction work done.  This use to be fully open but with a child now, we felt like bedrooms were advisable." 

She chuckled.

"Can I offer you something to drink?  Water?  Tea?  Coffee?"

Bella got herself a cup of coffee and the woman whatever she wanted, then joined her at the table.  

"Tara speaks highly of you and I take that as very high praise of your qualifications.  Tara's a hard one to please.  But, I think she understands the challenges ahead of you.  Tell me, have you ever had a protection detail where the individual in need of protection didn't much care to have anyone else following him around?  If so, why don't you share a bit about how you handled that - or how you might handle a situation like that."

The Greek smiled politely before walking in. She moved with precision and grace, even as her eyes scanned the room, eventually alighting on the child.

"Wine, if you have it. Red? Just a small glass, though."

Hopefully conveying boldness, but responsibility.

She sat at the table, resting her powerful forearms on the table. As Bella looked across at her, she didn't see a brute; Kassandra was powerful, but not stocky. Her build seemed to be that of a rock climber or a swimmer, rather than a weightlifter. Still, her physical prowess was evident.

"Thank you for the wine, Mrs. Byrne. I've had a few security jobs... no one that particularly resisted me too hard. I like to think I have a winning personality..."

She smirked.

"... although my last job was an 11 year old. Needed looking after for a couple weeks in Europe while the parents mostly did their own thing. Kept trying to run away from me. I assume your husband will be slightly more difficult to keep track of. And I don't expect I can always just buy him ice cream to distract him."

"I suppose how I would handle that in this case would be very different. I'm not really looking for friends, but I've found that I'm most effective when people don't just see me as a statue. I don't mind being in the background, but in quiet moments I engage them, entertain them if possible. So I guess the first thing I try to do is win over the person in question."

"I expect you know I have a good awareness... in my line of work, it's a necessity for survival. So if someone actively tries to slip away, I tend to notice it. I've spent some time as a mercenary... a bounty hunter... even if someone did manage to get away from me for a bit, I expect I can catch up before too long."

"You'd do well to win him over with your personality first."  She nodded, already she was putting together who this woman was beyond 'beautiful' just based on their brief exchange. 

The way she cracked wise, the bold choice of wine and exercise of moderation in its amount, the way she brought up her experience with children, and then her confidence in her own skills.  Clearly, the woman wanted to make a good impression on her new charge's wife.  That spoke well of her, and began to put Bella at ease.

Where did Tara get this woman?

She'd be a match for Gavin, if ever there was one, but all of that didn't really solve the actual problem of Gavin accepting her.  After all, the woman was smart enough to look around a room, read the situation and dropping bits of what needed to be said.  You didn't normally see that manner of cunning out of a simple bodyguard.

Gavin was fond of smart people... but manipulation was one thing he seemed to hate above all other things.  If he took her behavior to read the room and say 'what needed to be said' wrong, it would be a non-starter, but maybe she could help with that?

"Your sharp wit, just a hint of cockiness, and the solid skills you possess to back it up... all should serve you quite well in this job and with your new charge... but honesty is key." 

She sipped her coffee. 

"Gavin is exceedingly forthright and he detests manipulation of any sort.  He's relaxed and could charm the skin off of a snake.  He's quick to drink, and fight ... if it's for fun, but slow to true anger.  You'll know when someone's crossing the line.  It's something best witnessed and not described." 

She leaned back in her chair.  "If I know my husband at all, he may test your skills a bit at first, nothing too bad - he's not a sadist after all.  However, I wouldn't put it past him to do things to try your patience as much as your skills.  That's where you'll either sink or swim with him.  Tara may write your checks, but if Gavin doesn't decide you're likable or useful to him in is day to day... well, I'm sure that Tara will have a decent severance package for you."

"My advice to you is this... be ready for mischief in the first few days.  Roll with the punches.  Know he would never do anything recklessly stupid without need, but in the case of a true emergency situation... well, he's the sort of man who leaps out of perfectly good planes, runs headlong into five gunmen on high ground with guns at the ready behind barricades, and punches bull moose just to make a pretty lady laugh."  She gave a tiny nod to the giant moose head mounted over the fireplace to place emphasis on how serious she was.

Bella put her cup of coffee down on the table. 

"Before I go any further, do you think there are any questions I could answer that might help you do your job of protecting my husband better?"

Kassandra listened carefully as Bella gave her advice before shaking her head.

"None. Based on what you describe, I'll have to do my learning on the fly just to keep up with him."

Bella nodded.  "Good, then there really is only one subject matter left.  It should go without saying that I love my husband, but since we do not know each other and arranged marriages are a fairly common occurrence in this thing of ours, I hope you do not take offense.  It is merely shared out of a desire to avoid difficult, awkward, or painful situations."

Bella sat forward in her chair.

"Whether you know it or not, there is a sacred trust that exists between us starting today.  My life is in your hands.  Every moment that I am not there to protect him, you are acting on my behalf.  Should you fail..."  Her words drop off to nothing. 

"I am trusting you with the single most important person in the world.  You will do everything possible to make sure he comes back to me.  It's not your job to stop him from doing stupid shit... I get that.  I'll never ask you or expect you to keep him from doing anything or betray his privacy, but you will bring him home.  Today.  Tomorrow.  Every time."

Bella held the woman's gaze, "Gavin is a good man.  Our marriage is as strong as any I've ever known - stronger really.  I know in my heart he will never do anything to hurt me, but recent events have shown me that one can not be idle in the protection of something good in their life."

She looked down and picked up her coffee, speaking to the cup to avoid making the other woman uncomfortable with this sordid topic, "So, should he ever pay you special attention or should ever feel anything more than friendship for him - I just ask that you walk away.  If you resign unexpectedly, I'll personally match whatever severance Tara's offered you without question.  If she's offered you none, I will continue your agreed pay for one full year following your departure from our service."

"And should his interests wander to others,"

She took a sip of coffee.

"I don't want to know about it."  she took a steady breath and exhaled, trying not to think about the forbidden romance she feared brought about the end of her family and an empire.  The thought that Marie might have had a lover, that her father might have killed her in a fit of rage... it had forced her to think about how she'd reacted to Evelyn and every beautiful woman in Gavin's life.  Of course, she feared losing him to another woman!  Gavin was the best thing that ever happened to her, but there had to be a better way to deal with it than what she had witnessed this past weekend. 

And so, she decided, she would be stronger than she assumed Salvatore had been.  If she ever found Gavin had taken a lover... she would swallow her pride and try to look the other way.  Better to lose him in her bed, than to lose him from her life and watch all they loved destroyed in the wake of her own wrath.

"Just so long as he comes home, that's all that will ever matter to me.  Do you understand?  Are you agreeable to these terms?"

Kassandra listened as placidly as possible under the circumstances, tensing up only when she head "and should his interests wander to others". She expected the other woman to say "report to me immediately" or something along those lines... surprising. Very surprising. Sometimes Kassandra got a lecture about making sure to watch her own behavior when it came to other peoples' husbands... not that Mrs. Byrne had anything to worry about. The mercenary had no intention of mixing business with pleasure.

"Yes, I'm agreeable."

Kassandra tilted her head as she heard a key in the door.

"Expecting anyone other than him?"

Bella shook her head.

"Well, I suppose it's time I finally meet the man."

Kassandra watched as the man who must be Gavin Byrne strolled nonchalantly toward their table. He seemed... early to mid thirties. Attractive. Short brown hair and tanned skin... but the eyes were what caught her attention. Blue- and sparkling with mischief. As he shrugged off his jacket, she noted the shoulder holster. M1911. Nickel plated. Nice. He hung the holster on the chair as well and rolled up his sleeves. Still in fantastic shape for his age, although she imagined he must have slipped a bit from when he was younger.

"Well, well. Who is this, Bella?"

Mrs. Byrne piped up from her seat. 

"Gavin, this is Kassandra. You're new bodygua-"

She was cut off; the man had been tensed up to move like he knew the answer to the question before it was asked. And shit- he was fast. She barely had time to get her hands up as the man lowered his shoulder into her and drove her back towards the couch.

Kassandra dug in her heels, bringing all her formidable strength to bear and finding her footing just in time. She felt her ass against the couch, but she didn't flip over it as the man must have intended. He seemed surprised at her strength, but didn't miss a beat as he stepped back. She was still trying to formulate a sentence when his fist connected with her jaw. The world flashed red for an instant as she took a second and third hit, but as he pulled back to deliver a finisher she dodged, using the man's own momentum to fling him behind her over the couch.

He was up quicker than she thought possible, vaulting the couch and trying to deliver a mid-air-blow; not taken off guard a third time, Kassandra dodged him and watched as he hit the floor. They squared up, both jabbing as they circled each other in the kitchen- but before Mrs. Byrne could separate them, he was on the attack again with a flurry of punches that she was mostly able to block or dodge as she was forced back towards the living room area. As she moved, he seemed to be watching her footwork. Noticing, she was able to catch him glancing and dealt a right hook to the man's temple, buckling one of his legs. She grabbed him and lifted him into the air and, as she felt his fingers scramble towards her face and her eyes, she threw him against the wall. He practically bounced off it and came at her again. Kassandra tried to look at Mrs. Byrne, but the man moved too fast once again.

In the rhythm of the fight now, Kassandra was able to dodge most of his blows until she finally found an opening. With one swift movement, she exploded at him and drove him off his feet and into the ground with a powerful forearm- which she pushed down against his chest. With her free left hand, she drew the knife at the small of her back and pointed it at him. Far enough away to not be a true threat, but close enough to show she was done fucking around. She was panting as she spoke.

"Are you done?"

Gavin simply smirked up at her before responding.

"Put yours away and I'll put mine away."

"Your what?"

Feeling pressure of a fist against her ribcage, Kassandra looked down to see him gripping a knife of his own. She rolled her eyes, put her knife away, and helped the man up. He cracked his neck and massaged one of his thighs before grinning.

"Sorry. Had to know you could handle yourself or what's the point?"

Now that the racket had died down, Gavin could clearly hear the crying from the other room. He looked around in confusion for a moment before the realization hit him.

"Aw SHIT! We have a baby now. Long story."

He glanced at Kassandra and shrugged before looking at his wife.

"I suppose you want to me-? Yep. Okay."

Clapping Kassandra once on the shoulder, he headed off to try to calm the baby. Kassandra just stared at the other woman.

"He's not always like that, right?"
 

Bella picked up her coffee and stepped out of the way of the brawl as if it were perfectly normal to have two trained killers rolling around her living room.  Had either of them been looking, Bella was rolling her eyes watching the woman work.  She had to hand it to her, it wasn't just cockiness - she DID have some impressive skills.

The moment Aurora opened her mouth and began wailing she thought about going to the child, but it wouldn't harm a baby to cry for a moment or two.  She'd once heard her mother remark of a baby that it was good for their lungs.  Besides, she wanted to see how this ended.  Would the woman best Gavin?  If she'd had money to put down, she might have bet on her.

When it was done, she gave Gavin her best 'not funny' face and sent him scurrying off to handle Aurora.  It was admirable how willingly he'd jumped into the role of father figure.  She half expected him to hold the baby at arm's length and wear a confused look on his face... instead he was something of a natural nurturer, something any mother in the neighborhood would LOVE to be able to say about their husband.

Kassandra spoke pulling Bella's attention away from Gavin's ass that was now disappearing into the nursery.  She smirked and looked back to the new bodyguard, "It's his way of introducing himself." she finished off her coffee.

"Consider this a moment... however good you are, or think you are, that's how good Tara thought you'd have to be to keep up with the shit he gets himself into on a daily basis."  She chuckled.  "Depending upon your perspective, Gavin is either the luckiest son of a bitch on the planet... or the most irritating.  At times... both."

She glanced back towards the nursery from which she could hear Gavin's voice through the walls speaking in a jovial tone, urging Aurora to come down from her foul mood.  Her shit-eating smirk became a tender smile that touched her doe-eyes causing them to sparkle in that saccharine way that only women in love seemed to ever get.

"Every day is an adventure around here."

She forced herself to look back at Kassandra.  "I don't suppose you like vanilla ice cream?" 

Bella chuckled and shook her head.

"Nevermind, it's something of an old joke around the house... I'll explain it to you sometime."  She offered her hand to the bodyguard.  "It's good to have you as a part of Team Byrne, Kassandra."