The Cult of Osiris Read Online Free PDF Page B

present Eddie with five hundred dollars in exchange for a carton of juice. By the time he arrived at the Upper West Side apartment, both chicks' had gone, though either one had forgotten to retrieve her hot pink thong from Grant's lounge or the actor had a fetish he would prefer the tabloids didn't discover.
    Whichever was the case, neither was Eddie's concern: his job was only to keep Grant from physical harm. After he and Nina had been fired from the IHA, he had called upon his extensive list of contacts from both his military career as a member of Britain's elite Special
    Air Service and his subsequent work as a freelance bodyguard and troubleshooter to find new work. His reluctance to spend any length of time away from his new wife had limited his options, but eventually a friend had put him in contact with a man called Charlie Brooks, who ran a 'personal protection agency' for New York's wealthy and famous. The assignments meant unpredictable hours, but they at least paid enough - just - for Eddie to support himself and Nina.
    Even if certain economies had been necessary.
    Eddie suspected he would hear about the largest of them yet again when he got home, but for now his mind was on the job. Grant had just spent more on an Italian suit than Eddie used to earn in a month at the IHA, and the shopping expedition was far from over.
    Okay, that's my outfit for the mayor's event tonight,' said the actor, checking his reflection in a mirror and making a millimetric adjustment to his gelled hair before heading for the exit. Eddie opened the door for him, then smoothly moved past to check Fifth Avenue for potential trouble. No crazed fans or irate movie critics awaited them. So next, let's see . . . Harmann's.'
    Not your usual style,' Eddie remarked. Though every bit as far out of his price range as the store they had just left, he knew that the tailor's suits were considerably more conservative.
    I need something formal for tomorrow, dude,' Grant explained. 'It's not every day I meet a religious leader/
    Eddie raised an eyebrow; nothing he had seen suggested his charge was the remotest bit spiritual. 'Didn't know the Pope was in town.'
    It's not the Pope, dude. Better than that! It's my man, Osir!
    Who?'
    Khalid Osir! You know, the Osirian Temple?' You mean that cult?'
    For the first time since Eddie had met him, Grant sounded offended. Dude, it's not a cult! It's a real religion, changed my life. You want to stay young for ever? They can help you do
    it.' He raised both hands to his tanned, blandly handsome face. I'm twenty-nine, right? But I haven't aged a day since I was twenty-seven . What more proof do you need, man?'
    Guess you're right,' said Eddie, straight-faced. Grant seemed mollified. So, this . . . religion. Expensive, is it?'
    No, no! It's not like some con job. You can donate whatever you like. And it's up to you if you want to buy their stuff.
    Stuff?'
    You know, the stuff that tells you how to follow the path to eternal life. Books, DVDs, diet supplements, bottles of genuine Egyptian sand, these awesome little pyramid dealies that energise the air in a room
    Got you,' Eddie said, his suspicions about the cult's priorities confirmed.
    I'm going to a meeting tomorrow - got a personal VIP invite. Short notice, but no way was I going to miss it. Actually getting to meet Osir, it's like - like when an ordinary person meets me. Or Jesus! It'll be so cool.'
    Speaking of ordinary people . . .' said Eddie, suppressing his sarcasm as he spotted three wealthy-looking young women reacting with squeals of delight at the sight of the movie star. He moved in front of Grant to intercept them.
    I think I can handle this, dude,' Grant said, grinning. Eddie moved aside, but still kept a close watch as they clattered over on their Jimmy Choos. Hi, ladies! How are you?
    One woman seemed on the verge of hyperventilating, fanning herself with a small Gucci bag as the other two bombarded Grant with praise for his most recent movie - more