Aiden’s eyes followed my movements. “We were all in the military at one point. Different branches. I take that back, Holden and Cade had both been in the Marines. Logan, a Navy corpsman that served alongside the Marines. Look that relationship up on the internet in one of your late night, alien research marathons. It’s interesting. Brock served in the Airforce. I still can’t figure out what he did for them. I was an officer in the Army for a while.”
I put the book back on the shelf exactly where I had gotten it from and turned back to him. “So how did you get together? Holden said you served in the military together.”
Aiden sighed and looked around the room. “Well that’s a general answer we give people. We did serve together, in a sense, for the State Department. We were hand-picked for a group they formed. We were one of three squads. Mixed in talents for maximum outcome. They thought it might mesh well for the things they assigned to us. It was, for the most part, experimental. In our group, it worked better than they were hoping, but one of the other squads dissolved after their first assignment. I can’t tell you much about what we did Olivia. Only to say, that it was ugly and questionable.”
He shifted in his chair again. “We were all young. Eventually we all left and went on to other things obviously. Holden went to work for my dad. Cade wandered a bit. Brock did his thing and Logan went on to the medical field.”
I nodded at him. “So, you led them?”
He sighed, “I did. They gave me shit all the time but I did and I kept them alive.”
That statement made a lot of sense to me. He was still leading them in many ways.
Randomly he said, “My mother loved Keats. She died a few years before my father. I picked up one of his collections years ago and I saw the appeal. You would have liked her. She was a book hound like you.”
I was curious about the situations he must have been in, that would have pushed him into facing his own death but didn’t ask. I didn’t want to rely on my own assumptions at this point, but I also knew that the details of what he did might not really matter. Did I need to know exactly what transpired to understand that his men respected him, or that he had faced brutal things? No. I also didn’t need to know that information because I was getting a clear enough picture of who he was now regardless, or maybe because, he had faced what he had.
I was looking at his face, still thinking, when he smiled and winked at me. “Don’t think about it too hard sweetheart. It’s not something I like thinking about and the past is the past.”
“Speaking of which.” He started tapping on his computer again.
He had a serious frown of concentration on his face as he looked at the monitor. I felt the compulsion to stand behind him and rub his temples until that frown disappeared, but instead, I turned back to the bookshelf.
I was in serious need of a girl’s night out, involving copious amounts of alcohol and irresponsibility. Basically, a Julia night out. One thing about Julia was she knew how to make you forget absolutely everything that ailed you. Even hot, bossy men you might want to date.
I dropped the book that I had pulled out of the bookshelf.
Date? Where had that come from? Hell!
I picked up the book. Call of the Wild. Not that the plot had anything to do with my current predicament, but I shoved the book back on the bookcase anyway.
“Looks like your Jack London books have seen better days.”
His voice sounded distracted. “Those are Holden’s books. I need to return them. We used to tease him that he was reading them more than porn mags.”
Holden and Jack London also didn’t compute. His entire demeanor was deadly. I scrunched up my face trying to put that together. I shook my head in disbelief.
“Babe come here.”
I turned and gave him a disapproving look. “Aiden, I think we’ve talked about this.”
He looked confused for a second and then the light dawned. “Uh, I promise to keep my hands to myself. I just need you to look at something.”
“Er, not related to my anatomy,” he amended. “Hell woman, just come here, I need to talk to you about the crash today. Some information is up on the monitor. Unless you’d like to forget about this right now. You could sit on my lap while I read to you from those books you have in the bedroom. I’m highly curious.”
He had a twinkle in his eye and a smirk across his face.
Gawd he was trouble. “Er, no.”
He stood up and motioned for me to sit. “Let’s talk about this then.”
I sat down in the chair he indicated and looked at the monitor. Brandon’s face was displayed along with what looked like a list of offenses he had committed against the law.
I leaned in closer, a serious frown forming.
Drugs, theft, assault. The list went on with dates of offenses. He had been in trouble since his youth, and it had continued during the period of time that I had known him. In some ways, it made so much sense based on what happened. How could I have possibly ever believed he was a good person? He was young at the time, but he had already been arrested for an assault and theft charge by the time I had met him. The dates and frequency of offenses had increased about the time that I had left.
I had thought I was in love with him back then. Two years of therapy over someone that had ripped my emotions and trust to shreds. Two years because I thought I had loved this man and he had abused me. I was feeling unsteady and slightly dizzy when I suddenly stood up. I felt like I needed to puke.
Aiden grabbed me around the waist, lifted me up, and sat me in his lap as he eased down into the chair. He kept my back to the screen as I clung to his neck and shivered from anger and repulsion.
He brushed the hair at my bruised temple gently while looking in my eyes.
“I’m going to be blunt with you Olivia. I think you understand that it’s not in me to beat around the bush about things. I know you can take it because you’re strong and smart. I ran a check on Brandon after I left you that first night. I read that email he had sent. The one I erased.”
I just kept staring at him.
“He is some serious crazy. He was arrested last year for assaulting a woman in the bathroom of a bar. When we dug into it, the defense managed to get him off with a fine. The fine was a joke considering his past but I know money probably exchanged hands given his family ties. He has a long rap sheet, as you can see.”
His jaw tightened and a flash of anger came across his face before he shut it down and smoothed out his features again.
“You’re going to have to forgive me for something. After I saw the email he’d written you I had Brock download and examine some of your other emails from him. That was something I shouldn’t have done but that email and the other ones he’s written you were strange to say the least. That last email he sent was threatening. He was saying that one way or another you were going to be his.”
I just continued to stare at him. Feeling slightly miffed at the intrusion, but also worried about what he may say next. The thought of Brandon even being around me again was terrifying. I hadn’t interpreted his messages as anything other than just overly annoying.
I swallowed hard, blinked several times and said, “Okay.”
He gave the top of my nose a feathery light kiss.
“I was alarmed about it and started looking into it. I had a friend of mine look at the pattern of behavior while I was gone. He works for the FBI and sees some of these things on a regular basis. Sweetheart, he is evolving into, if he hasn’t already, a psychopath. That’s when I arranged transportation for you with Holden. You seem to be the one he’s been drawn to over the years and he has been subtly trying to threaten you from what it looks like. That last email he was just blunt about it. When I got that news, I thought we might have some time to talk about it but that car wreck happened. It was by design and it was him.”
I tensed in his arms with that news. He must have felt it and tightened his hold on me.
“I have no idea who he’s been wor
king with, but it’s obvious he has recruited a few people to help him. Jake saw him shooting at the window to get into the car to get to you. We have one of his little friends from the scene and some of my guys are interrogating him. That’s some information I’m sharing with you that you need to keep secret. I’m trusting you with this. Our security firm contracts with certain people in the government that tend to look the other way when we’re handling some issues internally. I’m certain Brandon means to kidnap you and do God knows what from there, so we need some intel.”
I closed my eyes and turned my face into his shoulder.
“Don’t hide Olivia. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t know what to say Aiden. I’m so mad at myself right now for not seeing what was happening. I’m mad because I thought— I don’t know! I thought he was a good guy back in college when I met him and when I broke it off, all those emails seemed so contrite over some things that happened. I almost felt sorry for him. I almost forgave him. I just didn’t want to deal with it. Didn’t want to face the past and confront him.”
“Babe, it’s a typical reaction to being manipulated by one of those people. Psychopaths are very convincing.”
“He tried to kill us! Holden could have been killed.”
Aiden’s mouth twitched then he smiled. “You’re worried about Holden? Babe that guy has nine lives. He could get run over by a tank and still live. Dude is invincible. I just told you this guy plans on doing some serious shit to you and you’re worried about him?”
I thought for a second. “Well yeah, he seems like a nice guy. Other than being a little closed off.”
That’s when he kissed me. A soft press of his lips on mine and another at the edge of my mouth, followed by others along my bottom lip. It felt different. Like he was trying to say something by being so gentle.
He pulled back and sighed. “Olivia Dawkins, you are something special.”
I looked at him and raised my eyebrow. “Like, crazy special?”
“No, like beautiful special. Kind and selfless. And a little crazy special, but it’s cute. You think about Holden before yourself. Fuck babe, that’s special. You need to promise me something though. You can’t leave the house unescorted and I need you to stay here for a week.”
My cheeks were burning as I looked away. “Okay.”
“Okay. Enough of this heavy shit for now. You and I are going to keep talking to each other about it but right now we’re going to table it. We’re going to eat and be merry. How do you feel about steaks on the grill?”
“You grill?”
“Like a champ. No alcohol for you. Doc’s orders,” he paused and a twinkle came to his eyes, “unless you just don’t tell Logan about it. Because he will hand me my ass if he thought I gave you alcohol with pain meds.”
I blinked. Aiden, the huge, impossibly strong alpha male didn’t want to face down the doctor. I laughed hard and loud for the first time that day and it felt good.
Chapter Ten
I woke up the next morning and rolled onto my back to stare up at the ceiling. There was an early morning light coming through the bedroom window that was slowly chasing the shadows of the night away. The satin sheets felt warm against my legs as I stretched.
Aiden hadn’t lied when he said he grilled like a champ. He had made steaks that were awesome. We had sat at a table on his back porch, that was conveniently located off the kitchen through a set of French doors. He had served entirely too much food, all made by him, and all of it had been fantastic. I was offered some wine that was likely very good and very expensive, but had declined based on the doc’s orders. Aiden had jokingly pouted about it like I had dashed his plans on getting me drunk and taking advantage.
We hadn’t talked again about the Brandon issue to my everlasting relief. Instead, the conversation had turned to his house, which was built by his father and the reason why he had kept it. It turned out that Aiden, despite his other quirks, was a very sentimental guy.
He had also talked about the amount of land he owned around the house, which was significant. He had two other buildings close to the house. One was a barn that he didn’t go into much and the other was some temporary housing when his men were on shift. They rotated in and out, so he provided some space for them while they were on the grounds.
He talked about growing up split between Lakefield and his parent’s other residence in New York. He had been an only child, and by the sounds of it, much loved by two parents that had adored him. They had instilled a sense of respect for earning money, starting at a very young age.
It had occurred to me last night that there was a massive difference between the entitlement that Brandon had, and what Aiden’s parents had given him, which was a healthy view on working for it. It made all the difference in the world.
I yawned while, stretched my arms out and sat up in bed.
Aiden had left me at the bedroom door, rather early in the evening the previous night. He had kissed me once, given me one of the pain meds, and had taken off down the hall. It hadn’t felt like a dismissal, just two people parting after a very long day.
I hopped out of bed in my sweats and cami.
My plan was to make him breakfast this morning, in thanks for the spectacular dinner. I walked over to the bedroom door when I noticed it was slightly open. I pulled on it and poked my head into the hallway. There were voices coming from somewhere in the house and I could smell coffee and bacon.
Hmm.
Tying my hair into a poufy ponytail with the rubber band from yesterday, I stumbled over to Aiden’s closet and opened it.
The walk-in was decent sized. If you owned half of a department store.
I walked into it looking at all the clothing and shoes neatly laid out. Mostly business suits but there was also an entire section toward the back wall of t-shirts, camo pants, shorts, and just normal everyday clothing. The odd part about the closet was that Aiden’s attire was only taking up half the space. The rest was empty. Shelves and rods were bare on the other side, as if they had been either cleaned out or were just waiting for more clothing.
I walked to the normal looking attire and found a long-sleeve, grey flannel. I pulled it off the hanger and put it on. It was gigantic, but would work so that I could get down the hallway and see if Aiden was already up making coffee. I rolled up the sleeves and tied the ends around my middle so I wouldn’t drown in it. I pulled the collar up and sniffed it. It had Aiden’s very masculine scent on it.
Satisfied I headed to the door, then immediately turned back around and went into the bathroom. I needed a mirror.
Poufy cute hair. Check.
Semi-cute clothes without having to flash any boob. I unfastened the top two buttons on the flannel. Okay, semi-cute clothes with maybe a little flash of boob. Check.
Eyes not smudgy from makeup. Check
I grabbed my moisturizer and put some on my face. Put on just a touch of gloss and pinched my cheeks a little. Check and check.
Julia would be proud.
I really wasn’t sure what I was doing but for some reason it felt necessary to be at least a little girly around Aiden. Not that I was terribly girly, or thought in any way, that this whole thing with him was going somewhere. Because it wasn’t.
I squinted at myself in the mirror. “Fuck it.”
When I made it to the kitchen, I was rethinking this whole morning cuteness thing. I wandered in and saw the remnants of breakfast foods on the island. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, and fruit. There was enough to feed an army. I spied the coffee pot and was about to go on a search for a cup but noticed it was suddenly silent in the house. All the conversation I had heard earlier had ceased.
I turned to the open French doors and jumped in surprise.
Four sets of eyes met my startled look.
Holden was leaning against the porch railing, looking serious as ever, with a coffee cup in hand. Dylan was lounging back in a chair trying to muffle his chuckle with a napkin. Another man eyed my legs
, then raised his eyes to look at me with a smirk.
Then there was Aiden, whose eyebrows were pinched in a grimace and looked like he wanted to punch all three of them at once. He slowly inspected me from top to bottom.
His face changed to a hungry look that had nothing to do with the piece of toast that was hanging out of his mouth.
“Uh, hey,” I said and gave all of them a huge toothy grin. My eyes never left Aiden though, whose jaw had started to tick.
Smile still plastered on my face, I turned back around, pretending that all was normal and headed toward the coffee maker.
My hand had barely made it to a cup I saw on the counter, when I heard the French doors closing and then felt an arm slide around me. I knew it was Aiden by the feel and smell as he drew me back into his body. His other arm came around me and trapped me there.
I turned my head to look over my shoulder at him. His eyes scanned my face.
“Uhm, good morning.”
“Babe.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just smelled coffee.”
Aiden’s face came closer to mine and he pressed a gentle kiss on my temple. Then he put another on my cheek as he trailed his mouth down to my lips. There he gave me a soft kiss before he stepped back.
I grabbed the coffee cup, poured myself a large, steamy portion and turned around. His eyes lifted quickly to mine like I had caught him staring at my ass.
I narrowed my eyes at him and one of his eyebrows lifted as he smirked.
Gah! He was such trouble.
“Nice flannel.”
“Thank you, I borrowed it from the gigantic closet in your room.”
“Hmm.” His eyes slid down to the two buttons I had undone on the shirt. “You can borrow from it anytime. Want to go back in there and see if anything else I have fits?”
I took a sip from my cup and raised a finger to my lips, tapping it against my lips like I was seriously considering his question. “Erm, no I think I’m good.”
“You drive me nuts woman.”
He carefully took the cup out of my hand and set it on the counter. Then he pulled me against him and started looking at the scratch on my head. “Looks okay today. I thought it would bruise more. Does it still hurt?”
Run (Lakefield Book 1) Page 9