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“No, Trident. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this has been? First, she freaks out about the shot, then she runs away. This is not how I raised her. To run from her problems.” Storming over to the girl in question, whom she speaks about as though she isn’t even there, Ursula clasps Sol’s chin with a fierce grip, bruising in its intensity, and jerks the girl forward. “Do you know what you’ve done?”
Tears form in Sol’s eyes as she does her best to shrink back and away from the person who should be protecting her, not denigrating her. “I think it’s best if you take a step back from the girl,” Noble growls, a warning in his tone.
“Excuse me?” She shoves Sol’s face away with that question, and she would have stumbled if not for the three of us surrounding her, halting the inevitable fall to the floor.
“You heard him,” Duke snarls. “Keep your hands off the girl.”
Slamming her hands on her hips, Ursula spins around, leveling her husband with a shriveling glare. “Do you hear them? How they dare speak to me?”
“I heard.” He sounds unbothered.
“Well? Aren’t you going to do something?” I wince from the shrill shriek she lets loose.
“Not really, no.” He shrugs casually, his gaze finally settling on his daughter. “Are you alright, darling?” She seems startled by his question. Glancing at me, I meet her stare, holding it and signaling that we’ll take care of her no matter what. Chewing on her lip, I squeeze her fingers in mine, and she finally nods to her father. “Good. Good, I’m glad. Could you give me a minute with these men, ladies? I’d like to discuss something important with them.”
Ursula rolls her eyes as she storms out of the room. Sol takes a few minutes longer before she releases us and appears comfortable enough to leave.
* * *
Noble
Allowing Sol to leave and be alone in the same room as her mother makes my muscles twitch, and my fingers itch to pull the young woman back into my arms. And from the looks on their faces, Lorde and Duke feel the same way.
“These landed on my desk an hour before Sol ran from the pool.” Titan hands over several photographs of Sol in various settings, taken from a long-range camera.
“Paparazzi?” Duke queries, but we all know that’s not it. Not when we land on the last image of her nude in the shower.
“I pay them well enough to leave my daughter alone. My wife doesn’t have the same misgivings, so I leave her be. Sol has always been off limits, however.” Titan sits in the stately chair behind his desk and demonstrates the first sign of vulnerability he’s likely ever shown. “Her entire life, the world has been fascinated by my daughter. Her swimming, her singing; they’re like vultures. I spend millions every year to keep people at bay.”
I think I understand where he’s going with this. “She’s in college now,” I offer. “Legally an adult. Some are going to believe she’s finally fair game.” He nods. “Are you going to tell her about these?” I already know the answer.
“I don’t want her worrying needlessly. I’d like the three of you to remain at her side like glue.” We would have been no matter what. “I know it’s likely to draw more attention, but at least I know she’ll be safe.”
“I’ll need unfettered access to her schedule.” Titan agrees to my request. “We’ll be in charge completely. No interference from you, her mother, or anyone else.” He scrubs a hand down his face but doesn’t object. “We won’t be sharing her security plans with anyone else, either. It’s the three of us, and that’s all.”
“Agreed. I have to leave in the morning for England. I’ll be bringing her mother with me. I’ve already dismissed the house staff except for our personal chef. She’s about the only one I don’t think would hurt Sol. Carlotta has been with us since before Sol was born; she’s like a grandmother to my daughter.” We’ll still be doing our own background checks on the woman.
“Anything else we should be aware of?” Lorde asks.
“I’ve sent over another file of threats I’ve been intercepting on her behalf. I believe the photos were meant for shock value, but the things this person describes doing to her…” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I am not the best father; I know this, but I do not want my daughter harmed by some sick maniac.”
“Nothing will happen to her while she’s in our care,” I vow.
With a tip of his head, he dismisses us before calling back to us. Titan grimaces before he laughs and says, “Don’t forget Flounder, her golden retriever, the biggest fucking blob of uselessness on the earth, and Sebastian, her mouthy-as-hell parrot. Curses like a damn sailor.” Wasn’t expecting that. “Here are your keys and the codes to the gates and alarms.” He hands over an envelope that Lorde accepts.
“We’ve got her from here,” I assure him.
“I’ve seen cases like this. It’s fifty-fifty on how they end. My daughter’s case better be on the latter side of that.” It’s there, without being said, that he’ll do his best to ruin us if his child is hurt.
“Understood.” Nothing will happen to her while she’s on our watch.
THREE
Sol
None of them knew it, but I hung around my father’s closed door long enough to hear that someone had been taking pictures of me and sent them to the formidable man. Another shudder works through me as I imagine being watched right now. In my own private sanctuary.
After exiting the office, Mother had her driver take her to the house. I was left behind as usual, so I’d sat in one of the chairs by Father’s receptionist’s desk and waited for the men to come out. They escorted me home and instructed me to head straight up to my room.
