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Guarding her was the least of my worries.
With the number of odd threats my family had received, I was placing her in the middle of an entirely different level of danger. I’d yet to update him on what I’d learned regarding the case the Los Angeles detectives were working on. The lack of leads was infuriating to me as well as to them. She was safer here, but the lure of her lifestyle would continuously dangle like a colorful string of yarn in front of her. Controlling her might become an issue.
I had a feeling she was going to be even more rebellious than she normally would if nothing more than to prove a point she was all grown up.
I knew that far too well, the images of her voluptuous body remaining in the forefront of my mind. Even her scent, the freshness of citrusy shower gel was enough to tighten my balls.
“As I said,” Brandon continued after clearing his throat. “You’re going to allow Francois to stand watch over you. You can determine schedules, but I want her protected at all times.” He locked eyes with me, the edge in his voice remaining.
“Don’t worry, Brandon. She will be under myfullprotection at all times.” Whether she liked it or not.
“A full service man. How lovely. Isn’t he a very busy man, Daddy?” she asked, determined to remain annoyed that I’d been tasked to provide security. What I wouldn’t be able to tolerate was her haughty attitude. She would soon learn that I wouldn’t accept her childish behavior.
She would also realize that I was likely the only man who could keep her alive.
A bodyguard. The thought left a bad taste in my mouth.
“We both are,” he answered. “But he’s the only man capable of ensuring your safety. Stop arguing about this.”
“I’m not arguing, Father, but maybe I should just return to Los Angeles.”
Her defiance was admirable, her realization that we’d be forced together obviously forcing a significant change in her attitude from the time we’d spent together.
“It’s not safe for you in LA, Delaney,” I told her. “The person responsible for killing your roommate has apparently done this before. He targets women in clubs, follows them home and kills them. He captured the first girl. The authorities believe he tortured her for hours. Then he took his time cutting various emblems in her porcelain skin, using words like filthy cunt and dirty whore.” I walked closer, my eyes never leaving hers. Yes, I was trying to scare her to cut through the level of bullshit she was tossing my way. “I can and will keep you safe, even if it means locking you in your room.”
And eventually, if necessary, I would hunt down the predator, handling him my way.
I expected Brandon to interfere, but other than narrowing his eyes, he said nothing.
Her eyes opened wide, her discontentment turning into a flash of anger then hatred. “Does that include the use of handcuffs as well, Mr. Thibodeaux?”
I couldn’t help but notice her lower lip was trembling. I dared walk a little closer, the instant electricity we’d both felt inside the vault stronger than before.
“Whatever is necessary, doll.” The moment was dangerously close to crossing yet another line, yet as I looked into her eyes, I could see exactly what she was thinking.
And what she was hungering for.
“You’re going to stand for this, Father?” she asked, her tone softening. The moment she dragged the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip, I was forced to take a deep breath.
Brandon shifted, glancing from one of us to the other. “I’ve asked him to do what it takes to keep you safe.”
“I’m staying here in this house. I won’t be carted away to some unknown location. Those are my terms,” she insisted.
I preferred taking her to my house but at this point, perhaps keeping her here would be the best idea. At least initially. “Agreed.”
“I thought you two were no longer friends,” she stated, challenging both of us.
Both Brandon and I chuckled but I allowed Brandon to answer. “Your uncle offered me a business opportunity I couldn’t refuse.”
“Don’t call him that. He’s not my real uncle. And why would you go into business with… him?”
Her anger and sudden hatred of me had confused her father, enough so he was eyeing me warily.
“No. I’m just a man who will die in order to try and keep you alive.” My answer was just as terse as hers.
“Whatever is going on here I don’t like. And whatever the two of you aren’t telling me is likely something I don’t want to know.However, you will respect this man. As you so aptly figured out, Delaney, Francois is a busy man. The fact he’s willing to risk his life, taking time away from his profitable businesses for a situation that literally dropped into my lap is something you will also respect as long as you’re inside my house. Am I making myself clear?”
She shook her head as she folded her arms. “Fine. You are. Thank you for helping me in this… crisis, Mr. Thibodeaux. Now, I’m going to spend some time in the sun. I don’t need nor do I want your company. Is that allowed?”
