Caleb rolled his eyes and set his cup in the sink. There was a lot he was going to change, but one thing at a time.
Bella’s eyes widened, and Helen cringed at the gun he strapped onto his belt.
“Ladies, I can’t protect her if I’m unarmed. Don’t worry. I know how to use it, and I’m good at it.”
Helen sniffed in disdain and walked away.
Caleb smiled at Bella. “I want you by me. Don’t let anyone pull you away from the set.”
She nodded. “I won’t.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
He maneuvered the two onto the elevator and stood in front of them. When the door opened on the ground floor, he kept them in the elevator as he looked around.
“Let’s go.” He grabbed on to Bella’s upper arm to keep her close to him. He took one look outside. “Fuck. Why are there so many cameras outside?” he asked the two security guys he hadn’t met yet.
“That’s the paparazzi,” one of them said.
“I don’t care who the fuck they are.”
“Do we have to be so vulgar?” Helen asked.
Caleb glanced at her. “Yeah, when I’m pissed, I say fuck. Get used to it.” He caught the shocked and then pleased looks on the guard’s faces.
“How’d they know when we would be leaving?”
The guards looked at Helen.
His head whipped toward her. “You called them?” he asked incredulously.
“It’s good for her to be seen as much as possible.”
“You are unbelievable, lady.” He turned away and faced the guys. “One of you go out and get the extra guard and driver I asked for, and then I’m going to need both of you.”
“You got it.”
“Why do we have to go through this?” Helen looked bored.
“Maybe because we’re trying to keep your daughter alive,” he said.
Helen turned pink and pursed her lips.
When the men got into a group, Caleb explained what he wanted done.
“Let’s do this quickly, guys. I don’t want her exposed.”
They all nodded.
“Okay, let’s go.”
The group of men surrounded Bella, and they rushed toward the limo. They had her in the back of the car within thirty seconds. Caleb sighed in relief as he got her situated into the corner. The limo driver waited for an angry Helen to get in before closing the door.
“Why didn’t you wait for me?”
“Two reasons. One, because the threats aren’t against you, and two, you’re the one who put her in a dangerous situation.”
“I think you’re overreacting.”
“And I think you’re underreacting.”
He looked down at Bella and saw her staring out the window. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
Bella’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open in surprise. “That was nothing compared to some of the crowds I have to go through. Once, I had a bunch of hair yanked out when someone grabbed it.”
He growled. “That shit won’t happen with me. I’ll break the guy’s arm.”
Caleb remembered that Bella was a sweet, soft woman, and he’d probably scared her to death. Instead of looking horrified, Bella pressed a hand to her chest, and a pleasing smile grew on her face. When was the last time she felt safe, he wondered?