by Nana Malone
I whirled at him. "Let me be clear; I will tolerate no innuendo, no sexual banter, no flirting. If you get the urge to try it, remember what just happened right here and know that the next time I’ll do worse. Do you understand?"
"You're my guard. You’re not allowed to harm me."
"Yes, but your king happens to be my direct boss, and he won’t take kindly to you harassing me, so you won't touch me again. You won't make comments, and you will refrain from being an overall douche. Do you understand?"
His gaze narrowed just a bit, but then he nodded. "Yeah, I got it."
I turned around then, and Trace was beaming at me. "Damn. I'm scared of you."
I gave him a curt nod. "Well, you should be." God, I certainly hoped that I was going to survive this. Because at the end of the day, I had a distinct feeling only one of us was going to be standing. And that would, unfortunately, mean that I had killed the billionaire.
You can't kill him.
Right. Note to self; Do not kill the billionaire.
I worried that might be easier said than avoided.
18
Zia…
I could tell it was going to be a hell of a morning. Derrick didn't show me any more of his goods though, so that was something.
Jax was acting as actual security, and he drove instead of Tim. I was still playing the role of Derrick’s assistant, which meant I should go to meetings with him. It also meant he'd gladly try to give me assistant work, and so would Olivia. But her, I could ignore.
Our first stop was Timothy Arlington. Derrick strode toward his father's office as if he didn't know I was trying to tail him, so I had to run to keep up. Luckily, I had worn my Stuart Weitzman chunky heels, but it was still an effort. He had a good foot on me. After all, he and Theo were the same height. "Mr. Arlington, do you think you can slow down a little so I can keep up?"
He turned and gave me a smirk. "You're supposed to be accommodating me, right? Not the other way around."
"Well, why don't you walk into a room on your own then, and let’s see if someone tries to shoot you."
He hesitated at that, but he did slow down his pace.
He didn't bother knocking at his father's door. He just marched right in Timothy Arlington’s office like he belonged there.
His father seemed none too pleased. "Jesus Christ, do you know how to knock? Didn’t your mother cover that?"
Derrick laughed, and I closed the door behind us. "Well, that's a funny thing. Seeing as the woman who raised me until I was seven years old wasn't my mother."
Arlington's brows drew up.
"Dear old Dad."
"They told me that you’d been taken, that you were gone. I told them I must be kept abreast every day."
"Ah, well, I had to blow off some steam in Ibiza. But I'm back now, so we can resume our I hate you… No, I hate you more scenario."
Timothy ran a hand down his face. "Not you, too. Do you want to talk about what the hell is going on with that Theo character? Or is this just more of your games?"
Derrick unbuttoned his jacket and then easily folded himself into one of the chairs across from his father. He had an air about him that was far more cocky and insolent than Theo had ever been as he took a give-no-fucks posture where he slouched in the seat. "Nah, Dad, I've only ever pretended to be someone else once, maybe twice. You know, to date a girl... oh, or to delegate the supervision of a company to someone else for a while so I can get away from you."
The older man looked distinctly uncomfortable, and his gaze flickered to me. "You don't have to stay. I'll deal with my son."
I shrugged. "All the same."
Derrick narrowed his gaze to me then. "He knows that you're my guard?"
I nodded.
Derrick turned his attention back to his father. "Did you figure it all out, or did he have to tell you?"
"Theo told me. More like confronted me with it. Then everything made sense because he hadn’t been himself. Or rather you hadn’t seemed yourself."
Derrick grinned. "God, I wish I could have been there to see your face. I mean, what a coup de grâce, right? I missed it all because of the most magnificent pair of tits I have ever seen. But hey, models, right?"
The older Arlington scowled at him. "That's where you were? In Ibiza? You weren't kidnapped or hurt?"
Derrick laughed then. "Aww, come on Dad, were you worried? I'm surprised you didn't jump at the chance of a replacement. After all, he looks just like me, and he's generally a better person, I think. I thought you'd be overjoyed."
The older man stood. "You are my legacy. I have given you everything, the best of it. You know this world. He doesn't know any of it."
I wanted to beg to differ, but I didn't bother. These were not Theo's people. The charade was up for him. He could finally just be himself and get back to his life.
His life without you.
I had to consider that. But if it meant that he might be happier and he might have a real shot at a happy life, I wanted him to have it. I didn’t want him to be stuck with these guys. Even though I knew he'd always wanted a brother, the jury was still out on Derrick.
“Ah, yes, your legacy,” Derrick said. "You don't listen, Dad. I don't want any of this legacy. Never have."
Arlington rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Want it or not, it's yours. I'm glad you're not dead, at least."
His son laughed. "Why? Do you want to do it yourself? I know Theo has concerns about the merger, and frankly, I share some of them. But after reviewing the files some more, I've decided we're moving forward. I'm calling the board members to convene tomorrow, so we'll hold the vote and close out this deal."
Arlington's brows dropped. "Are you serious?"
Derrick laughed. "I never joke about money."
I frowned at that. Theo had worked hard to stall the vote so he could get more information. Was this a good idea?
Not your business. Your only business is the body in front of you and making sure it doesn't get holes in it and bleed all over the place.
Yeah, I knew that, but still. It didn't sound right. It didn't seem right. Was I missing something?
"Well, there’s at least one thing we agree on. And if you ever turn the devil loose at the helm of my company again, I will kill you myself."
I narrowed my gaze at the older Arlington. "If you’ll refrain from threatening my client, then I won't have to plug you in the hole."
Timothy Arlington turned a deep shade of red and lifted a brow at me. "You're speaking to me?"
"Yes. You just leveled a direct threat against my client."
The older man shook his head. "What's the world coming to when a nobody thinks they can touch me any way they like?"
"Well, the nobodys are the ones with the guns right now, so let me remind you again to refrain from threatening my client."
Derrick pushed to his feet then. "God, I knew I was going to like you."
And then he left his father's office without being dismissed.
The rest of the day went by in a whirlwind. By the end of it, I was in a state of pure exhaustion.
When we left the office, I thought Derrick would want to return to the palace, but instead, he turned to me in the passenger seat. “Mind if we take a drive?”
I blinked at him. “Uh… okay.” I radioed to Trace in the follow car that we’d be taking the scenic route through the old town.
"You know, Zia, you aren't a bad bodyguard. Thanks for covering me today."
"Well, I wouldn't be very good if I couldn't even manage that."
He studied me closely. "Why did you become a bodyguard anyway?"
"Well, there's something noble about being a Royal Guard, but that path didn't quite work out the way it was supposed to for me. Royal Elite gave me another shot to make a difference, save actual lives. I've always wanted to do that. And I could use my computer skills."
He studied me for a long moment. "You really are one of those protect-and-serve types, aren't you?"
I shrugged. "I guess I've been doing it my whole life. I don't really know how to be anything different."
"So, what's your deal? You and my brother just shagging or is he your boyfriend?"
I laughed. "Boyfriend? That sounds so funny and somehow less intense than what we are. But yeah, I guess."
He chuckled. "Ah, so Theo got his shit together then?"
"Yeah, well, it was a little complicated."
We parked at the overlook on Old King’s Road. "He's lucky."
I grinned. "I am pretty awesome,” I said as we climbed out of the car and walked over to the railing of Old King’s bridge.
He smiled at that. "You are. I mean, you basically kept him alive."
"Well, I take my job very seriously."
He stepped into my personal space, and I frowned. What the hell?
"I'm trying to figure out though… can you really tell us apart?"
The frown lines stayed firmly etched in my forehead. "Yes, it’s quite easy to discern the difference."
He lifted a brow. "Oh, really? Why? We're the same height. Obviously, we're identical."
"It's your eyes."
"Same color."
"I can just tell."
"Are you sure? Because what if I had been Theo all damn day?"
"You haven't been. Besides, I have a tracker on Theo. It's an alarm on my phone. People keep trying to kidnap him, so it makes it a little easier to protect him when I’m able to track him."
His laugh was low. "Wow, all right then." His gaze searched mine. "I've always wondered what it would be like to have someone who actually cares about me."
I started to soften. His whole life had been cruelty. Well, there was Elena. She had loved him. But he had a stepmother who found it hard to accept him, his father was Timothy Arlington, which was pretty much enough said. Growing up, he’d known he wasn't loved by the only parents he knew. "It must be awful growing up like that."
He shrugged. "It was fine. I mean, after all, I had money. Having money makes it all better, doesn't it?"
“I wouldn’t know. I grew up here, in the Old Town.”
His eyes went wide, and he blinked rapidly. “Oh, I had no idea.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “The way you say that, it’s as if you found out I was raised by wolves or something. I mean have you ever even been to the Old Town proper? Talked to the people? Experienced it?”
He was quiet for a long moment, and as I watched his profile, I couldn’t help thinking how utterly alone he looked. “I wasn’t exactly allowed in this part of town as a kid.”
I frowned. “What do you mean not allowed? How could you not be allowed? The best restaurants are in the Old Town."
He nodded. "I’ve heard, but the old man had a list of off-limits activities. Being kidnapped had a tendency to ruin your ability to be adventurous."
I winced. "Yeah. What happened to you anyway? How did you escape?"
He rolled his shoulders. " Once it became really clear that my Dad wasn't getting me out of there, I bolted. I was lucky enough to find something to cut the cable ties with, and I was out."
I frowned. It was a really rushed-over version of how he escaped, but I just chalked it up to childhood trauma.
"No one was happy to see you when you got home?"
He shook his head. "Elena of course. But Dad, who knows? He was so cold when I got back. I'd heard them calling him about ransom. I think he was surprised to see me walk in."
"Jesus."
"It's fine. I don't need the 'Daddy didn't love me enough' pity speech."
"That’s not what I'm giving you. It's just called empathy."
He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."
"So, when you discovered Theo, you went to him because… what? You just wanted to know if either of you would feel something?"
For once he didn’t guard his answer. "I don't know. Honestly, I don't. At first, I just wanted to be near him to know if that twin-connection thing was real. And then I wanted answers. Obviously, he didn't know we were brothers. When I came up with the whole body-double idea, he was afraid things could get out of hand, but the further I went with it, the more I wanted it to happen. It was like a drug. And then sitting on that information about us being brothers was equal parts creepy and terrifying. Every day was like my whole life could have blown up."
"Oh, your life couldn't blow up."
"Are you kidding? I've been the heir apparent for so long I don't know what to do if I'm not the heir apparent."
"But do you want to be the heir apparent?"
He shrugged. "I suppose everyone needs something to do."
"Wow, you're cynical." We walked to a stretch of restaurants leading to the only pier we had in the Old Town area.
"Do you have our back?" I asked into my comms.
Jax's response was terse and quick. Trace was lighter, more jovial.
I made a game-show model’s wave of my arm. "Well, this is the Old Town."
Derrick didn't look like he wanted to venture very far.
"No one is going to bite you. You're perfectly safe here."
"Thank you."
"Yeah. I come here to think."
"How did you even find this spot? It's so tucked away."
"I grew up there.” I pointed at a tiny house that once housed my family. “The corridor is that way."
"Is your family still there?"
I shook my head. "I don't have any family left, other than my sister, and she and I are not on speaking terms at the moment."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, take it from someone who knows all about not having any family; supposedly the good ones love you, warts and all."
"Yeah, you’re right… sometimes." I studied him carefully. "Would you rather head back to the palace?"
"No. It's nice out here."
I grinned at him. "Look at you, expanding your horizons."
"Theo… He's lucky to have you. I don't have a you."
"I think that’s probably by choice. I didn’t figure you for someone who wanted a you."
He laughed. "What do you know about it? Every man needs someone who's going to poke at their carefully constructed bullshit. I think you're that person whether it be friend or love interest."
I laughed. "Are you sure about that?"
He nodded solemnly. "Yeah, you are that person."
We walked down the pier, and I began to realize that the better I got to know Derrick the more similar he was to his brother. Not that different at all.
19
Zia…
I couldn't focus in the meeting. I could feel Theo's gaze on me. He was being sexy on purpose.
Can he really help that?
It was a Royal Elite meeting, so I couldn't very well turn away and be unprofessional. My charge was Derrick. I was supposed to focus on Derrick.
And my goddamn boss wanted an update.
Sebastian turned his attention to me. "Anything we need to know?"
I shook my head. "No. Aside from Derrick and Timothy getting into it at the office, it’s been pretty quiet." I then added, “After our little meeting, I tapped the senior Arlington’s phones. No calls made to anyone suspicious, just his security team, but that’s to be understood given all Theo told him. But no red flags.”
Jax spoke up. "All is quiet at the penthouse as well. Surveillance showed nothing. It's as if anyone who might have been watching either of them has stopped. Derrick has been ripe for the picking, and so has Theo, but nothing. Not even so much as a follow car."
Sebastian scrubbed his jaw. "What the fuck? All that activity for weeks, but then Derrick returns, and nothing?"
I shrugged. "Maybe whoever it was has nothing without Derrick in custody. Or maybe they want both of them. I don't know."
Sebastian ran his hands through his hair then turned his gaze toward Roone. "Mate, anything? Anything with the Guard? Anyone go to visit Ashton? I wouldn’t put any of this past my other cousin."
Roone shook his head. "We got nothing."
She laughed. "I wish I had something to tell you, Sebastian, but there is nothing on the phones, no listening devices, and no attempts to tap them. Everything surrounding Theo and Derrick is a dead zone. It's as if none of this ever happened. Like it was a full-on twilight zone episode for three weeks, and now that Derrick is back it’s radio silence."
Derrick perked up then. "It's like when I was kidnapped before."
We all turned our attention toward him. "What?"
He nodded. "I mean, I was only nine, but it’s still vivid in my memory. They caught one kidnapper. The other was killed. But I always said they were taking orders from someone, but the police had no idea about who that person was. Everything went silent, and no one found any trace of him. Which is bizarre, especially when Alistair got caught. He should have flipped, but he didn’t.”
Ariel sighed. I could tell she was frustrated. "I mean, if you want, we can expose them both a little more, take them out publicly. But it's risky. We want a controlled environment."
She pushed herself to her feet and started to pace. Ethan, Penny's father, pushed away from the wall. "It's not the worst idea I've ever heard. Maybe tip them off to how we’re doing things and let it get out that they are making a public appearance. Anything is possible. We change the equation, so they change the equation. We have to do something to draw them out."
Derrick grinned then. "I'm open to being bait."
Theo sat up. "If you're bait, that means she's bait. I don't like it."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh my God, you recognize I'm the bodyguard here, right?"
The other men in the room shifted their gazes. My assumption was that they understood what it felt like to watch their women march into danger. Luckily, Ariel was on my side. "She has a point there, Theo. She is a King’s Knight. She knows how to take care of herself."
"I'm not saying she doesn't. All I'm asking is, why put her in unnecessary danger?"
Ariel nodded. "I hear you. And I understand your concern, but we've got to do something. We can't just sit in a holding pattern waiting for something to happen."