Felix sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “You received a death threat this morning, Bender. It would be completely irresponsible of me to send you out in the field.”

I threw my hands up in the air. “It was a prank call! Probably a couple of teenagers.”

“Probably,” he said, jumping on the word.

“This is so unfair. This is so fuc—”

“Bender…” he warned.

“So flipping unfair. That is my godda—goldarned story. I’ve been freaking reporting on that sonofagoat Pines since the beginning, and you give it to a hot pair of cantaloupes because some little snotweasel of a kid pranks me?”

I think I heard the other man chuckle, but I tuned him out, my entire pissed-off being focused on Felix.

“I have a responsibility for your safety, Bender.”

“It’s a courthouse. I’ll be perfectly safe!”

“Yes, you will.”

I opened my mouth to argue, when I realized he’d agreed with me. I shut it with a click.

“Right. Thank you.”

“You’ll be perfectly safe because I’ve hired you a bodyguard.”

I blinked. Feeling my face go hot until I’d swear there was cartoon steam pouring out my ears. “A what?”

“Tina, meet Calvin Dean.” He gestured to the other guy.

I turned, giving the man my full attention now. He was tall, almost a head taller than Felix. Broad in the shoulders, slim in the waist. I could tell by the way his T-shirt fit over his biceps that he spent a fair amount of time at the gym. His hair was dark, just curling over his ears, and he had a neatly trimmed goatee that gave him a slightly devilish look. And I could swear his dark eyes were laughing at me.

Which did nothing to lighten my mood.

“You got me a rent-a-goon?” I asked, turning back to Felix.

“Play nice, Bender,” Felix warned. “Think of him like your insurance plan.”

“Hi.” The bodyguard stuck his hand out.

I looked at it.

“Nice to meet you, Tina.”

I stuck my hands on my hips. And turned back to Felix.

“I don’t need a bodyguard. It was one phone call. I can take care of myself.”

“It was a death threat. Made from a blocked number by someone who disguised their voice. These were not some drunk kids. Whoever did this thought it through, took their time, and made sure not to get caught.”

I bit my lip. While I was pretty sure this was still just a prank, Felix had a point. And the fact that someone had put so much thought into trying to scare me took the wind out of my sails a bit.