Chapter 62 – "The Pride of the Family"
Pritchett-Tucker Family Home – Los Angeles
It was a quiet night in Los Angeles, and the entire Pritchett-Tucker family was gathered in the living room. Cam and Mitchell were on the couch, with a large bowl of popcorn between them, while Lily was on the floor, fiddling with her phone. The TV was on the entertainment channel, broadcasting Beyoncé's live show at Madison Square Garden.
Jay and Gloria had stopped by for a quick visit, but ended up staying when they learned that Grant would be appearing on TV. Claire, Phil, and the children were also there, all curious to see the former Delta's new job.
— "This is still so strange to me," Claire commented, with a smile. "My nephew, who until yesterday was playing soccer in the backyard, is now Beyoncé's personal bodyguard."
— "That just proves that we raised an elite warrior," Cam said proudly, grabbing a handful of popcorn.
On the screen, Beyoncé was on stage, shining like the star she was. The audience was screaming wildly as she began to sing "Halo." But what really caught everyone's attention was the tall, imposing figure, wearing a perfectly fitted black suit, standing a few feet away from her, always alert.
— "Look at him!" Mitchell pointed, excitedly. "Our son is there, in the middle of all this!"
Jay, who had been silent until then, crossed his arms and nodded proudly.
— "The boy knows what he's doing. Look at his posture. Alert all the time, analyzing the environment. He doesn't even seem to be watching the show."
— "That's because he's not!" Phil laughed. "He's in combat mode. He's probably already planned about five escape routes in case of an emergency."
Luke looked at his uncle and laughed.
— "That's so cool. He looks like those guys from action movies."
— "He basically is an action movie guy, Luke." — Hailey commented, without taking her eyes off the screen.
On stage, Beyoncé finished the song and walked to the side to descend a small staircase. That's when Grant elegantly stepped into action, extending his hand to help the singer down safely.
The event camera captured the moment, and the commentators began talking about it.
— "Look at that, folks! That's Grant Tucker-Pritchett, Beyoncé's new personal security guard. Besides being a highly trained ex-military man, he's also a true gentleman!"
— "Looks like Queen B is in good hands, huh?" — The other commentator added.
In the room, everyone erupted in excited reactions.
— "OUR SON IS A GENTLEMAN!" — Cam said proudly, clapping his hands.
— "I taught him that!" — Mitchell joked, raising his hand as if accepting the credit.
Jay chuckled softly and took a sip of his drink.
— "Well, at least he learned to be polite. But what really matters is that he's at the top of his game. High-level security, protecting one of the most famous women in the world."
Lily, who had been looking at her phone until then, looked at the TV and smiled.
— "I'm sure this is going to trend on TikTok. Everyone's going to want to know who Beyoncé's hot security guard is."
— "Lily!" — Mitchell exclaimed, laughing.
— "What? I'm just telling the truth."
On the screen, the show continued, but now the Pritchett-Tuckers were focused on Grant. Every step he took, every watchful glance around, every small movement was analyzed by them.
— "I wonder what he's thinking right now." — Phil commented.
Gloria smiled and said:
— "Probably something like, 'who are the threats in this place and how can I get them out of here in less than five seconds'."
Everyone laughed, because they knew that was exactly what was going through Grant's mind. Even in such a glamorous environment, he remained the trained soldier he had always been. But now, he wasn't dealing with terrorists or hostage rescues... but with a pop queen.
And his family couldn't have been prouder.
Chapter 63 – "Back Home"
Los Angeles – Claire and Phil's House
Grant parked his black SUV in the driveway of his aunt Claire's house. He had just landed in Los Angeles after weeks working on Beyoncé's personal security during her tour. The job had been impeccable, and the singer herself had told him that whenever she needed him again, he would be her first choice.
It was a warm and sunny afternoon in LA, and the familiar air of the city made him let out a sigh of relief. As much as he was used to traveling the world on missions, nothing compared to the comfort of being home with his family.
When he got out of the car and climbed the porch steps, the front door was already ajar, indicating that someone had already seen him arrive.
— "Grant!" — Hailey's excited voice was the first to sound as she ran to hug him.
— "Good to see you too, Hailey!" — He laughed, returning the hug.
— "Come on in!" — Claire called from the living room. "Your parents are already here and we're all dying of curiosity!"
Grant entered the house and was immediately greeted by Mitchell and Cam, who were sitting on the sofa next to Phil, Gloria, and Claire. They all had expressions of pure anticipation.
— "My son! Finally back!" — Cam opened his arms, but before he could get up, Grant had already bent down and hugged him and Mitchell at the same time.
— "Good to see you, Dad. You too, Dad."
— "Sit down, Grant!" — Claire pointed to an empty armchair. "We want to know everything!"
Grant laughed, sitting down and resting his elbows on his knees.
— "Okay, where do I begin?"
— "With the most important thing!" — Hailey interrupted. "What is Beyoncé like behind the scenes?"
— "Yes, I want to know too!" — Gloria said excitedly.
Claire nodded enthusiastically.
— "The woman is an icon, Grant! Is she really that amazing?" Grant shook his head, laughing.
— "Okay, okay... Yes, Beyoncé is incredible. But besides being the star everyone knows on stage, she's also extremely professional. She treats her entire team with respect and makes a point of thanking everyone all the time."
Mitchell smiled.
— "So she really is a sweetheart?"
Grant nodded.
— "Definitely. But at the same time, she's a businesswoman. She always knows exactly what she wants and how she wants it. She doesn't have time for mistakes and expects everything to work perfectly. But that doesn't mean she's rude or arrogant. On the contrary, she's very calm and confident."
— "And her security?" — Phil asked. "Did you think the setup was well-organized or did it have flaws?"
Grant laughed.
— "Her security team is very well-trained. They know what they're doing. But yes, there were some strategic flaws that I helped correct."
— "And the fans?" — Gloria asked. "Any problems with people trying to get too close?"
Grant sighed.
— "Several. But nothing that got out of control. Some more enthusiastic fans tried to cross the security barriers a few times, but nothing too serious. The biggest problem is always dealing with paparazzi trying to get in where they shouldn't."
Hailey crossed her arms and smiled.
— "And the most important question... Does she really sing live?"
Grant laughed.
— "Yes, Hailey, she sings live. I saw it with my own eyes."
Claire shook her head, impressed.
— "Well, I have to admit, I'm even more impressed now."
Cam looked at Grant with pride in his eyes.
— "And did she say anything to you at the end of the job?"
Grant nodded.
— "Yes, she thanked me personally. She said she really liked my work and that if she needs security again in the future, she'll call me."
The whole room filled with excited murmurs.
— "That's huge!" — Mitchell exclaimed. "Being personally called by Beyoncé? That means you really impressed her."
Grant shrugged.
"I just did my job, like I always do. But yes, it's good to know I made a difference."
Phil smiled.
"So, what's next? Are you going to take another job right away or are you going to take some time to rest?"
Grant crossed his arms and thought for a moment.
"I don't know yet. After years in the army and now in this private security world, maybe I'll take a few days for myself. But, knowing this market, it shouldn't be long before another interesting offer comes along."
Gloria smiled and placed a hand on Grant's shoulder.
"Regardless of what you choose, we just want you to be safe and happy."
Grant smiled.
"Thank you, Gloria. But don't worry, I know how to take care of myself."
Cam looked at Mitchell with a satisfied smile.
"Our boy is shining in the world of security!"
Mitchell smiled and looked at Grant.
"And we couldn't be prouder of you."
Grant nodded, feeling a familiar warmth in his chest. After so many missions around the world, so many battles faced, it was good to know that, at the end of the day, he would always have his family by his side.
Chapter 64 – "New Clients, New Challenges"
Los Angeles – Sentinel Office
Grant was in the Sentinel office when Mercer entered with a smile on his face and a file in his hand.
— "Grant, you're in high demand. After your work with Beyoncé, we have another special request for you."
Grant raised an eyebrow and took the file.
— "Who is it this time?"
— "Justin and Hailey Bieber. They want you to handle their security for a while. In addition, they want you to train their private security guards to reinforce the team."
Grant flipped through the file, analyzing the details. The Bieber couple already had a solid security system, but they wanted an elite professional to further elevate the team's level.
— "And there's one more detail," Mercer continued. "They want you to meet their son, Jack. Hailey said she feels more confident when the security guards actually know the family."
Grant smiled slightly.
— "Interesting. That makes sense. I accept."
Mercer nodded.
— "Great. I'll let them know you're in. You start tomorrow."
The next day, Grant arrived at the Bieber's luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills. The property was gigantic, surrounded by high walls, security cameras, and reinforced gates. He was greeted by one of the security guards, who led him to the living room.
Justin Bieber appeared first, wearing casual clothes and a gold chain around his neck.
— "Grant! Man, it's an honor to have you here."
They shook hands firmly.
— "Thank you, Justin. It's a pleasure."
Hailey appeared shortly after, holding little Jack in her arms. The baby, with rosy cheeks and bright eyes, looked at Grant curiously.
— "Hi, Grant! Welcome to our home."
— "Thank you, Hailey. And this must be little Jack."
Hailey smiled and looked at her son.
— "Yes! He's growing fast. Do you want to hold him?" Grant hesitated for a second, but then accepted. Hailey handed the baby to him, and Jack immediately grabbed one of Grant's fingers with his little hand.
— "He likes you!" — Justin laughed.
— "Good sign." — Grant smiled. "Looks like we already have a bond."
After a few minutes of interaction, Hailey took Jack back and sat down next to Justin.
— "So, about security…" — Justin began. "We want you to accompany us whenever we go out and, on your days off, to train our team."
Grant nodded.
— "No problem. I'll assess the current protocols and see where we can improve."
The next day, Grant accompanied Justin and Hailey on an outing to a trendy restaurant in Los Angeles. They were used to paparazzi and fans, but this time, they wanted even more discreet and effective security.
As the couple walked to the car, Grant observed the surroundings. He identified potential threats in seconds, analyzed escape routes, and maintained a professional demeanor.
When they arrived at the restaurant, the paparazzi were already waiting.
— "Grant, do you want us to wait a little before getting out of the car?" — Hailey asked.
— "No need. Just stay in the middle of the security guards and walk straight inside."
As soon as they got out, the flashes went off and the reporters started shouting questions. Grant remained calm, walking alongside the couple and observing any suspicious movements.
Inside the restaurant, Justin smiled.
— "Man, that was smooth. Usually, it's more chaotic."
— "The secret is control and anticipation." — Grant replied. "Now, enjoy your meal. We're keeping an eye on everything."
In the following days, Grant began training the Bieber's security team. He set up defense exercises, evacuation tactics, and simulations of risky situations.
— "High-level security isn't just about being big and strong." — Grant explained. "It's about anticipation, strategy, and control." He demonstrated how to protect clients in riot situations, how to quickly identify threats, and how to react without causing panic.
— "And remember," — he emphasized. "Your job is to ensure that Justin, Hailey, and Jack are safe without making them feel like they're trapped in a bubble."
The team quickly absorbed the lessons. At the end of the training, Justin showed up to see the progress.
— "So, how are we doing?"
Grant smiled.
— "They're improving quickly. But we still have work to do."
Justin laughed.
— "I trust you, man."
After weeks of work, the contract was coming to an end. Justin and Hailey called Grant for one last meeting before he left.
— "Grant, we just want to thank you for everything." — Hailey said. "You made a huge difference for us."
— "It was a pleasure working with you." — Grant replied.
Justin shook his hand.
— "And if we need security in the future, we know who to call."
Grant smiled.
— "Whenever you need me, just let me know."
Hailey held Jack in her arms and made him wave goodbye.
— "I think Jack will miss you!"
Grant laughed.
— "He's a little warrior. You have an amazing son."
With a final handshake and warm goodbyes, Grant left the Bieber mansion, satisfied with another job well done. He knew this was just another step in his new life in private security – and that even bigger challenges were yet to come.
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