Moonlit Guardian Read online

  “Can you apply a little more green to cover those bags?” Kim pointed toward the vicinity of Kimiko’s face as the makeup artist muttered something under her breath.

  “What was that, dear?”

  “Nothing,” the makeup artist said, blowing a blonde curl out of her face as she reached for concealer. “Green is most helpful for hiding redness. I’ll take care of these dark circles. Trust me.”

  “Humph.” Kim glared down at Kimiko. “Trust is a hard commodity to come by these days.”

  “Isn’t it?” Kimiko countered, having had enough of Kim’s constant attitude.

  “Excuse me?”

  Sensing the storm brewing between the two, the makeup artist quickly excused herself, claiming to have left something in another room, and scampered off.

  “Well, you sent a grown woman running off like a scared child,” Kimiko commented. “Are you happy now?”

  “Am I happy? Let’s see. My star is hell-bent on sabotaging her career, a career that I have put a lot of time and work into. No, no I’m not happy.”

  “How am I sabotaging my career? By not being part of this stupid power couple you and the studio have dreamed up? What kind of career do I have if I have to resort to being Rex Ziering’s arm candy?”

  “A very successful one.”

  “As a whore, maybe.”

  Kim gasped. “Why on earth would you even think of something so foul?”

  “Isn’t that what you want me to be, Kim? You obviously have no qualms with me sleeping my way to the top. Well, I’m already on top and I didn’t have to sleep my way here, and I’m not about to start now, especially with him.”

  “Fine. You don’t want to be in a relationship with him, that’s just fine, but I’m warning you now, if you breathe a word of this nonsense about Rex being your stalker, you’ll never have a career in this business again. You could have Bruno Mars duet on all your songs and date all of the Hemsworth brothers and still not amount to anything. Do you understand me?”

  The makeup artist re-entered the dressing room, a large makeup brush in her hand. “Found it! Five minutes until you have to be on set!”

  Kimiko and Kim exchanged a look. Kimiko knew better than to speak about Rex in front of others. She regretted telling Kim.

  “Get those dark circles covered,” Kim ordered. “America needs to see our star burning bright.”

  Draven stuck his head in the door. “They want you on set.”

  Kimiko’s breath caught in her throat as the memory of his lips taking hers flooded her senses. He’d barely spoken to her since, even on the plane. He’d insisted she needed sleep, but she couldn’t have possibly slept, not after he’d kissed her. She’d never been kissed like that before. Honestly, and without cameras.

  “Kimiko.” Kim nudged her.

  She brushed Kim off and stood, straightening her dress. It was a short white lace number with diamond accents which matched her long, dangly earrings and sparkly stilettos. “I’m going.”

  She walked across the room and out the door. She was led to the soundstage, Draven at her side, and told to wait for her queue.

  “You’ll be here the whole time?” she asked Draven after they were left alone.

  “Right here,” he assured her. “I can see the whole crowd from here and keep watch backstage.”

  “You think someone might try something?”

  “I’m always on guard, just in case.” He nodded toward the blonde sitting on the couch opposite Lexi Davis and Scott Dees, the hosts of the morning television show. “Who’s that?”

  “Wow, you really don’t keep up with the entertainment scene,” Kimiko said. “Britney Starr.”

  “Actress?”

  “She started on one of those kids’ cable shows and then branched out into music. She’s had a string of Top 10 hits but hasn’t reached the top spot yet. I hear she’s trying to get into movies now.”

  “Thank you for joining us this morning, Britney.” Scott flashed a blinding white smile as he stood to fold the blonde pop-star and aspiring actress into a hug. Lexi stood next to him and kissed the starlet’s cheeks.

  “You’re up after the commercial break,” a tiny woman with a pixie cut said from behind Kimiko as she eyed Draven warily. “Just a few minutes.”

  She responded to someone through her headset and left, still eying Draven.

  “I think people are afraid of you.”

  ‘Good,” Draven replied. “They should be.”

  “Well, well, well.” They turned to see Britney Starr had reached them. “Kimiko Lee. What a delight.”

  Draven watched with a hawk-like gaze as the slender blonde hugged Kimiko. From his vantage point he not only noticed the stiffness of Kimiko’s body, but Britney’s flared nostrils and slightly snarled lip. The hug was obviously not genuine.

  “So, are the rumors true?” Britney asked, pulling away.

  “Which rumors would those be?” Kimiko asked, voice tight.

  “Well, a little birdie told me that you and Rex Ziering are a thing again.” Britney’s smile held, but her eyes showed it was an act. “I’m happy for you, really. Rex and I, we were never serious.”

  “I wasn’t aware the two of you dated,” Kimiko said and Britney’s nostrils flared again. “And the rumors aren’t true. We’re just doing a movie together.”

  “Oh, I was so sure I heard correct. Didn’t you have dinner last night?”

  “A friendly one.”

  “Well, it was a really nice restaurant for a friendly dinner. What movie are you doing together?”

  “I suppose. I didn’t stay long, and honestly can’t remember the name of the movie. Some vampire thing. I wasn’t feeling very well.” Kimiko placed her hand over her taut belly. “In fact, I may be contagious. Try not to inhale too deeply. I’d hate for you to be sick and miss the benefit concert tonight.”

  Britney backed up a step and Draven watched Kimiko visibly relax a bit. He squeezed her shoulder, letting her know he was there if she needed him. Her hand covered his and he realized the mistake he’d made. She was his job, and nothing more.

  “Welcome back,” Scott Dees said over the short music arrangement that played as the show returned from commercial break. “Our next guest is a multi-platinum recording star and actress best known for—”

  “You’re up,” Britney said, moving aside. “Break a leg.”

  Draven figured it must have been some sort of expression used in the entertainment business, judging by the way Kimiko just smiled, but he didn’t like Britney Starr’s tone when it was said.

  The male host announced Kimiko’s name and she walked onto the stage, a big smile on her face as she greeted the hosts and sat in the very spot Britney had recently vacated.

  “You’re new,” the blonde said, standing extremely close to him. Her fingertips trailed up his arm. “I’d remember you.”

  “I doubt I’d remember you,” he responded, unsure why. He just knew he didn’t like the woman. One of his special abilities as a gargoyle shifter was an instant knowledge of a person’s nature. Britney Starr was selfish and conniving. She wasn’t a good person, she wasn’t like Kimiko at all, but she wanted to be.

  Her furious gasp was the only sound she made as she backed away, turned on her heel, and stormed off, taking her negative energy with her and leaving Draven in peace to watch Kimiko.

  He found himself smiling as he listened to Kimiko laughingly recount a story of how she fell onstage during her middle school talent show. She averted her eyes each time the hosts congratulated her or talked up her many accomplishments, and made sure to acknowledge the songwriters and others who helped her to win each of her awards. She gave a lot of the credit to her fans, and when the topic of Rex Ziering came up, she laughed it off, telling the hosts that the only love story between the two was on the big screen.

  “Well, surely a beautiful, successful woman like yourself has someone special in her life,” Scott Dees pressed, leaning in. “Tell us.”

  “Yes,
we want details,” Lexi Porter, the cute redheaded co-host added. “Don’t we?”

  The crowd cheered loudly in response.

  Biting her lip, Kimiko met Draven’s gaze across the set. “If I did have someone special, I don’t think he’d want it broadcast to the whole world, and that’s what would make him so special.”

  The host frowned. “Well, that sounds mysterious. Is there such a special man or is this a dream man you’re talking about?”

  She smiled. “I don’t know yet.”

  What the hell was I talking about? Kimiko kept a smile plastered on her face as she waved goodbye to the audience and crossed the set. Draven and Kim waited for her just beyond the stage. The scowl on Kim’s face didn’t bother her. It was the blank mask Draven wore that made it hard to hold on to that fake smile. She’d said too much.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Kim said drily as she grabbed her arm and pulled her along to the dressing room. “We can bend all that mystery man crap to apply to Rex.”

  “I’m not dating Rex.”

  “You don’t have to date him,” Kim advised. “You just have to make the world think you are.”

  “Why does it matter who the world thinks I date?”

  “It makes money,” she answered, short and to the point, as she pushed open the door to the dressing room and screamed.

  Draven quickly shoved Kimiko out of the way and entered the room, doing a quick sweep. She regained her balance and followed, her mouth falling open in shock as she took in all the blood.

  7

  “We’re aware of the incident that happened at your residence,” the sandy haired detective said, “and the recent shooting attempt.”

  “Do you have any leads on the shooter yet?” Kim interrupted.

  “Not yet,” the detective replied, his eyes lit with annoyance. Kim had already interrupted several times. “We’re working on it.”

  “Is her house still a crime scene? Can she go home yet?”

  “Ma’am, we’re working on the case as quickly …”

  Kimiko tuned out Kim and the detective as she looked over at the dressing room. The door was open and yellow tape strung across to identify it as a crime scene. She could still see the blood dripping down the walls. It had been everywhere. It looked as if someone had taken a bucket of it and just flung it all over the room. But first, they’d written a message in it.

  FIND ME BEFORE I FIND YOU.

  She shivered as the icy cold fingers of fear tickled her spine. She looked over at Draven for comfort. He stood in the center of the hall, in the same spot he’d been in since the police arrived and ushered everyone out of the dressing room. Even though he stood in one spot, he seemed to be everywhere, listening to and observing everything. His nostrils flared slightly, as if he were sniffing the very air for danger.

  His eyes scanned the crowd of people outside the police barrier, which consisted of the show’s crew and the day’s guests. No one was allowed to leave until they’d been questioned by the police. A dark-haired cop questioned Draven now. Although he answered the man’s questions, he stayed aware of his surroundings, aware of her safety.

  “Not possible!” Kim said loudly, grabbing Kimiko’s attention again.

  “The concert is in the park, in an open environment,” the detective advised. “There are too many vantage points for an attacker to strike from. It’ll be too hard guarding her there.”

  “Oh, so you can’t do your job because it’s hard?” Kim responded.

  “My job is hard every day, ma’am, but it’s our job to protect the defenseless, not people who insist on doing everything they possibly can to get injured or dead. You want her safe? Keep her ass off that stage!”

  “How dare you!”

  The people still gathered around waiting to be questioned, broke out into loud murmurs as another cop, a brunette female, walked over and told the one questioning them to take a break.

  “What’s wrong?” Draven asked, approaching.

  “The police not wanting to do their job,” Kim answered.

  “Detective Brown simply advised of the risk involved in performing at the benefit concert tonight,” the female cop explained. “Of course we will do all we can to protect Ms. Lee, but we’re talking about a huge park with a massive crowd of people and no barrier between her and them.”

  “She’ll be on stage. That’s the barrier between them.”

  “Being on stage won’t stop a bullet,” the cop explained. “If anything, it’ll make it easier for the shooter to hit his mark.”

  “She’s doing the concert.”

  “They have a point,” Draven said.

  “You’re paid to protect her from threats,” Kim reminded him. “And they are paid to catch criminals. Kimiko is paid to perform. Everyone is going to do their jobs tonight and that’s that.”

  “Kimiko!”

  Kimiko tensed, recognizing the voice.

  Rex rushed toward her, his bodyguard moving the police barrier aside and dealing with the pissed off cop who saw him do so.

  Draven stepped in front of her protectively.

  “It’s fine.” She put her hand on his broad shoulder, moving around him.

  “I came as quickly as I heard,” Rex said.

  “And how did you hear?” Draven asked him, but he was looking at his bodyguard.

  “Twitter.”

  Kimiko rolled her eyes. “You didn’t need to come here.”

  “I couldn’t let you go through this alone.”

  “I’m not alone. I have Draven.”

  If looks could kill, the glare Rex gave Draven would have stopped his heart on the spot. “I’m not talking about security. Speaking of which, one personal guard is a little lax. I can loan you Lennox. He’s very good at his job.”

  “And keeping tabs on people for you?” Kimiko looked at the approaching bodyguard. “I have my own bodyguard and he also does his job well. Very well.”

  “I just want you safe.”

  “Then try talking her out of the concert tonight,” the cop muttered before walking off to question someone else.

  “You’re still doing the benefit concert in the park?”

  “Yes she is,” Kim answered for her. “It’s too important to pass up. Who cancels out of a charity event? The media would rip her to shreds.”

  “Because it’s better she be dead than a no-show,” Draven remarked.

  “She won’t be dead. It’s a benefit concert with multiple celebrities. There’s going to be security out the wazoo.” She waved her hand dismissively and walked away, arm in arm with Rex as Lennox followed them closely. “Rex, we’re stuck here a moment while the police finish up. Let’s discuss this movie.”

  “Does she ever quit pushing you?” Draven asked.

  “Never.” Kimiko sighed.

  “You can say no.”

  She shook her head. “She’s right. This is a charity event and it’s been heavily promoted.”

  “Your safety is more important than some concert.”

  “This concert is raising a lot of money for the homeless. They’re also auctioning off meet and greet packages. I can’t just not show up for that.”

  “Your stalker could be at that meet and greet.”

  “My stalker could be anywhere. Homeless people shouldn’t have to suffer because of some psycho. I understand not taking unnecessary risks, but this event is one of few things I get to do and actually feel good about. I’m actually using my fame to help people.”

  He stared down at her for a moment before nodding. “I’ll just have to have eyes everywhere.”

  “Is it true that you and Britney Starr got into a fight?” the little Hispanic girl with the long ponytail asked.

  Kimiko looked up from the poster she was currently signing, the twentieth one she’d signed since the meet and greet sessions had started an hour earlier. “Where did you hear that?”

  “It was in The Sunstar. Is that why you have all these policemen here?”

  “No
.” Kimiko looked around the small room she’d been given backstage at the amphitheater. There were ten armed police in the room, two outside, and across the room from her, was Draven. Unarmed, yet somehow more intimidating than the men and women with guns. “And no, I was never in a fight with Britney Starr. I’ve never been in a fight with anyone. Fighting is bad.”

  “What if it’s to protect yourself?”

  “Well, then I don’t really count that as fighting. That would be defense.”

  “You’re nicer than Britney Starr.”

  “I’m sure she’s just as nice as I am,” Kimiko replied with a smile.

  “She’s not. I just saw her before we came here. She was talking to some lady and said she wished you’d been shot already, and she called you overrated.”

  Kimiko’s mouth dropped open as the girl’s mother scolded her.

  “It’s alright,” she said, stopping the woman. “There’s nothing wrong with being honest. I’m sure she didn’t mean anything bad,” she added, smiling at the girl. “Now let’s get your picture.”

  She posed for a picture with the girl, gave her a hug, and sent her off.

  “That was interesting,” the same sandy-haired detective from earlier that morning said, stepping close to her.

  “Detective Brown,” Kimiko said, remembering his name. “Kim hasn’t chased you off yet.”

  “No. She’s scary, but I’ve faced scarier. This Britney Starr is here as well?”

  “Yes, she’s one of the performers tonight.”

  “Interesting. And she was at the talk show this morning.”

  “Where she was interviewed with everyone else there. You don’t think she had anything to do with that incident, do you?”

  “We have yet to figure out how someone managed to get animal blood backstage and there were very few people with access to your dressing room.” He looked at her pointedly. “I’m going to go ask her a few more questions.”

  Draven watched the detective leave the room before peeling himself away from the wall to approach. Kimiko held her breath as he neared. They hadn’t talked much since the few words they’d said to each other after the incident that morning. The rest of the day had been spent in rehearsal for the concert or doing meet and greets and interviews. She’d been kept in this room other than when she was allowed onto the stage for the soundcheck. Any communication between she and Draven had been short and directly related to her security. It was as if he purposely didn’t want to chance bringing up anything she’d said on the talk show that morning.