Her Royal Bodyguard Read online

  Erin didn’t care. She always felt like she was in a porn film when she had sex with Sophie. It was just what she needed. Sophie eventually lay satiated on the bed in a wet patch, her hair a mess and her underwear round her knees. Erin put her fingers in her own underwear and finished herself in seconds. Just looking at a well fucked Sophie was more than enough to bring her to orgasm.

  Erin got straight up and into the shower. The power of the water rushing down onto her face as she closed her eyes and raised her head to the water.

  Erin dried herself off and headed to the fridge in a towel. She went back to the bedroom with two beers. Sophie sat up in bed and took the offered bottle of beer.

  Taking a big gulp of it, she said to Erin, “Thanks so much. I needed that. I feel so much better for it.”

  And Erin did too. The sex, the beer. So many frustrations eased out.

  “So, how’s life?” Erin asked.

  “Oh, you know. Messy. Complicated. I’ve kind of been seeing this guy. But the sex is rubbish. I met a married couple online too and I am thinking of seeing them both together. Oh and I have started out as a self employed make up artist for weddings and things and I quit my other job. I mean I know I’m not OFFICIALLY a make up artist. But, I can do make up. So I figured, why get hung up on technicalities? So yeah, I’m trying to get some bookings. Struggling for money a bit, but you know how it is.”

  That was Sophie all over. Erin sighed and realised that actually, sex with Sophie was more than enough.

  Sophie left later on and Erin was enjoying another beer to herself. She had put fresh sheets on her bed and was just putting the sexed up sheets in the washing machine when her phone rang.

  “Sergeant Kennedy?” a male voice said sternly.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Chief Inspector Randle here. There’s been an accident. Princess Alexandra’s Personal Protection Officer has been injured. The Princess needs a female replacement. I need you to meet her and interview at Buckingham Palace tomorrow morning at 10am.”

  It wasn’t a question. It was an order. He knew damn well that no officer on a shitty residential security job would think twice when offered the chance to work on the heir to the British throne.

  “I’ll be there,” said Erin.

  3

  It was another grey drizzly morning as Erin in her smartest dark blue trouser suit waited at Buckingham Palace for Princess Alexandra to appear. The opulence and grandeur of the decor didn’t faze her. Since working on the palaces and castles belonging to the Royal Family, Erin was no longer surprised by the decadence both interior and exterior. It had become a strange sort of normality, working in these palaces for these people. People just like us, but different. Born to nobility, to royalty. People whose destiny from birth was one of a regal nature.

  Erin had read and heard a lot about Princess Alexandra although she always preferred to meet someone and judge them for herself. Princess Alexandra’s reputation of loveliness preceded her.

  Erin picked up a copy of Hello Magazine from the table and scanned through it. Princess Alexandra holding the hand of a dying woman, a tear glistening in her eye. Could anyone really be as compassionate, as perfect as this woman was made out to be? What were her secrets? There must be some, hiding behind the perfection. Erin might get the chance to know the real Alexandra.

  Erin stood as a member of the Princess’s staff approached. A petite girl in a waistcoat who barely looked old enough to be working for anyone, her hair immaculately twisted into a bun, her make up understated.

  “Princess Alexandra will see you now,” said the girl and she turned and motioned for Erin to follow her. Erin fell into step behind the girl whose short legs moved quickly as though she had somewhere important to be. Which she did really, at the beck and call of the future Queen.

  Erin followed the slim girl into the Princess’s drawing room. A big room with lovely wide windows overlooking the garden, a large ornate sofa and elegant chairs around a coffee table were the feature.

  Alexandra stood up as Erin entered. She was every bit as beautiful as her photographs and there was a moment, just a moment where Erin just gazed at the loveliness of her face before she remembered herself and where she was.

  Erin curtsied to her. A curtsy was a bizarre and sexist tradition and show of respect which didn’t work quite so well in the trousers Erin was wearing. They felt a touch on the tight side after Christmas indulgences and there was no give as Erin moved one foot backwards and dropped down into the curtsy nodding her head.

  “Your Royal Highness.” Erin greeted Alexandra.

  “Welcome, Sergeant Kennedy,” said Alexandra her voice dripping with privilege and importance. She approached and shook Erin’s hand. Her hand as elegant as the rest of her, fingers long and slim, nails neat and with a natural french manicure. Erin held her strong gaze without looking away.

  “You can call me Erin,” Erin replied boldly. Alexandra raised an eyebrow. “If you want, I mean,” she added hastily.

  Erin wasn’t expecting the effect that Alexandra would have on her. But she took a deep breath and pulled herself together.

  “Please sit,” said Alexandra.

  Erin sat opposite Alexandra and Alexandra summoned the petite girl that had brought her through to organise tea for them both.

  “Thank you for coming on such short notice Erin. Now, I don’t want to waste your time or my own, so I will get to the finer points of what I need in my personal bodyguard.” Alexandra’s voice was kind, but firm and Erin appreciated her directness.

  “Of course,” replied Erin.

  “Firstly, I need someone dedicated. I need someone who can live my life with me, be my shadow. You will be given time off, scheduled carefully of course and you will be compensated well. But, as I am sure you are aware, along with my increasing status, there comes increased risk with everything I do. I want to trust one person implicitly with my life. I don’t want to chop and change my personal protection regularly.”

  Erin knew exactly what she was asking. They say a truly great bodyguard should be the ‘Grey Man’ or in this case ‘Grey Woman’. They should become the shadow of the star, always there, never noticed. The Princess wanted her own shadow, she wanted to look behind her and know whose eyes she would see and they would reassure her. This was often the case with a female client, they liked to know who was looking after them, they wanted to know and trust their protection. A male client, more commonly, could have one of twenty protection officers working one to one with them and they wouldn’t care, but Alexandra wanted a face she would know to be with her at all times.

  “I’ve had a couple of incidents lately, as I am sure you have been briefed upon, with over zealous members of the public and then separately, there has been an assassination threatened by terrorists. Obviously our security services are looking closely at this assassination threat and there is nothing currently to verify it, but we have to be aware that it is there.” Alexandra’s beautiful face in the light was solemn and serious. Erin obviously had been briefed on the threats on the Princess and the level of risk but was surprised that the security service had told Alexandra herself.

  “You look surprised,” Alexandra said and she smiled. “You think they wouldn’t tell me the serious stuff?”

  “Er… no. Well.. yes. I am surprised. Usually we don’t tell the client,” stammered Erin.

  There was a knock at the door and the tea arrived on a trolley pushed by a waistcoated waiter. There was silence as he served the tea to them both and then left.

  “I need to know, Erin. It is imperative that I know everything. It is imperative that I trust you implicitly and that if I ask you something, anything, I get an honest answer. I know there is a risk attached purely to my name, to who I am and the life I was born into. I want to be the best I can be and do good things with my name and status. Make a difference to the lives of people, in both our own country and those less privileged. If the price I pay for the good that I do ends up bein
g my life, I am okay with that. But I want to work with someone who will give me all the information, someone who will protect me, but also advise me and help me make choices. Can you be that person?”

  “I can always be honest with you, yes,” replied Erin.

  “Good,” said Alexandra. “My other requirement is that you don’t have family, a partner, children? I don’t want to take you away from your family. I need to be able to be selfish at times. I need someone who can become part of my life. Do you have children Erin?”

  “Er…. no.”

  “A partner?” asked Alexandra.

  Erin thought for a moment about Sophie. Hot Sophie. Sexy Sophie and all the wild sex they had had.

  Then she thought about her loneliness and her sad apartment.

  “Er….no.”

  “So you could dedicate your life to me?” asked the Princess. “I cannot ask you for forever, but for a few years at least. Be with me, be by my side, be the one I look to and trust with my life.”

  “Er, yes.” Erin said, wishing she had some more words than errr.. But she didn’t. Alexandra kept fixing her with those intense blue eyes and Erin was lost for words.

  “Erin, another thing, can you ride horses? Your resume said you could, but I really need to be sure. I often ride when I can and I like to ride other places than just the palace grounds. I like to ride fast and I like to jump whatever I can. I am very limited on this if I don’t have personal security that can keep up with me. My last bodyguard had an accident falling from the horse.”

  Erin smiled. For once, something she was confident at.

  “Sure, I grew up riding and I actually used to work with horses before I was in the police. I worked for an Event rider. Riding horses, galloping and jumping, for me is as easy as walking on my own feet.”

  Alexandra smiled widely. The smile that newspapers around the world loved to capture.

  “Oh wonderful. I can’t wait to get back out there. I have some lovely horses. I’m sure you will find one that you like.”

  Alexandra’s expression changed suddenly and she became serious again. “Erin, I would love to take you on to work for me. There is one more thing. I know you will be made to sign further Non Disclosure Agreements before starting with me, but there are times I will ask you for complete confidentiality on my movements. Not just regarding public disclosure but also regarding disclosure to other members of the Royal Family, my father-the king. Sometimes I will even ask you for confidentiality from the rest of the security team, from your boss, confidentiality from everyone. Can you make me that promise?” Alexandra looked earnest and almost vulnerable as she asked.

  What secrets was she hiding, Erin wondered. Promising to keep secrets from the rest of the security team and her boss went against all of her training. Promising to keep too many secrets was a really bad idea. Alexandra obviously went to places she didn’t want anyone to know about. But, in reality, how much risk was attached to this?

  Before she could stop herself, Erin had replied. “Sure. I promise. Whatever confidentiality you need, you have it. You have my word.”

  Their eyes connected and Alexandra smiled and stood up.

  “Thank you very much Erin.”

  “JESS,” she called out towards the door.

  The door opened and an over keen Jess practically ran into the room.

  “Yes Ma’am,” said Jess quickly.

  “Organise for Sergeant Kennedy’s belongings to be moved into my adjoining suite as a matter of priority.”

  “Sergeant Kennedy, you will start with me tomorrow morning. My security team will brief you and give you my schedule. Jess, please show Sergeant Kennedy out.”

  Just like that, Erin was given the biggest promotion there was in her line of work. Erin smiled to herself as she followed little Jess out. Protection of one of the most famous women in the world. This was exactly what she had trained for.

  4

  Erin was at the palace for 7am the next morning. Her clothes and belongings, not that there were a lot of them, were being moved for her. She met the rest of the Princess’s security team at the Security offices.

  “Sergeant Kennedy, great to see you.” boomed the voice of a big bald headed man in a dark suit, every inch the stereotypical bodyguard image. “I’m Chief Inspector Mark Evans. I realise this is your first real Close Protection job, but we were really struggling to find a female officer that Rose would accept and that could damn well ride horses as well as she wants them to. We have better officers than you and we have tried to train them to ride to the desired standard but it seems it is a skill required over years, not something that we can get someone up to speed with in a couple of months. ”

  “Rose?” Erin asked, confused.

  “Rose is Princess Alexandra’s Code Name. We always refer to her as Rose internally and on phone/radio et cetera for safety.”

  “Please tell me you weren’t lying or exaggerating when you said you can ride to a high level?” he said.

  “Not at all,” replied Erin. “I’ve done it all my life. The riding will be no problem at all.”

  “Thank fuck for that. I can’t have any more officers with broken legs. No fucking use to me with broken legs.” Erin remained reserved. She couldn’t tell if Chief Inspector Evans was serious.

  “You can laugh you know. I am funny,” he said.

  “Sure,” replied Erin cringing for him.

  “Anyway. You weren’t my choice, but you are hers, and one way or another, she outranks me. I could list fifty male officers who would be a far better choice, however she wants a female who can ride so we are stuck with you. All we can hope is that your ineptitude doesn’t get the future queen of our country fucking killed. Capisce?”

  Erin despised his use of the Italian word for effect, she hated his patronising attitude towards her, she hated his big shiny sweaty face. But she figured he would desire a response.

  “Sure, I’ve got it.”

  “Here is the current folder on Rose, her likes, dislikes, her public schedule for the next month, past issues, current issues, her drivers, her cars, her team, everything about them. I suggest you take it away and get reading. We will run a briefing for the team every morning at 7am on the day ahead. Following that I will arrange for a 1:1 for you every morning with an experienced Close Protection officer so we are constantly upskilling you. We need you to be the best, which we obviously cannot achieve but let’s hope for her sake we can get you up to a vaguely passable standard.”

  “This morning you will have Firearms training with me. Rose won’t be moving until this afternoon so I’ll take you out to the range and see if you can shoot.”

  “Sure,” replied Erin.

  I’ll show you I can damn well shoot, she thought to herself. I am SO much better than you think I am.

  Hours later and Erin had managed to shoot ‘pretty well for a beginner’ according to Evans, so she was beginning to prove herself slowly but surely.

  Alexandra’s schedule said she was leaving for horse riding at 2pm so Erin got ready for 1.30pm. She wore her riding clothes and pulled on the shoulder holster for her 9mm Glock 17 pistol. She fed her earpiece radio wire through the sleeve of the jacket they had given her to the wrist and then put it on covering the gun. People in the UK are always shocked by guns. Erin had been trained to keep her weapon concealed. Her riding hat and a change of clothes were in a bag she asked Jess to have taken down to the cars. She looked in the mirror and took a deep breath. She was ready. First day as bodyguard to the future Queen. She smiled. She figured the riding might be a test, so she was ready for whatever Alexandra had to throw at her.

  Alexandra swept out of her apartment at 2pm exactly.

  “Good afternoon Erin,” she said.

  “Good afternoon Ma’am,” Erin replied and she fell into step behind Alexandra. She lifted her wrist and the microphone for her radio to her lips and spoke quietly:

  “This is Kennedy. Rose is on the move. Over.”

  She heard t
he response immediately from James the driver:

  “Roger. We are ready to go. Over”

  They headed down the wide staircase, through the grand hallway, out of the main palace doors. The three black Range Rovers waited patiently. James was holding open the back door of the second vehicle. Alexandra got in the back of the Range Rover and Erin got in the front passenger seat. James got into the driver’s seat.

  “Good afternoon Ma’am.” said James jovially. “Everything as the schedule for this afternoon?”

  “Please, James,” Alexandra responded.

  James started the car and Erin spoke into the radio:

  “This is Kennedy. Rose is moving as per the schedule. Over.”

  Then they set off. So far, so good, thought Erin. Everything going smoothly. There was a lot more to Close Protection than most people realised. It wasn’t about running round with a gun, taking out the bad guys as if you were in a movie. So much of it was the complex dance of radio transmissions, working with your team, informing your back up of your moves, making sure you didn’t impede on the Princess’s life any more than was absolutely necessary. Planning ahead to avoid danger, being extremely vigilant at all times. Very rarely were you expected to fight or shoot. But, if you did need to, you had better hope your skills were up to scratch or everything would end badly. Very, very badly.

  They arrived at a large hilly woodland owned by the Royal Family. There was a horse box there and two stable girls standing outside of it holding beautiful horses. A small, compact grey horse and a big rangy looking chestnut. The horses wore saddles and bridles ready and the stable girls huddled in coats and scarves against the cold wind. Erin had studied maps of the woodland, memorised all the tracks. Studied Google Earth to try and get a handle on the many tracks, but she knew that she wouldn’t know it quite well enough yet. Not until she had been round in person. There were two GPS wristbands she had been issued with. A silver one engraved with ‘Rose’, she handed to Alexandra as they got out of the car.