His To Protect (Four Seasons Security Book 1)

by Bianca Wynters

  “Oh, he is going to be even more pissed off when he finds out who you really are, and that they have us both.”

  I just hope Ash doesn’t let his anger take over and get reckless. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. I’m so sorry you got pulled into this.

  “What are you sorry for, that Andrew bastard is from one of my brother’s cases. Ash helped Andrew’s ex-wife put him in jail and then helped her change her identity and leave town with their daughter. Andrew is after payback. What I do not know is who the other guy is or why he is involved, but it doesn’t matter he sealed his fate the minute he decided to take part.”

  Well, I know who the other guy is; his name is Josh. He is my psycho ex, and I think he killed my brother; I just haven’t been able to prove it. I’m the reason he has stitches in his head right now; I smashed a glass bowl over his head just before Ash came to the rescue. So part of this is my fault.

  “Ali or I guess you go by Lana now; anyway, this is not your fault. They didn’t discover your connection to Ash until you were already here in town. By the way, did I hear him say something about you and Ash getting married?”

  That last question makes me smile. I tell her about the run in with Josh at the grocery store. She softly chuckles, “yea that sounds like Ash. He is always inserting himself when he thinks someone needs his help, whether they actually do or not. He was such a pain when I was in high school. He always ran guys off before things could get interesting, everyone learned quickly about my big brother.”

  I remember very well how big brothers are. Hell, it was Ash who pulled Paul away from me before he could kiss me at a party in high school. Both Jake and Ash were so mad at me for sneaking out. Ash just happen to be the one who caught me at the party.

  We both chuckle. I ask her how long she has been here. She told me that they grabbed her at the hospital about seven o’clock or so. So you haven’t gotten the update on your dad then? Just as I begin to tell her about her dad possibly being moved the door opens, and Josh walks back in.

  “Picture time ladies.”

  He walks over to the table where he was standing with Andrew earlier. He grabs a scalpel then walks over to us. “Who wants to be first?” As soon as his words are out, he slices down the front of Clara’s shirt. She is trying so hard to be strong and not cry. Before he touches her, I start screaming at him and trying to come out of the chair I’m tied to. He backhands me and tells me to shut up; then he slices my shirt open. Unfortunately, I am in my pjs and not wearing a bra.

  “Ah, Lana, how I have missed seeing and touching your body, especially these nice perky tits of yours. I can see them bounce as you used to ride my cock. But, no, you had to go a ruin that for me. Well, they won’t be perfect for anyone else.”

  As he says it he slashes across each of my breasts with the scalpel. I don’t know if it’s a good thing he doesn’t really know how to use one or not; because, as it is I think the damage is just superficial. It could have been much worse.

  Andrew walks in and starts yelling at Josh just to take the pictures, telling him that he will have plenty of time to play with us later. Josh snaps about a dozen pictures of us making sure he has an excuse to squeeze, pinch and slap our tits during the process.

  Clara’s breathing has picked up. I know she is scared; especially when Josh went to move her shirt out of the way for his pictures; she was nearly hyperventilating before he finished.

  Clara, I need you to slow your breathing. I know it’s hard, but I need you to calm down. You know Ash and his team will get us out of here. You have to believe that. We also, need to have a plan just in case they move us before the team gets here.

  “But he cut you. You never made a sound, how do you do it?”

  I have dealt with Josh enough to know how he works. He wanted a reaction out of me. That weaselly fucker has it coming don’t you worry. Right now, let’s start thinking of ways to get out of here. If Josh tied us to the chairs, we should be able to work the knots loose enough to break our hands-free. It won’t be easy but should be doable.

  We both spend our time trying to loosen our ties. Clara’s wrists are red and starting to swell a little from the friction, and my wrist has started to bleed just a little from the burns left by the rope.

  Josh comes in just as I get my ropes enough to get my hands free.

  “Well ladies, I think it is play time. Andrew is gone to take care of some business so it is just the three of us and you both are too tempting to just leave all alone in here. I don’t see why I can’t get some warm wet pleasure from you before we have to cut you into pieces.”

  Chapter 28

  Ash

  The house they are in is in a rundown part of town. It looks like it might be the only house on this back street that has lights on. We park down the street and approach on foot to help keep our appearance as much of a surprise as possible. I am so anxious to get in and get to Clara and Lana. Just before we get to the door, Leo tells me to get Clara he will get Lana. He knows I am struggling; knowing that both of them are in there and if I would have to make a split-second decision as to who I would save it would tear me apart. I hate that someone else will be the one to get to Lana but he is right I have to get my sister first. I trust Leo to take good care of Lana, hell, he has known her for years so I know he will take good care of her until I can take over.

  As soon as we are in the house, I hear Lana scream. “No, leave her alone Josh, I’m the one you want. You wanted me, well here I am so come get me. You couldn’t take me before so let’s see if you can manage while I’m tied to a chair.”

  I don’t know what’s worse hearing her taunt him, knowing he is going to retaliate, or knowing that he was going after Clara.

  “Come on fucker! Let’s see if you are man enough to best me now. You know she isn’t going to give you the struggle you are looking for.”

  I want to strangle her and hug her at the same time. She is putting herself in direct danger because she wants to protect Clara and this is the only way she knows how to do that right now.

  I hear the sound when he hits her. It is taking everything I have not to just bust in there and kill him.

  I hear a strangled cry from Clara and can only imagine what she is seeing right now. Josh says “Lana, Lana, Lana, don’t you know you shouldn’t taunt the man with the knife. I’m looking forward to cutting you up, leaving my mark on you everywhere, but how about I finish what I started earlier. I don’t think there is enough blood on those pretty tits of yours, let’s fix that.”

  “Surprise fucker!” We hear Josh grunt, then what sounds like a chair breaking.

  That makes the decision that we no longer need to worry about being found; we need to get in there and take over. We bust through the door, and I spot Clara tied to a chair and just to the side of her I see Josh go down as Lana lands a knee strike to the face. When he hits the ground, she starts kicking him. I rush to Clara and begin reassuring her and cutting her loose. Brad comes over and tells me he will finish getting Clara for me to go help Leo calm Lana. I’m torn I do not want to leave Clara.

  Brad takes off his shirt and pulls it over Clara’s head and then she stands up and wraps her arms around me. I hug her tightly. “Bubba, I am ok. Go help take care of Lana. I will stay with Brad.”

  Before I can move away, Lana is there next to me. She is holding together what is left of her shirt. Before I can say anything, she is in front of Clara, and she wraps her into a tight hug. “Are you ok, little love” I strip off my shirt and put it over Lana’s head, and the girls break away and both of them smile up at me, well as much as they can smile. Lana thanks me for the shirt, and I wrap both girls into a hug. Just behind us, we hear Josh scream. We turn and look at him and see that Leo and Xav have him. The guys tell us to go ahead and get home so we can get cleaned up, but they are going to stay and entertain Josh for a while until Andrew gets home.

  Eric takes over for Leo so he can walk out with us. On the way to the vehicles Brad takes the lea
d, I walk between the girls and Leo follows behind us. Once we get to the vehicles, Leo hugs Clara and then kisses Lana on the cheek. “Now if you ladies will excuse me I must go help the guys, they will be lost without me.” Leave it to Leo to crack a joke at a time like this.

  Brad climbs into the driver seat, Clara the front passenger seat, leaving Lana and me to the back. When I open the door for her to climb in, she tries to climb all the way over to the other side, but I’m not having it. I need her close to me; I need to know she is ok.

  Once we are headed down the road, Lana looks down and sees a little blood on the front of my shirt. “Oh, I’ll get you new shirt tomorrow.”

  It’s just a shirt baby girl it's not a big deal. When we get home, we will get you patched up and some clean clothes, and before you ask, NO, I am not taking you to your house. You are coming home with me. I don’t want you or Clara away from me.

  Before Clara can say anything, Brad tells her he will bring Nicole over so that she will have some company. I hand her my phone and tell her to call Hunter and let him know she is safe.

  I turn my attention back to Lana. She is pale and clammy. I’m afraid she is going into shock, or maybe adrenaline let down. It only takes us a few more minutes to get home, especially with Brad driving.

  Once inside Clara says she needs a hot shower and takes off toward her room. Even as out of it as Lana seems to be she still has presence enough to tell us that someone needs to be in the bathroom with Clara. Lana starts “Brad you go get Nicole, and I will sit with Clara until she gets here. Besides, your guys are still out there, and Andrew is unaccounted for. So while it sounds good that we get to sit here and relax, there is still too much to be done.” Before I can say anything, she walks off to go be with Clara.

  As soon as Lana walks into Clara’s room, they immediately hug. Clara says, “Oh, Ali, I don’t know how I would have survived without you there.” After that, all I hear is soft crying.

  Brad chimes in breaking my thoughts, I just talked to Nicole, her friends Bryan and Michael are bringing her over. I thought your girl's name was Lana, so who is Ali?

  It’s a long story, but I’ll give you the abbreviated version. My life in Louisiana, my best friend JJ; his little sister was my first love, Ali. Well apparently, Lana is the grown up version. I had a feeling but wouldn’t let myself believe it, but damn it it’s true. That woman in there is the same girl I loved growing up. Another part is that Leo’s friend Jake was my childhood friend, and he and Lana are also friends who meet up occasionally at conferences.

  “Damn it, now that’s a story for the grandkids one day.” We both chuckle at that. Just then the house sounds almost eerily quiet. We ease over to Clara’s bedroom door. Just as we get to the door, there is an outburst of giggles. It is an instant relief. I love hearing my girls laughing, especially after such a horrific night for both of them.

  I hear the front door open and slam shut. When I look up, I see Nicole barreling down the hallway. She runs right past us and straight into Clara’s room. “Oh my God, don’t you ever scare me like that again. I’m so glad you are ok. Lana, thank you for taking care of her, I’m sorry this is how we are meeting, but thank you. Now tell me everything, I know you need to decompress so lets you a bath and you can relax, and we can talk.” Clara agrees, and Lana slips out of the room.

  “Is this what you guys call working?” We all chuckle. She grabs my hand, come on Ashton Blake, I need some of your awesome dermabond skills again, a hot shower and then we have a lot to talk about.”

  Brad chuckles and says “Damn brother, you got the first and middle name you are in trouble now.”

  I gladly walk with Lana to the bathroom down the hall and down to the basement where my bedroom is, and the team's medical supplies are, that and we will have privacy.

  Chapter 29

  Lana

  As soon as we are in Ash’s bedroom in the basement I strip the shirt I’m wearing off. I press the shirt to my chest. The cut isn’t too deep, and the bleeding has finally stopped now that I have had time to settle down some. When I turn around and face Ash, I can see concern laced with guilt in his eyes.

  Hey, it’s not that bad sweetie. I will have a scar, but it is ok. The swelling on my face will go down in a few days, and before you know it, I will be good as new.

  “Good as new? You will have a mark on you that will always remind you that I didn’t take care of you, I didn’t protect you. I could have lost you tonight. I fucking own a security company, one of the best on the coast, and I still didn’t protect you or my sister. I can’t even protect two of the people I care about the most.”

  He cleans my cut and starts to apply the dermabond and a few steri-strips. I think it would have been alright with just the steri-strips but better safe than sorry.

  When he is done, I step into him and put my hands on his chest. Ash, Clara and I are both safe because of you. I don’t know how you found us as fast as you did. I don’t want to think about how long we would have been there or what they would have had time to do to us if it would have been anyone else looking for us. Please don’t be so hard on yourself, be happy that you got to us when you did; and please do not blame yourself because none of this is your fault.

  “Well, I’m not sure you really needed us to rescue you. When we got there, you already had Josh handled. That was a nice knee strike by the way.”

  Yea I might have lost my temper a little. I knew or at least I thought I could handle Josh if he was alone. If Andrew wouldn’t have left the house to go meet someone, then I don’t know what you would have walked in on.

  But enough talking about things we can’t change. It’s done, it’s over, we are alive and home safe thanks to you and your team.

  “Fair enough love, we can talk about or do whatever will make you happy. There is a stipulation, though.”

  I roll my eyes and say, of course, there’s a stipulation. I grin at him, so he knows I am just teasing. So tell me oh great one, what is this stipulation that you speak of.

  “Oh, mon doux, my sweet, this one is easy. The stipulation is that we have to touching at all times, preferably close enough where I can kiss.”

  I think I like that stipulation. I love the feel of your lips on me. As a matter of fact, I have apparently loved the feel of your lips on me for as long as I can remember. Even though up until recently it has been years I have had the pleasure. Although, through the years I have certainly dreamed about that first kiss with me backed up against the wall.

  That is a special moment for me, and not just for the kiss. It was the first time you ever called me yours.

  “It may have been the first time I said it out loud to you, but you were always mine. You are still mine and always will be, as long as you are willing to put up with me.”

  Oh, Ash, I have thought about you over the years. Wondered how you were doing, what kind of man you had become. I’m so proud of that man. Jake would be too. You know he missed you right? You were always family to us.

  I guess we were the only ones who didn’t see who we really are, or we wouldn’t let ourselves believe it. Your sister knew who I was right away. Hell, even Dr. G knew it was you.

  “Wait, Dr. G, oh hell, that was Paul wasn’t it?”

  Yeah, afraid so.

  “How did he know it was me?”

  He said it was the way you watched me. It’s apparently the same as when we were kids.

  “He still has a thing for you too. I just unknowingly fucked up his chances with you, again.”

  Actually, you kind of did. I had decided to agree to go to dinner with him. That’s when Josh decided to show back up, so I put it off, even though he asked me nearly every week. Then you showed up, and well here we are. But if you want me to give him a chance I will.

  I say the last with a smirk and Ash picks me up and places me down on my back. He is between my legs and is looming over me.

  “You will NOT be giving him or anyone else a chance as long as I am here. You, my swee
t are all mine, and I do not share.”

  He kisses me softly the starts tickling me telling me he won’t stop until I agree with him. When I do agree with him, he kisses my forehead and sits us both back up pulls me into his lap. I adjust myself to where I am straddling his legs so that I am close enough to kiss him if I want.

  I place my hands on his chest; I do have one question. When we were growing up, you hated the name Ashton, that’s one reason we called you Blake, so why does everyone call you Ash now?

  “Well, I’m sure it’s similar to the reason you go by Lana now and now Ali. I just needed a change after the move. I felt like I lost a piece of myself when we moved. My life in Louisiana was a part I wasn’t sure I would get back. You and JJ were a part of my family. I was so in love with you. I didn’t want to hear another girl say my name, not the way you did. It was a part of me that I didn’t want to share.”

  I am nearly in tears when he finishes. This man has held my heart since I was a little girl. Now that I have him back I do not want to lose him again.

  Chapter 30

  Ash

  I can see tears starting to form in Lana’s eyes. I don’t want her to cry, but I do want her to understand how much she meant to me then, and what she means to me now. I have loved this girl basically my whole life. Now that I have her back in my life, I have no intention of ever letting her go again.

  I pull her to me and kiss her gently. I lean my forehead against hers and say

  No sad thoughts. Right n ow I just want to enjoy having you in my arms. We can worry about everything else tomorrow or as it comes, but for now, I just need you. Can you do that, can you let go and just enjoy being back in my arms tonight?

  She smiles and shakes her head. “I would love to do that. However, it is no longer night, and there are things that have to be done today. The first thing that needs to be taken care of is seeing your dad and getting him moved into a regular room. We also need to work with the rest of your team to find Andrew. So while I’m all for some loving, touching and squeezing it will have to wait until tonight.”