Runaway Heiress

by Melody Anne

  “What was the big emergency?” Chad asked. He didn’t want to be rude but he had a lot to take care of and didn’t want to stand around discussing liquor.

  “I like a man who gets straight to the point,” Joseph replied, not answering Chad’s question. Chad looked again at Mark’s cousins and felt like he was being assessed – and they found him wanting.

  “Alright, if you don’t want to tell me why you wanted me here, then do you want to explain why your nephew, Max, looks like he wants to tear my head off?” Chad said. He smirked at Max, who looked like he was thinking about stepping over and slugging Chad. After a second, Chad raised his brows at him in a bring-it-on gesture, then smiled as he watched Austin grab his brother’s arm when it looked like he was about to step forward.

  Chad hadn’t been around Mark’s cousins much; just saw them a few times when he was in town, but not enough to really feel he knew any of them. They’d never before been hostile, though and he couldn’t understand why they felt a need to act macho all of a sudden.

  “Sorry about my boys, Chad. We have a situation and my brother and I have come up with a solution that the boys aren’t too thrilled about. They can’t beat down their sister so they want to take their frustrations out on you,” George said as he stepped forward.

  “What do I have to do with this?” Chad asked, wanting to know what was going on. He was sick of them sidestepping the issue.

  “There’s no way to say this but to just come out with it, Bree’s gone missing,” George said. Chad instantly tensed – his full military training coming to the front. This was something he could handle.

  “Have you put in a missing person’s report, hired an investigator? Have there been any threats made against her?” Chad fired off questions.

  “No, no, it’s nothing like that. She was feeling a bit overwhelmed by her brothers and cousins. We found where she is. She’s not all that great at hiding, and we were able to trace her credit cards. She’s staying in a small town in Oregon. I went there to try to find out what was going on and she refused to come home. She said she was being smothered and she’s determined to make it on her own. Apparently, she’s refusing to come back until everyone backs off,” George said a bit sheepishly.

  “Then, I don’t understand what the problem is,” Chad said with confusion. She wasn’t really missing after-all. Why were they acting as if it was an emergency?

  “Bree’s been very sheltered her entire life. She’s never known about the danger involved, coming from a family like ours. She’s determined to make it on her own, but she’s a target, being my only daughter. I’ve received threatening letters before regarding all my children, but lately there’s been several targeted at Bree. I have surveillance on her at the moment, but I need someone I can trust. Mark regards you as the best man he knows,” George trailed off.

  “You want me to babysit?” Chad asked with horror. They were asking a bit much of him if they wanted him to keep an eye on a spoiled heiress.

  “I know it’s asking a lot,” Joseph piped in and Chad turned to look at the man who had kept him out of the legal system. If it weren’t for Joseph stepping in and taking responsibility for him when he’d been an angry teenager, he never would’ve shaped up. He wouldn’t have joined the military and he certainly wouldn’t have the same life he did. How could he refuse him anything?

  “We hate to ask you to do this but if any of the family goes down there we know she’s going to try to slip away again. She wants to have independence, which I can understand, but she needs to be watched over. This last letter that came in, scares the crap out of us,” Mark jumped in.

  Chad reached for the note Mark was holding. The words sent a shudder down his spine. Some person was infatuated with her and Chad knew how that could turn out. If she refused the man and he had no hope of winning her over, he very well could take her life.

  “What makes you think she won’t run if I’m in the picture?” he asked.

  “We thought about that, too. She won’t like having you there but she doesn’t deem you a threat against her independence. Since I moved the family back east for so many years, she hasn’t been around you. I know she won’t like the idea of you babysitting her, but I don’t think she’ll take off again just because you’re there,” George offered.

  “Crap, you’re asking a lot. If anything were to happen to her on my watch, I’d never forgive myself,” Chad said as he ran a hand through his hair and started pacing the room. He felt like he was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.

  “You won’t let anything happen,” Mark said with full confidence. Chad looked at his long time best friend and a look passed between them. Mark was right – Chad would take a bullet before he ever let anything happen to a person he was protecting. His hand rubbed his ribs once more, unconsciously. Never again would he lose a person under his watch – he couldn’t survive it, not after his sister.

  “Give me the details,” he commanded, putting himself in full control. He was in ops mode and he wouldn’t let the Anderson family down. Joseph and George breathed sighs of relief, while Bree’s brothers stiffened their shoulders. They weren’t happy with the arrangements.

  “This is stupid, Dad. I say we drag her back here and lock her in the flipping basement. If she wants to act like a spoiled brat, then treat her like one,” Max growled as he started pacing.

  “Your sister is an adult and can go where she wants. Do you want to drive her further away? This is the best thing we can do for her. If you want to be the one to shatter her world and make her afraid to even leave her apartment, then be my guest,” George said while he stood to his full six and a half foot height. He may be getting older but he was still an intimidating man. Max backed down, not from fear, but respect.

  “Sorry, Dad, I’m just frustrated. We’ve had some rocky years since losing mom, and I thought it was finally getting put behind us. I’m worried about her,” Max apologized.

  “We’re all worried,” George said while placing a hand on Max’s shoulders.

  “You know, Redington, if you lay a hand on my sister in any way, I’m going to knock your teeth out,” Trenton said with a smile of anticipation. Chad outright laughed at him. No wonder she’d ran – they really did act as if she was a teenager, instead of a twenty-eight year old woman.

  “Tell you what, Anderson, if she doesn’t do it first, we’ll have a go,” Chad said. Trenton sized him up for a moment, before his shoulders relaxed and he realized what an ass he’d made of himself. Finally he laughed and the rest of the tension fled the room.

  “I think we’ll get along just fine,” Trenton said as he stuck out his hand. Chad felt like he’d passed some kind of test he didn’t know he was taking until it was over. He shook the man’s hand, then they all sat down and gave Chad the details on where Bree was and what to expect once he got there.

  He knew she was going to be a handful but he was suddenly anticipating his babysitting duty. She wasn’t hard on the eyes and he was curious about the fire he knew was just below her uptight surface. He may actually find the next few months enjoyable.

  As if Trenton could read Chad’s thoughts, his eyes narrowed for a moment. The two men stared at each other before Lucas said something and broke the moment.

  Chad had always liked a challenge and it seemed two were being placed before him. First he had to somehow tame the princess, and secondly, her brothers didn’t want him near her. He fought back the smile wanting to stretch across his face. He didn’t need to make the situation any more tense right then.

  Chapter Two

  Bree felt like someone was watching her. She looked around and didn’t see anyone, but she could feel the little hairs on her neck rising. Something wasn’t right – it felt like someone was out there – staring a hole into her. It was dark and she was uncomfortable walking to her car alone. Normally, she never thought twice about it. She was in a small town, virtually no crime to speak of, and she knew she had nothing to worry about.

&n
bsp; But still…

  She picked up her steps, moving faster toward the parking lot. Reaching into her purse, she frantically searched for her keys. She’d feel better once she was locked inside her car. The only reason she was paranoid was the frustrating phone conversation she’d had with her father earlier in the evening.

  He’d tried to demand she return home immediately, saying her safety was in jeopardy. She knew it was purely her family overreacting, once again. She was sick of the babying. She was a grown woman and would prove to them she could make it on her own. They’d get a hoot out of the fact she was shaking as she approached her vehicle.

  Bree turned her head again and looked around, then laughed inwardly at her own paranoia. No one was there – the boogeyman wasn’t after her. She looked down and searched through her over-sized purse – muttering under her breath that first thing in the morning she’d finally purchase a clip so she could attach her keys to the handle. She always took an hour to find the dang things.

  After several frustrating minutes, she realized her car keys weren’t in her bag. She must’ve left them on her desk, grabbing her office keys instead. She’d done that too often to keep letting it happen. She sighed and turned to walk back inside. Her employment was mindless work, but it gave her a paycheck and she didn’t have to spend from her trust fund. She was determined to live on her own dollar – not her family money.

  Though she knew she was being ridiculous, her hand closed around her purse. She knew it wasn’t a weapon, but it held enough items that if she hit someone over the head with it, she’d probably stun them long enough to get away. She was irritated at how paranoid she was acting. Her father’s call must’ve spooked her more than she realized.

  She slowly made her way back to the office, trying to act as normal as possible. She wished at least a few other people were out so she wasn’t totally alone. Though her heart raced, she held her head high and stepped around the back of the building, to the employee entrance. She looked around at the two-story structure, seeming to spot shadows shifting in every corner. She pulled out her phone and pushed a button on the side so the screen lit up. It made her feel better to have a trace of light. She needed to talk to the manager about fixing the exterior lighting. It wasn’t safe for employees to be going in and out of the alley at night in pitch black.

  Just as she was about to turn the corner a cat screeched, then rushed past her legs, its hair brushing against her bare calves. She must have jumped five feet in the air. The sound could’ve been bottled and used in a horror flick.

  She realized the humor in the situation and immediately started laughing out loud uncontrollably. She had to stop being so paranoid. She finally pulled herself together and turned around the back of the building - and slammed into something solid.

  Trying to get her breath back and move at the same time, she realized it wasn’t a wall she’d collided against. Arms were tightening around her in a death grip and her vision blurred as all the air left her body. She was momentarily paralyzed with fear. She knew she needed to scream, kick, bite, do anything other than stand there. People were still inside the office building. If she could get their attention she’d stand half a chance.

  Bree finally managed to drag in a lungful of air and opened her mouth wide to let out a scream. As if he knew what she was doing, his hand clamped quickly over her mouth, further escalating her panic. She couldn’t die in an alleyway behind a crappy office. She pushed against his hand and bit down, pleased when she managed to get her teeth around some of the flesh of his palm.

  “Crap! Stop that. I’m not trying to hurt you,” the man growled. His voice wasn’t reassuring. She also wasn’t a stupid teenage girl who believed her assailant only wanted to talk.

  She continued twisting her body, but it was like struggling against the bars of a roller coaster car. He wasn’t budging an inch. The more she struggled, the stronger his hold became. Managing to lift up her foot, she slammed her three-inch heel down on top of his. He let out a yelp and released his grasp.

  She didn’t take time to turn, but started running for the street. She only made it a few steps when his hands grasped her arm and she was pulled up tight against him again. This time he lifted her clean off the ground. She continued to struggle, knowing she only needed one good shot at his body. If she could get away a second time, she was ditching the shoes and running for all her life was worth.

  “If you calm down I’ll let you go,” he commanded. Yeah, right. She wasn’t buying that either.

  She managed to swing her elbow backward and connected with his rock-hard abs. She immediately whimpered as pain shot through her arm. She may as well have slammed her elbow into a brick wall.

  “Damn, your dad could’ve told me you were hell on wheels,” he muttered as he took a few steps toward the wall, then flipped her body around so she was facing him. His words took some of the wind from her sails. What did he have to do with her father? She’d heard about kidnappers saying a family member was sick to get you to go with them – that had to be what it was.

  As he stepped into the street, the light shined down on them and she got her first look at her attacker. Bree’s eyes widened in surprise. She knew the man was built like a truck, since she’d been pressed against him for several minutes now, but his face was stunning.

  She forgot to fight him as his glacial blue eyes looked down into her own. Even in the darkness of the night she could see they were unusual in color, almost purple verses blue. Maybe he was wearing colored contacts as a disguise or the dim light was messing with her head. But, he couldn’t hide his chiseled features. He looked like he was cut from granite, with his strong jaw, high cheekbones and perfect nose, which was flaring at the moment. He had a small scar running from the corner of his eye to his ear that only added to his appeal. His hair was cut military short, making her wonder if he was some kind of mercenary.

  Bree realized she was ogling him, and how ridiculous that was. She pulled herself together and put on her haughtiest expression. Growing up with three older brothers had taught her how to at least project confidence, even if she didn’t really feel it.

  “I’m not stupid. I’ve heard all the tricks attackers use. There is no way you’re getting me into your car. I don’t care if you say you know the freaking Pope. If you let me go right now, I won’t press charges,” she snapped.

  She saw red when his lips twitched as if she was amusing him. He thought she was funny. She was ready to scratch his eyes out - and anyone would stand witness that she wasn’t normally prone to violence, but he had her held against her will and then had the nerve to mock her.

  “I somehow don’t believe you on that count but since I’m not attacking you, I have nothing to worry about.”

  “If you aren’t some crazy stalker, then who are you?” She demanded to know, proud her voice wasn’t shaking. She knew she’d break down if she made it out alive, but she was standing strong, at least for the moment. She didn’t know if her knees would give out once he released his grip but she hoped the adrenaline kept her upright until she was safe.

  “If I release you, will you try to run again or are you going to listen?” He asked with another smirk. She was so ticked off she found herself curious of what he wanted. Who was so arrogant as to try and abduct someone and then have the nerve to want to chat?

  Obviously this man.

  “I’ll hear you out, but as you can see, my phone is in my hand and I activated the emergency button on it. The sheriff is on his way here, now,” she bluffed. He looked at her hand, then up to her eyes. She had a feeling he knew she was lying but he didn’t call her on it, giving her the illusion of regaining some control in the odd situation.

  Chad smiled at Bree. He found he was enjoying himself immensely with Mark’s cousin. He knew she was going to be spitting mad when she found out he was sent to babysit her – even madder than she already was, thinking he was a crazy sex stalker.

  “Chad Redington,” he finally said and she looked at
him with a blank look. He said his name as if she should instantly know who he was. Maybe he had escaped from a mental hospital. She took a step back and he immediately narrowed his eyes. She pulled in a ragged breath. She was trying to be careful, not wanting to cause him to strike.

  Then her eyes widened as she concentrated on his name. She had heard it before. She searched her memory trying to remember why the name sounded familiar. She looked him over again in his dark jeans, skintight T-shirt and worn cowboy boots. All he needed was a hat, spurs and a horse and he’d be riding off the pages of a Louis Lamoure book. Her mind must be playing tricks on her because, though the name sounded familiar, she didn’t know him. She decided it was time to leave.

  Bree quickly turned as she got ready to bolt, but once again his arms snaked around her and suddenly she was pinned against the wall, his body pressed tightly against hers. She felt every inch of his solid thighs, washboard abs and arms of steel touching her. She forgot how to breathe.

  “Listen, I’ve told you I’m not here to steal your virtue. Your father sent me,” he said, his breath sweeping over her face, his lips only inches from her own.

  Bree had been afraid and upset before his words, but her head about exploded when he said he was sent by her father. If he was lying, he needed to get more creative. If he was speaking the truth, her family members were dead – every single one of them. She in no way needed, nor wanted, a babysitter.

  Chad’s eyes lowered their gaze to her mouth. She felt him push a little closer and she knew he’d finally realized they were pressed together against a brick wall in a secluded alley. She was suddenly aware her breasts were tightly pressed against his chest, making her heart rate accelerate. She became even angrier to actually feel anything other than fear and loathing toward the man holding her captive.