AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Seven
Duncan
I make my way down the cobblestone streets towards the one place that gives me some solace. After a rough day I’ve always come here, and brought some of the men I work with when I know they’ve been struggling. The Red Lion is a low key pub here in London. It may be located in one of the busiest cities in the world, but once you walk through those doors, you feel like you’ve walked into another realm. The lights are dim, the music is barely noticeable, and everyone inside keeps to themselves. The only people you hear talking are the ones at the bar, speaking to the barmaid. Even in the States we don’t have bars like this. We mainly have sports bars, where everyone gets as drunk and rowdy as they can when their football team is losing. That’s the one thing I miss about America – Football.
I place my hand on the iron door handle and pull it forward, walking into the pub. I head straight towards the booth I always sit at and order a Guinness. It’s actually quite normal for me to be here a couple nights a week, usually how I relax and unwind. All in all, almost every aspect of my life is the same. Well, besides one thing. Now, I’m watching Willow, and she knows that I am.
James walks in through the front door and approaches the booth I’m seated at, taking a seat directly across from me. He also works for Kristof, and truthfully, he’s one of my close friends. “Long time no see,” he greets, lifting his chin at me.
“Same to you. I thought you’d be there to greet me, bastard,” I cheekily joke. James has become much like a brother to me over the years.
He orders his beer, and we sit chatting about pointless shit for well over an hour. He’s updated me on everything gossip-like that’s happened in London amongst the other guys and the women they’ve been seeing. I swear these men are worse than anyone back home, and I grew up in Miami. Men fucked anything they saw walking down the street, but the lot of these men are so much worse.
James leans his arms across the table, places his hand along his chin, and grins. “Now, you can’t tell me that you didn’t get down under her.”
“I didn’t,” I admit honestly.
“But you wanted to.” He raises his eyebrows as he says it, and I shrug my shoulders. Just because he’s my friend doesn’t mean that he gets to know everything about me, or my desires. You’d have to be a blind man to not want Willow; blind or dumb.
“Shit, if you’re not calling dibs. I sure as hell am.”
I clench my jaw and stare across from me, my body heating up all of a sudden. I’m not sure why, if it’s just because he’s said that he wants her and I can’t bear the thought of it, or if it’s because in my head, she’s already mine. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to the latter. “She’s our boss’ daughter. It’d be unprofessional,” I seethe out, knowing all too well that I couldn’t give a flying fuck what Kristof would think. It’s not like he’d be around long enough to protest that much anyway. He’s ten seconds away from death’s doorstep. Plus, he chose me to guard her for a reason. He knows I’m the best. Who better to be with her than someone who can protect her in the way that no other man can?
I smirk to myself; the only thing I don’t have going for me is the fact I’m American.
“If you don’t make a move soon, Duncan, I’m going to. She looks just like that fucking beaut’ Asa.” I roll my eyes at him, and, grabbing my glass in front of me I take down the rest of my Guinness and leave some cash on the table. Standing, James just can’t let me go. He insists on poking the bear. “Let the games begin.”
I can’t help myself. I wrap my hand around his throat and tighten my grip, shocking the ever loving hell out of him. Meeting my eyes with his own, I stare him down and speak clearly. “There is no game when it comes to her. Know your place and that you’ve already lost. You weren’t ever in the running and never will be.” I release him and walk towards the door, needing the chilled London air to run across my skin. Hopeful that it’ll cool me down enough when I get back to the townhouse.
A five minute walk and I’m back safe and sound in the townhome. I take the side entrance in through the garden and stop in the surveillance room. We have cameras everywhere in this place, and I mean everywhere. You can’t even take a shit in this joint without someone looking at you. Kristof is a smart man and wants every inch of his home covered. I can’t blame him for that, especially considering he’s lost almost everyone he holds dear to him. Willow being the only exception.
I look over the monitors, checking the kitchens, living area, study, hallways, until I’m overviewing the garden cams, and then my eyes float to Willow. She’s asleep in her bed, cuddled under her comforter. She must be damn cold; it isn’t that brisk up here yet, but women always get a chill about them. That’s what my Momma used to say at least.
After I feel like I’ve properly looked at the monitors and made sure that there is no imminent danger, I conduct a perimeter check and go upstairs. For some reason I have a gut feeling, like something isn’t right. Just for the hell of it, I turn around and walk to Willow’s room. I don’t knock because I don’t give a shit if she screams, or bitches at me. I’m only doing my job. I place my hand on her door knob and creak the door open, I wait for a moment and watch, not hearing anything.
That doesn’t make me feel any better.
I take a few steps forward and come closer to her bed, waiting to hear anything come from her mouth. She looks like one of those girls who whispers in their sleep, so I wait, and nothing. At this point, I know something’s up. Walking forward even closer, I stand directly next to her bed and put my hand on it, pulling it backwards.
Motherfucker!
A couple pillows are thrown together making it look like a human body. I fell for the biggest trick in the book. I wonder how long she’s known about the cameras…
