It was a struggle with the short week, but I was able to write another chapter.

Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 161.

I couldn't answer Jess because I didn't know how we could protect ourselves if Bernini came after us. We didn't have bodyguards like the Locarnos. Neither of us was trained in any way to deal with physical attacks. My only weapon was my mind. I knew all about medicine, about diagnosing patients. They say the tongue is mightier than the sword, and I could sure use mine, and had, to slay opponents. But somehow I didn't think that would work this time.

"I guess we have to surround ourselves with people who can protect us." I knew it was lame when I said it.

"And who do you know who can do that?" Was that fear in her voice? Had I put both of us in real danger?

"Let me work on that angle. You have enough to deal with for tomorrow night."

"Alright." She didn't sound convinced. "I'll be with Nina and our staff, not that any of them have experience in hand-to-hand combat, but at least I won't be alone."

"Good. I'll let you know if I come up with something." I was already running through the people I knew in my head when I ended the phone call. Could I ask Marcello and Ricky to loan me some of their bodyguards? It might have to come to that.

First I'd find out who on my team could help. Foreman probably had contacts, but what about the others? As much as I knew about them all, there were some things I didn't know.

With lawnmower guy diagnosed, we didn't have a patient again. I didn't have to go far to find most of my team. Chase, Foreman and Thirteen sat in the conference room, arguing about something. Normally I'd find out what it was and tell them they were all wrong, but I was on a mission.

I slammed my cane on the table to get their attention. "Which one of you wants to play secret service man?"

Foreman rolled his eyes and sneered. "What kind of game is that?"

"Jess and I might need a little...uh, protection for a few days. I need a volunteer." I glared back at Foreman.

"So you finally made someone mad enough at you that you're in physical danger?" Foreman grinned. "Well, it's about time."

"Why would someone be after both of you?" Thirteen asked, then sneered at Foreman. "Jess never did anything to anyone."

"She's about to become a success without her father's help. He's lost his control of her and his other children, and I don't think he likes that very much."

"So it's Giordano who's coming after you?" Chase shook his head. "That wouldn't be enough to cause him to retaliate."

"Oh, no? Ask your girlfriend what she thinks. He's a vindictive bastard, almost as bad as Mike Morgan."

"What does this have to do with him?" Foreman's smile had disappeared.

I shook my head. "He's probably out of the picture, at least for a while, but he's not the only thug working for Molino."

"I didn't even know Morgan worked for him." Thirteen looked confused. "House, you're not making sense. Why don't you tell us what happened that has you needing a bodyguard."

I told them about Giordano's visit and his ties to Molino as well as all I knew about Bernini.

Foreman shook his head. "You really did it this time. Why can't you keep your nose out of other people's business? What made this your fight?"

"They kidnapped Jess, or don't you remember that? Morgan crashed his own truck into Chase's car, and then he used a Bernini Fruit Company truck to trash the front window of the place where Marisa works. I think that's enough."

Thirteen stretched her arms out. "Since we don't have a patient, I'd be willing to babysit Jess and Nina."

"Why am I not surprised, but do you think you're a match for Bernini?" I asked.

She grinned. "I can charm him into submission. I also have a gun."

"You do?" Foreman's eyes went wide.

"A girl can't be too careful." She smirked at her former lover.

"I think I know a guy who'd gladly protect you," Chase told me. "Remember the wrestler we diagnosed a few months ago?"

"Blood clot guy? Yeah. Don't tell me you've kept in touch with him." I wasn't really surprised. Each member of my team had formed attachments to former patients.

Chase just smiled. "I'll give you his number."

So, Jess and I might be taken care of, but what about Bev? If Giordano ever learned that she was actually Bertoli's daughter, what would he do? And then there was Petey. Driving for Bernini wasn't the safest place for him, but maybe being Giordano's son, he'd be okay.

"When did you start thinking about anyone else's safety?" Foreman asked.

Had I been thinking aloud about Bev and Petey? Or had he made a lucky guess?

"I think it started with Christopher and Ellie," Chase replied for me.

"I pick and choose who I worry about." What else could I say?

Thirteen smirked. "That let's us out."

I scratched the back of my neck. She was right. "Do you know where Jess and Nina's office is?"

A crease formed between her eyes. "You mean you want me to go now?"

"Sure, why not?"

She shrugged, got up, grabbed her things and left.

"I'll go call Edgar." I held out my hand so Chase could give me his number.

He found a sheet of paper and wrote it down. "I'm surprised you remembered his name."

"It wasn't easy to forget." I limped back to my office and called. When he answered, I said, "Mr. Allen? This is Dr. House."

"How are you, Doc?"

"I'm fine. How are you?" I rolled my eyes as we exchanged pleasantries. "No more blood clots?"

"Not that I know of. How can I help you?" he asked.

How could I explain in as few words as possible? "I need a bodyguard for a few days, and I thought of you."

"Who's after you?" It was an obvious question, but coming in his booming voice, I was intimidated.

"Some mobsters who are trying to muscle into the central New Jersey area. They don't like the idea that I might know what they're up to."

"Mobsters, huh? Well, I'm your guy if the money's right."

I hadn't thought about how much to offer. "What's your price?"

He didn't hesitate. "Fifty bucks an hour."

That sounded steep. Maybe he'd take less. "Thirty-five."

"You're kidding, right? You need me, so I set the price. How about forty-five?"

"Forty-two fifty." I had to haggle or he'd think he could hit me up for more when he was through.

This time he paused. "Alright. When do I start?"

"How about right now? I'm in my office at the hospital and there are lots of people around, but we've had our share of hostage situations."

"Yeah, I read about that." So, the guy could read and count past ten. He was smarter than I thought. "I'll be there in forty minutes. Gotta make a couple of calls first."

"Are you planning on telling anyone about this?" I hoped he didn't have ties to Giordano or Molino.

"Only my girl, Cheryl. She runs a fitness center over on Maple. Gotta tell her we'll have to postpone dinner tonight."

I hadn't thought about food for almost an hour. "Where were you going?"

"She likes this place call the Melting Pot?" He chuckled. "Never thought I'd like that fondu stuff until I tried it."

I had to laugh. "If you wouldn't mind a double date, you can still take her and I'll bring my...my friend. She likes that place, too."

"Then I'll tell Cheryl to meet us there at six-thirty."

"See you soon."

Chase's suggestion was turning out to be better than I thought. I called Jess to make sure she didn't have other plans for us. She was happy to learn we were going to Bertoli's place, but even happier that I'd come up with protection for both of us, and her sister, too.

When Edgar showed up, I smiled. He was bigger than I remembered. "I'm glad you called, Doc. I'm having a hard time finding work. The wrestling circuit has way too many guys ready to go into the ring, and no one wants to hire a guy with a degree in History." He was full of surprises.

"Where'd you go to school?"

"Got my undergraduate at Rutgers. It was all I could afford. Took some graduate courses, but I could tell getting a masters wouldn't help me get work. Maybe I shoulda gone into medicine like you."

"Did you wrestle in college?" I asked.

"Yeah, I was on the wrestling team. It was either that or football." He looked around my office. "Nice digs."

"Have a seat." I pointed my cane at the visitors chair on the other side of my desk.

Once he did, he said, "So tell me who's after you and why."

I gave him the full story. From the way he listened and the questions he asked, I could tell he was intrigued by the situation.

"These guys don't mess around, do they?"

"No. And now I'm in a situation where I have to defend myself rather than figure out why Molino has a vendetta against the Locarnos."

Edgar nodded. "I think Molino's deceased wife is a dead end, pardon the pun. He seems more interested in his business dealings and in gaining a foothold in New Jersey."

"Yes, that's becoming more and more obvious."

"When did Tony Locarno come to this country?"

"He was a young man and he came from a different part of Italy." I shook my head. "I'm convinced this doesn't have anything to do with ancient history between the families."

"Okay, then, when did Molino start his car businesses here?"

I smiled. That was something I'd never checked. Edgar Allen was turning out to be much more than a bodyguard. "I hadn't looked into when." I started a search on each of the two shops. The first, the one on Old Trenton Road, had been started eight years ago, soon after Molino prevented Locarno from starting a business in Palermo.

Sitting back in my chair, I smiled. Maybe we were on to something, thanks to my new friend.