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How could he keep his distance emotionally? She deserved so much better than him. Maybe after he graduated from secondary school, when his future had seemed bright, he could’ve bravely made a play for Arianna. She used to call him ‘Brave Brad.’ He almost smiled at that. He’d bravely fought and led the way in battle after battle, but revealing hurtful secrets only he and a deceased woman knew? It made him want to run.
It was far too late now to win Arianna’s heart. He wasn’t that ambitious, optimistic young man any longer. Too much death and heartache weighed him down, starting with his lack of control with Annabelle, Annabelle’s horrific death, and continuing with each death of a fellow warrior or villager under his protection. Those people had become his people. He was questioning more than ever why he’d felt impressed to come home and face his past. Arianna would’ve been better off without him getting between her and Mason.
The handsome, smiley young guard surprised him yet again. He asked Brad question after question about Africa. He was especially interested in the battles he’d fought and the tribal warriors who had trained Brad and their impressive methods of fighting with very few modern weapons and always a shortage of money, bullets, and supplies.
Brad shared a little, but he didn’t get into his two separate captures and the torture. Instead, he focused on drawing Mason out. The lieutenant shared about his training under General August, Lieutenant General Prescott, and of course Captain Levi Favor. He had some heart-pounding tales of taking a knife in the back to help rescue Princess Aliya from two infamous killers and the story of Prince Malik, Princess Sophie, and Princess Sunny almost being murdered by the even more infamous William Rindlesbacher.
It was all intriguing and made the morning hours pass quickly, but he could tell Mason was going stir crazy and he felt the same. What would they do if they were cooped up in this room for months while Arianna worked and they waited for the Gifted Genius to be apprehended?
Mason insisted Arianna leave her door cracked. She and Mason had decided to use the intense snowstorms today and in the forecast as the reason she couldn’t travel to her appointments. Today looked to be a vicious blizzard outside, the snow swirling in every direction and driven by wind gusts against the panes like bullets pinging off trees. Brad tried not to flinch at each assault.
Mason checked on Arianna several times and took her a protein shake and a water at one point. Brad wanted to be the one checking on her, but she was obviously upset with him. Nobody could blame her, least of all him.
So he paced, staring out the windows. He couldn’t even see the picturesque valley blanketed in white; snow and more snow obscured any view and pelted the windows and the castle.
“Protection details are never riveting,” Mason said from the kitchen area.
“Would you like to take turns using the castle’s fitness center, as Arianna suggested?” Brad asked, rubbing his jaw. “Is that all right with the royal family?”
“The August family is very generous, and the guards stationed here are always welcome to use the facilities.”
“It would be great to get some energy out and get a workout in, but I don’t know if I can leave her with only one guard.” He should’ve thought of that before he’d suggested it. He needed an outlet, but not at the risk of Arianna being under-guarded… or alone with the charming Mason.
“I could call the command center. They’d send up an extra guard to wait outside the door so we are still two deep.”
“That’s a great idea. Thank you.” It didn’t solve the issue of Mason getting alone time with her, however.
Mason pulled out his phone to make the call, then insisted Brad take the first workout slot. Brad didn’t like leaving Arianna and selfishly didn’t want her coming out for lunch and having a flirtatious interaction with Mason. At the same time, Mason kept checking on her and Brad hadn’t stopped him or declared it was his turn. Nobody he’d fought with would ever call him a wimp, but he felt like one regarding Arianna.
Brad raced up the stairs to the workout center and soon lost himself in an intense strength training and plyometric workout. The facility was incredible, from the top-of-the-line equipment, the variety of machines and weights, the cleanliness, and he could only imagine the gorgeous views. The storm was settling a bit. Thankfully, the gym was deserted in the early afternoon.
Jogging back down to their suite, he thanked the hulking Sergeant Ollie Bancock who stood at the door. The man only nodded in response. He rapped on the door. He and Mason had decided to only take the key card when they all left the room at the same time. It was an extra line of protection to have to knock and not have an enemy somehow get the keycard and get in.
“Yes?” Mason called through the door.
“It’s Brad.”
Mason flung the door open. “Whew! You smell like a very good workout.” His blue eyes twinkled.
“It was fabulous. Thank you.”
“Enjoy the shower. You earned it.”
“I’ll wait until you return. So one of us is in the main area.”
“Good on you for being diligent.” Mason saluted him. “See you in a bit.”
Brad walked into the main area and found an array of lunch options on a tray. He wasn’t used to such a variety of delicious food. The villagers had always made certain their warriors were fed, even if it was roots and whatever animal they’d managed to kill. The hardest part had been the women and children often didn’t have enough. Brad had often tried to sneak part of his portion to the children. All but the very youngest had been trained to not take his food. It had been rough.
This was a very different world. He focused on the friends he’d left behind and then gratitude for Augustine’s abundance and the impressive, hard-working castle staff in his prayers. He knew the three of them weren’t the only guests, and most of the large royal family was here. They’d come for the ball last night and were staying through Christmas. General August and Lieutenant General Prescott were likely figuring out how the Gifted Genius had been hired on as a server, but it made sense with the castle busier than usual and hosting that ball and the king’s wedding soon; of course they’d hire extra staff.
Brad wanted to eat, but he also really needed a shower. How long would Mason be? He should’ve asked the man to stay while he showered. He hurried into the bedroom, leaving the door open, and slid out of his sweaty shirt, setting it in a laundry hamper in the closet. He splashed water all over himself, dried with a towel, and sprayed a shot of his &Horace cologne on.
Brad had taken little with him when he left eight years ago, packing up his stuff into boxes and leaving it with a neighbor after asking a friend to sell his parents’ home. When he’d unloaded his stuff upon his return, he’d found his old favorite cologne. It still smelled good.
Walking back into the main room, he stopped short when Arianna’s bedroom door opened. She walked out, stopped, stared at his bare chest, and cried out, “My goodness, what happened to you?”
He lifted his hands in a placating gesture. “Forgive me. I returned from the fitness center upstairs and I smelled horrible. I should’ve thrown another shirt on, but I wanted to shower first.” Who knew when they’d do laundry? He’d learned not to dirty an item of clothing unnecessarily, washing everything by hand during the past eight years.
