by Rae Riley
“Nox isn’t going to let her come in here,” I said through my sniffles.
He pulled his hand out from my top and wrapped it around my neck, turning us and slamming my back against a pillar. “Don’t you ever say that asshole’s name again,” he warned.
The sound of a gunshot filled the air.
Chapter Twenty
“Can I be discharged yet?” I asked the nurse for what felt like the hundredth time.
“No,” Isaac answered, stepping into the room.
“Oh my God,” I gasped. I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. “You’re out! They let you out!”
“Of course they let me out.” He chuckled. “It was completely legal.”
“But you shot him,” I persisted.
“I shot his arm as he was raising it to hit you,” he stated. “I was a bodyguard protecting his assigned client. Now, if I had shot off his dick like I really wanted to, then I might still be detained.”
I burst into laughter as the mental image filled my thoughts. The nurse gave us a sideways glance, but I didn’t care. She didn’t know Bryce like we did.
“I’ve heard you laugh twice. And both times it has been due to someone else’s pain.”
“I’m kind of sick and twisted,” I admitted.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think that there is a cure for that,” the doctor joked as he entered the room.
“When can I break out of here?” I asked, my voice filling with hope. “These machines are driving me insane.”
“All of your tests came back normal,” he said with a smile, glancing at the pages in my chart. “As long as you have someone who can drive you home, you can leave any time you want.”
“What?” Isaac's voice was panicked. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” The doctor nodded at him before turning back to me. “But you need to get plenty of fluids and lots of rest.”
“Don’t you think that she should stay the night?” Isaac questioned.
“Stay the night?” I groaned. “Now who is the sick and twisted one?”
“Miss Collins is staying the night,” Isaac continued.
“Alex is staying?” I asked. “Why? Is she okay?”
“Your friend is fine,” the doctor assured me. “However, I am concerned about your weight. It’s too low. How has your appetite been lately?”
“It’s been normal,” I lied.
“She hasn’t been eating,” Isaac offered, ratting me out.
“I’m fine.” I glared at Isaac.
“A reduced appetite after experiencing trauma is common,” the doctor explained. “But you do need to eat.”
“I’ll make sure that she eats tonight,” Isaac promised.
***
“It feels weird,” I commented, plopping down onto the sofa in my hotel suite. “Being back here after what happened today.”
“Well, I’ve learned my lesson,” Isaac said.
“What? To never come back to Savannah?”
“No,” he replied, shaking his head. “To never leave you alone. I wasn’t gone five minutes and you managed to get yourself into a hostage situation.” The twinkle in his eye told me that he was joking.
“Gee, if only I knew how to defend myself.” I had asked him during the car ride from the hospital to the hotel if he would teach me self-defense. He said no.
“The doctor told you that you need to rest.”
“I’ll be fine.” I stood to meet him chest to chest.
Using only his index fingers, he pushed against my shoulders, causing me to fall back into the couch. “Gee, if only you would eat. You would have been strong enough to stay upright for that.”
“The food hasn’t gotten here yet,” I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “And I don’t think that you're allowed to push me down.”
“Allowed?”
“Yes, allowed,” I sneered. “I am your boss.”
“No,” he said, chuckling. “Mr. Demetri is my boss. You are my assignment.”
“So if Nox says that it’s okay for you to teach me self-defense, then you will?”
“I'll teach you some moves,” he promised. “When you're ready. Not before.”
“Well, when will I be ready?”
Someone knocked on the door, interrupting our conversation. “Pizza,” a woman’s voice called through.
“After you eat.” Isaac winked, walking toward the door. “And after you rest.”
“Did she say pizza?”
“You seem excited,” he joked. After looking through the peephole, he opened the door and accepted the delivery.
The delicious smell hit my nostrils when I walked over to the table. My stomach growled, giving away my hunger.
“It’s a miracle,” he teased, setting the pizza on the table. “You’re actually hungry.”
Ignoring his comment, I explained, “I haven’t had pizza for two months!”
He gasped, obviously appalled. “What did they feed you at that place?”
“Rich people food.”
“You mean healthy food?”
“No, I mean gross food. A girl like me survives off of greasy crap like this.”
Handing me a plate with two slices on it, he said, “Well, here’s your greasy crap.”
Picking up a slice, I bit off a small chunk. “Oh my God.” I exhaled, closing my eyes. “This is heaven!” I stuffed a larger bite into my mouth.
“Glad to be of service.”
“So what’s your story?”
“My story?”
“Did you just wake up one day and decide to be a bodyguard?” I clarified. “Or was there more to it?”
“Growing up, I never pictured myself as a bodyguard,” he admitted. “I wanted to be a vet.”
“A vet?” I asked, genuinely surprised. “Like a veterinarian? You don’t seem like the puppy and kitty type.”
“Bunnies, actually,” he admitted, chuckling.
“Bunnies?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I had a bunny when I was little,” he explained. “He got sick and died. After that, whenever someone asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I always said that I wanted to be a vet so that I could save all the bunnies. But the schooling to become a vet is expensive and my family didn’t have the money. The military offered to pay for my education, so I signed up and eventually joined the Special Forces. After I got out, I tried to go back to school but I missed the excitement. Deloris recruited me and that was that.”
“Driving Nox around in a limousine sounds thrilling,” I teased.
“It’s definitely gotten a lot more interesting since Miss Collins came around.”
“And you were complaining about how much trouble I get myself into.” I sighed, shaking my head. “I was just trying to keep you on your toes.”
“Don’t,” he said, his tone turning serious. His hand covered mine. “I was really worried about you earlier today. Watching him treat you like that… I almost lost it. Why did you leave the room? I told you that I would be right back.”
“Alex called. She told me that Bryce was here. I heard Nox in the background, telling you to let Bryce get close to me so that he would be sent back to jail. I wanted that, but I didn’t want him to come to the hotel room. If I had to face him again, I wanted to be surrounded by other people. I didn’t think that he would hurt me in front of strangers. I definitely didn’t think that he would hold us all hostage.” Tears overflowed from my eyes, choking my words. “Oh God… Those kids… They were so scared… It’s all my fault… I’m so sorry.”
“You couldn’t have known that Mr. Spencer was going to do that. We got lucky: everybody survived. The only person injured was the threat. Hostage situations don’t usually work out that way. And after the stunt he pulled, Mr. Spencer is going to be in prison for a very long time.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For saving me.”
“You can thank me by not putting yourself into any more dangerous situations.”
“I wo
n’t,” I promised.
***
I gasped as my back hit the wall, Isaac’s hands wrapped around my throat. I quickly brought my hands up through his arms and grabbed his head, placing my thumbs against his eyes but not applying force. I bent my elbows to the sides, forcing his to bend as well, which released some of the pressure against my neck.
We were back in New York, in the apartment that Alex had told me to use. I had finally convinced him to teach me self-defense.
“Good,” Isaac praised. “What’s next?”
I pulled his head toward mine to mimic a headbutt and then softly brought my knee up between his legs. He fell to the floor while I turned and ran. “How did I do?” I asked, offering my hand to help him up.
“Perfect,” he replied, smiling down at me. “Now I’m going to teach you how to get out of that hold that he had you in yesterday. Turn around.”
I nodded and obeyed, turning my back toward him. My body involuntarily tensed as his arm came over my head.
“The first thing that you need to do is to grab my arm before I start to choke you,” he instructed, waiting for me to do as he said. “When I start to pull you backward, you need to step back with your left leg and move it behind and between my legs. Then you are going to bend your legs.” I obeyed. “Now pull down on my arm, lift me over your back, slam me on the floor, and run away.”
“What?” I panicked. “I can’t lift you.”
“You can do this. Trust me.”
Taking a deep breath, I followed his instructions; however, I lost my balance at the end, causing both of us to fall to the floor. Landing on top of him, I couldn’t help but laugh. Isaac laughed too as my hair fell over his face. He reached up to sweep my hair behind my ear. Our eyes connected. My breath hitched.
If it had been any other man, if it had been two months earlier, I would have known exactly what to do. Now I wasn’t so sure. Although I knew that I shouldn’t listen to anything that Bryce had said, his comment about Isaac liking me was stuck in my head. I couldn’t read Isaac’s signals. First, he would do something incredibly sweet like comfort me after one of my nightmares. Then he would say that he was just doing his job. He worried about whether or not I was fit enough to leave the hospital and promised the doctor that he would make sure that I ate. It seemed like his actions went beyond what a bodyguard was supposed to do. Then again, I had never had a bodyguard before. How did I know what they were and weren’t supposed to do?
Fuck it! I lowered my face, pressing my lips against his. For a split second, I felt him kiss me back. Suddenly, he pushed against my shoulders, separating our lips. My eyes opened wide as I saw the emotion in his: regret. Embarrassment turned my cheeks red. I quickly got up and ran into the bedroom, slamming the door.
“Chelsea,” he called through the door. “I’m sorry. It’s just… I can’t… We can’t…”
“It’s fine,” I lied, trying to hide the fact that I was crying. “I understand.” And I did. I understood perfectly. He would never be interested in me. He knew too much about what Bryce had done. No man would find me attractive after learning those details. I was damaged goods.
I could hear his heavy sigh through the closed door. “Chels.”
“Go home,” I said. “I’ll be okay by myself for the rest of the night.”
“I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Bryce is in jail. Alton is dead,” I reminded him. “The threats are gone.”
“I’m not leaving you alone,” he repeated.
“Please,” I choked out, the tears obvious in my voice.
After a long couple of moments, I heard his footsteps walk away from the bedroom. The apartment door opened and closed. For the first time since leaving Montague Manor I was alone.
Chapter Twenty-One
Three Years Later
“Hey, thanks for coming,” Alex said as she opened the door.
“No worries,” I assured her, walking into her house. “I honestly can’t believe that this is the first time you asked me to babysit. I was expecting more duties when you asked me to be Angie’s godmother.” When Alex and Nox weren’t home, there was usually a long list of willing babysitters. Jane was the first option, followed by Sylvia, and then Adelaide and Oren. With so many people in line ahead of me, it was hard to get my time in. This night was a fluke. Jane was going out, Sylvia was on vacation, and Adelaide and Oren were in London. Nox surprised Alex with tickets to a show and they needed a babysitter.
“Well, if you’re offering,” she teased. “I’m sure that Jane and Sylvia would love to get a break more often.”
“I’m still shocked that Jane is going out on a date,” I stated.
“You and me both, Miss Chelsea,” Jane said as she rounded the corner. Holding her arms out, she spun in a circle. “How do I look?”
“Stunning,” Alex replied.
“Beautiful,” I added.
“You two ladies look mighty beautiful yourselves.”
“Auntie Chelsea,” Angie squealed as she ran toward me. Nox trailed closely behind her.
“Oh my goodness,” I cooed, picking Angie up. “Look how much you’ve grown.”
“I’m so big,” she agreed. “Mommy said that I’m big enough to be a big sister now!”
“What?” I gasped, turning toward Alex and Nox. “Really?”
Alex nodded as Nox’s hand splayed across her tummy.
“Oh my God. Congratulations!”
The front door opened and Isaac walked in. “Knock-knock,” he said.
“Uncle Isaac! Uncle Isaac,” Angie yelled, swinging her arms toward him. I passed her over. “Guess what! Guess what!”
“What? What?” he asked with a smile.
“There’s a baby in Mommy’s tummy,” she answered.
“A baby?” he gasped, humoring Angie. “How did that get in your mommy’s tummy?”
“I think she ate it,” she said, her eyes opening wide.
“I’m gonna eat you,” he teased. Lifting her tummy to his mouth, he pretended to bite her.
Angie screamed, wiggling in his arms. He lowered her to the ground and she took off running.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Demetri,” Isaac said, laughing. “If this one is anything like its older sister, we’ll all have our hands full.”
“Well you two will have your hands full with just that one tonight,” Nox joked.
“You two?” I questioned. “Us two? As in Isaac and I?”
The morning after the kissing incident three years prior, I decided to leave for California to spend time with my mom. In reality, I was avoiding Isaac, embarrassed by what I had done. After Nox and Alex’s wedding, I moved back to the apartment in New York. My contact with Isaac was limited and the incident was never mentioned. This would be the first time that we were together without Nox or Alex there.
“Trust me,” Alex assured me, “it will take both of you to handle that wild child.”
“Uncle Isaac,” Angie yelled. “Come find me!”
“Ready or not, here I come,” he called back.
“You didn’t tell me that he would be here,” I said, turning toward Alex.
“She’s already had dinner and a bath. Bedtime is in an hour. Do not let her stay up late, no matter how convincing she tries to be,” Alex warned.
“Have fun.” Nox winked before whisking Alex away.
Following the sound of Angie’s screams, I found Isaac chasing her around the room, pretending to be the tickle monster. Watching him play with her made me smile. Maybe it was a good thing that Isaac was helping. This kid had too much energy for me.
Nearly two hours later I collapsed onto the sofa. “Finally.” I exhaled.
“I have never heard so many excuses in my life,” Isaac moaned, plopping down next to me.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” I asked after several minutes of silence.
“Sure,” he agreed. “I’ll pick the movie and you make the popcorn.”
“Nice try. Don’t you know
by now that the girl always picks the movie?”
“And they wonder where that kid gets her bossy attitude from.” He sighed, playfully shaking his head.
“Oh no,” I argued. “That is one-hundred-percent Nox. Speaking of which, why aren’t you with him right now? Aren’t you supposed to be their bodyguard?”
“Clayton is with them,” Isaac explained. “I took the night off.”
“And you chose to spend it babysitting Angie?” I giggled.
“No,” he declared. “I chose to spend it with you.”
My nose scrunched up and brow furrowed as I asked, “Why?”
“It may have taken me three years but my stubborn ass finally realized that I want to be with you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do, Chelsea.”
“No,” I huffed, lowering my chin. “You don’t want me. I’m damaged goods.”
“Is that what you think?” he questioned, his fingertips lifting my face until my eyes met his. “That you’re damaged? Impossible. Chelsea, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. When I saw you for the first time, lying in that hospital bed in California, you took my breath away. I turned into this bumbling idiot. I was supposed to be guarding the door, but I instead I kept looking over my shoulder to catch glimpses of you. And your laugh – God, it was like an angel's. Even in that hospital bed, battered and bruised, you were perfect. I didn’t see you as damaged then and I sure as hell don’t now! When Deloris told me where you were… what that bastard was doing to you… my heart stopped. I couldn’t breathe! I wanted to come get you, and believe me I would have, but Deloris said that you wanted to stay. You wanted to protect Miss Collins. Chels, you’re not damaged. You’re brave. You’re selfless. You’re fucking perfect.”
My eyes watered as I sat speechless, allowing his words to sink in.
“Hey,” Alex’s voice called as the front door opened. “We’re home!”
“Hey,” I replied, quickly wiping the tears from my face. “How was the show?”