Bennett: an m/m bodyguard romance (Hunter Security), page 1
Bennett
Laura John
This is a work of fiction, Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, event or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2024 by Laura John
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
Independently published.
Cover Designer: Brittany Franks with Chaotic Creatives
Editor: Swish Design and Editing
Sensitivity Reader: J.P Jacksonand Crystal Grizzard Burnette with Crystal Clear Author Services
To those who fall in love quickly.
Never change who you are.
Continue to love with all your heart!
Contents
1. Dear Reader,
2. Chapter One
3. Chapter Two
4. Chapter Three
5. Chapter Four
6. Chapter Five
7. Chapter Six
8. Chapter Seven
9. Chapter Eight
10. Chapter Nine
11. Chapter Ten
12. Chapter Eleven
13. Chapter Twelve
14. Chapter Thirteen
15. Chapter Fourteen
16. Chapter Fifteen
17. Chapter Sixteen
18. Chapter Seventeen
19. Chapter Eighteen
20. Chapter Nineteen
21. Chapter Twenty
22. Chapter Twenty-One
23. Chapter Twenty-Two
24. Chapter Twenty-Three
25. Chapter Twenty-Four
26. Chapter Twenty-Five
27. Chapter Twenty-Six
28. Chapter Twenty-Seven
29. Chapter Twenty-Eight
30. Chapter Twenty-Nine
Also By Laura John
Acknowledgments
About Author
Dear Reader,
This book touches on a few sensitive and heavy subjects that could be difficult for some to read.
If you think there is a subject that could be a problem for you, please proceed to my website for a complete list of content warnings.
https://www.authorlaurajohn.com/bennett
Chapter One
Archer
Sweat is pouring down my back as I strut across the stage, singing to the thousands of people in the stadium. Bright lights are shining on me, and the roar of the crowd is so loud it almost drowns out my band, which has a smile permanently planted on my face.
This is what I live for.
“You’ve been amazing,” I shout to the crowd, walking offstage to where my twin sister and manager, Aria, is waiting.
“You did so good,” she cheers and pulls me into her arms.
“I always do,” I brag with a wink.
Aria rolls her eyes and gives me a playful shove. “Good to see your ego is still intact. Wouldn’t want that to fade.”
“When you’re this good, nothing can knock you down.”
“Did you mistake the memo that said confidence is sexy for cockiness is sexy instead?” Brando, my drummer, asks.
I throw my head back and laugh. “What’s the difference between the two?”
“Noncocky people know the difference,” he says with a shit-eating grin before walking away.
“Jackass,” I murmur under my breath.
Landon, my bass player, walks over to give me a high five. “We fucking killed it out there tonight,” he states.
“We always do, but you’re right. There was something special about tonight.”
“It’s because everything’s better in Texas,” Joseph, my guitar player, adds.
I give his shoulder a shove. “The saying is ‘everything’s bigger in Texas,’ smartass. But I don’t even know if that saying is true or not. I mean, you’re from Texas, and you ain’t that big,” I tease.
“I might be short, but I’m not small,” he retorts. “Want me to show you?” He moves to unbutton his jeans.
“Keep it in your pants. My sister doesn’t need to see your little pecker,” I chastise him, making him laugh.
“Sometimes I regret being your band manager,” Aria murmurs.
“Because we’re too awesome?” Joseph asks her.
“Yes… that’s exactly the reason I was thinking,” she responds dryly.
He chuckles and gives her a wet kiss on her cheek, then walks away.
I love my band so much. They are more than coworkers and friends. They’re family.
“Okay, guys,” Aria shouts. “Get changed quick. Once you’re done, we’ll make our way to the hotel. We’re taking the private jet home tomorrow morning bright and early, so if you’re going out after, don’t get stupid drunk.”
The guys and I acknowledge we heard my sister, then make our way to the dressing rooms. We are all eager to get to the hotel and waste no time getting ready, heading out within minutes of each other.
“I love touring, but I’m glad to have a bit of time off,” I say as we are escorted out of the stadium to where our limo is waiting.
“It’s probably because you’re getting old,” Brando tells me.
“Says the man who is five years older than me,” I reply.
He shakes his head with a smile on his lips as he places his hands on his chest. “Yeah, but I’m young at heart.”
As we reach the exit, the security team we hired for the night opens the door for us, and we’re immediately greeted by a few fans and paparazzi. Waving at our fans, we smile and sign a few autographs.
“I hope you know that you’re an inspiration,” an older lady says, her face filled with joy. “My grandson told me you gave him the courage to come out. I’ve never seen him happier.”
My heart fills with pride as I beam at her.
Stories like that are one of the main reasons I chose to come out last year. That, and I was sick of acting like my boyfriends were just friends. I’ve been out to my family since I was fifteen, but by then, I was already on my journey into country music. It would be a lot harder to make a name for myself if I was out and proud, so I kept the closet door shut.
Our band has been at the top of the charts for a while now, and with the blessing of my band members, we decided it was time for me to come out. The guys were strong enough to find a new lead singer if my coming out had crashed my career, but thankfully, it didn’t. Although I’d give up all the fame now, knowing what it’s like not to be hiding anymore.
Last year, when I made the announcement, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. As expected, we were met with some backlash, but overall, our fans supported us. It helped that our music was never bro-country. We didn’t sing about girls climbing into our trucks or being some macho guys. I always wanted our music to be authentic, and singing about stuff like that was never going to work for us.
“Does your grandson have our newest album?” I ask the lady.
“Yes. He has everything you’ve ever put out. He’s a big fan.”
“Fantastic. What’s your name?”
“Gladys,” she tells me with a megawatt smile.
I wave Aria over. “Can you take down Gladys’s information? I’d like to gift her and her grandson front-row passes the next time we’re in town.”
Gladys gasps, and tears well in her eyes. “That would mean the world to him. We couldn’t afford to get tickets for tonight’s show, but I was hoping that by standing out here, I could get you to sign this poster for him.”
“And what’s his name?” I ask, taking the poster and pen from her outstretched hands.
“Connor.”
I autograph the poster with a flare, then move on to sign a few more things while Aria gets Gladys’s information.
“Could you sign my arm?” a short man with wild, curly hair shouts. “I want to get your autograph tattooed on me.”
“Wow, a really dedicated fan,” I say. “Would you like the rest of the guys’ too?”
He shakes his head. “No, just yours.”
As I go to grab the marker from his hand, something pricks me, and I gasp, pulling away as fast as possible.
“What the fuck?” I yell.
“Are you okay?” Brando asks, his brows pulled together with concern as he turns to a security guard.
The fan who pricked me quickly steps back, looking worried but also apologetic. “Shit, sorry, I forgot my pin was in my hand,” he says, showing a little rainbow pin. “I wanted to give it to you. Now I feel like a fool.”
His lower lip trembles, and I feel like a dick, so I wave off my friend and the security guard, who are watching closely, and plaster on my best smile. “It’s okay. Accidents happen,” I reassure him, securing the pin to my jacket.
With the marker in my hand, I sign the man’s forearm, then it’s time for us to head to the hotel. The ride is uneventful and short, but by the time we arrive, I’m more tired than I should be. I usually hit the hotel bar for a nightcap after shows, but I’m wondering if I should skip that tonight.
“Anyone joining me for a drink?” Joseph asks as we walk through the hotel lobby.
When the other guys shake their heads, I cave, not wanting Joseph to be alone.
“Why not?” I say, even though my legs are a little wobbly.
We g
“I am. What’s yer name, darlin’?” he questions, putting on his southern drawl extra thick.
“I’m Patsy.”
Joseph pulls out the chair next to him, gesturing for her to sit. “Well, Patsy, why don’t you have a seat and tell me about yourself?”
With a knowing expression on my face, I push out my chair. “I’m gonna head to the bar while you two get acquainted,” I tell them.
Joseph mouths thank you as I walk away.
I make my way to the bar, but my feet are heavy and drag with each step. My head is swimming, and I have to brace myself against a bar stool when I get there.
“You don’t look so good,” the bartender tells me as my head spins.
“I’m f-f-fi-ine,” I slur, blinking fast, trying to keep my heavy lids open.
“I don’t think you are,” the bartender says.
Someone sits next to me, and when I turn my head, I’m face to face with the man who poked me with the pin at the event.
“J-Jo-Joseph,” I call out before falling over, and the world goes dark.
Chapter Two
Archer
A beeping noise wakes me. It takes an insane amount of effort to open my eyes. When did my eyelids start weighing five hundred pounds?
It feels like hours before I’m actually able to see where I am, but it was probably only a few seconds. I gasp when I realize I’m in a hospital room.
“What the fuck?” I rasp out.
Aria grabs my hand, and it’s evident she’s been crying by her tearstained face.
“Why am I here?” I ask.
“Let me get the doctor. He’ll be able to explain better,” she tells me, then rushes out of the room.
“Thank fuck you aren’t dead,” Joseph says with bloodshot eyes. “When you fell over at the bar, I thought for sure you were having a medical emergency or something. It scared the shit out of me.”
“What actually happened?”
“I can give you that information,” a man in a white lab coat, who I’m presuming is my doctor, tells me. “I’m Dr. Henderson. I’ve been monitoring your situation since you arrived. I’m sorry to tell you that you were drugged.”
My eyebrows shoot up, the truth like a punch to the gut. Who the hell would drug me, and why?
“How did that happen?” I ask, more than a little confused. It’s not like I had any unattended drinks.
“I believe the fan who pricked you with the pin last night is to blame,” Dr. Henderson explains. “It’s the newest version of needle spiking, and while we don’t see a lot of it around here, it’s been on the rise. Especially with the new drug on the market, Halinexus. Before, needle spiking had to be done with an actual needle, and the person would be injected without their knowledge. But with Halinexus, it’s possible to coat any sharp object with the drug and prick someone with it. The smallest amount can make someone become disorientated and have trouble walking.”
My eyes widen with this information and learning someone has used this drug on me.
The doctor continues. “Being that it is such a strong drug, it’s extremely easy to get the wrong dose. You’re lucky it didn’t kill you. Some other people haven’t been so lucky. Halinexus is the new drug of choice for people wanting to take advantage of others. This is the first time I’ve heard of the drug being used on a celebrity, but it makes sense. The fan is likely more than a little obsessed with you and was hoping you would leave with him by getting your guard down.”
I shake my head and grab the back of my neck. How the hell is this happening?
“Please tell me you caught this asshole,” I say to Joseph, who shakes his head.
“Sorry, man, I wish I did, but my attention was on you dropping like a fly out of nowhere. The cops are looking for him, but so far, he’s disappeared.”
“When do I get to go home?” I ask the doctor.
“We’re going to keep you for a bit longer. We’ll continue to pump you full of fluids and some antibiotics to make sure you don’t have an infection and that there are no traces of the drug left. We will need to run another blood panel to ensure everything is where it should be before we discharge you.”
“Thank you for everything,” I murmur.
He smiles, placing his hand on my shoulder. “We are doing everything in our power to get you back to your healthy self. Take this time to rest.”
“I will,” I assure him, and he leaves.
“We’ve moved our flight to tomorrow morning to give you time to rest,” Aria tells me, her voice distant.
I flip my hand, wiggling my fingers at her, and she grabs it.
“Are you okay?” I ask her.
She shakes her head as new tears pool in her eyes. “I was so scared,” she whispers, her voice breaking.
“I’m sorry I put you through this.”
She blinks away her tears and squeezes my hand. “You have nothing to be sorry for. But we need to hire full-time security. I’m not risking your life like that again.”
I want to fight her because the idea of someone following me around all the time makes my skin crawl, but the look on her face right now isn’t something I can argue with. She’s terrified and hurt. If hiring a shadow will put her mind at ease, I’ll do it.
“Hire whoever you think is best,” I tell her.
Her lips pull up at the corners, and her shoulders soften at my words, assuring me I made the right decision.
I’m positive tonight was a one-off, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?
Chapter Three
Bennett
After entering Nixon’s office, he hands me a file. I look it over, aware that he’s waiting for a response.
Name: Archer Dawson
Age: Thirty years old
Relationship status: Single
Occupation: Country Musician
Born and raised in Los Angeles
Parents: Timothy and Chantel Dawson. Married
Siblings: Three—Aria, Clayton, and Stefanie
Twin sister, Aria, is band manager.
Reason for application: Was drugged at last show by crazed fan. Potential stalker.
What client is looking for: A permanent team for entire band while touring and for events, and a full-time bodyguard for Archer.
“Are we taking this job?” I ask when I’m done reading the file.
“I’m considering it, but these clients deserve the best we have to offer. They are high-profile clientele. One wrong move on our part could be the complete downfall of this company,” Nixon states, a little more doom and gloom than normal, but he isn’t wrong. “Which is why I will only take this job on if you agree to be the lead on the team and Archer’s full-time bodyguard.”
My brows shoot up. “Are you serious?”
“Of course I am. You know you’re one of my number ones. I trust you with my life. This position is perfect for you.”
I’m honored by the offer, and he isn’t wrong. I would totally nail a position like this, and I’ve been craving a full-time role for some time now.
“Can I choose my team?” I ask.
Everyone who works for Hunter Security is amazing, but I work better with some than others.
“Absolutely. I’ve already drawn up a list of available people,” he tells me, leaning over his desk to hand me the piece of paper and a highlighter. “Pick your team of five.”
I look over the list and make my first three picks. The last two are a bit harder since I’m trying to keep in mind how everyone gets along with each other, but eventually, I have my team picked.
“Archer and his sister are coming in today for a meeting. You’ll get to meet them at three o’clock,” Nixon informs me. “Let your team know they’ve been chosen in the meantime.”
“You already have a meeting lined up?” I question with a raised brow. “What would you have done if I said no?”
“I knew you wouldn’t, but had aliens taken over your body, and if you did say no, I would have told them we weren’t the right fit.”
I laugh, pushing back my chair to stand. “Good thing no aliens have taken over my body today. I’ll see you at three.”
