AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Please, call me Ash, Derrick,” I said with a grin.
He smiled. “Ash,” he said with a slight nod of acknowledgement.
“I meant what I said. What can I do to help?” Derrick repeated the question. Yes, I liked this guy, but would he be the right fit for my family? I wondered.
“Nothing yet; we have enough security here with our own men plus a few additional guys from Anton. However, we may need a medic at some point whom we can call on to be discreet,” I said, once again gauging his reaction, and once again, he didn’t disappoint.
“Ah, then I take it that you are likely going to be dealing with matters in a less than legit way?” he raised his eyebrows in question.
As I suspected, this man could be a great asset. A friend too, I suspected, if I could secure his loyalty and get him onside. Time for a final test.
“Derrick, I am aware you are a man who understands that sometimes things are not black and white in this world, and things are not always done to the letter of the law. My family are Russian businessmen, and the majority of our business is fully legal and above board, but there are aspects of our lives that are a bit darker. This situation is one of them,” I said, giving him just enough of a hint as to what that meant without actually confessing anything as such.
I could see he understood exactly what I was saying, though.
“I have a good idea exactly who and what you and your family are, and so long as you look after Gracie and ensure she comes to no harm, I have no issue with that,” he stated.
“I will never let anything happen to Gracie, and I assure you her safety is my first priority,” I told him truthfully.
“I like Gracie a lot, more than a lot, and I am hoping that she will be a permanent fixture in my life in the future if she agrees to that,” I confessed, and his eyes widened.
“I am aware that you take the safety of the women you know very seriously and that you have taken care of Gracie, but that job is mine now,” I told him firmly.
I wanted this woman, and he needed to know that I was serious about her.
He narrowed his eyes, obviously unsure about that.
“Gracie is an adult, and so as long as she is happy and agrees to, and wants, a relationship with you, then I will be happy for you both,” he said, with just a hint of a warning in his voice.
I nodded. I totally respected that.
“I have no intention of forcing Gracie to do anything. I have genuine feelings for her, and I believe she is developing the same feelings for me, too. It is early days, but like I said, I am hoping she will become a permanent fixture in my life, so you can rest assured I will do everything I can to make her happy and keep her safe.”
He stared at me for a few seconds. This serious, dangerous side of Derrick was a man of few words, and I liked that.
Finally, he nodded. It seemed we had come to an understanding.”
“Like I said, as long as she is happy, I have no objections to you pursuing a relationship with her, Ash,” he said.
I stood and shook his hand, thanking him again for his help the other night.
“Anytime,” he said with a grin.
I got the feeling that Derrick meant that, and from what I knew of him, I believed that he might even enjoy the opportunity to skirt the law once in a while.
“I’ll send Gracie in,” I told him, feeling pleased.
Getting him onside was definitely a plus, and his willingness to help us with any follow-up to this situation boded well for my long-term future plans for him.
I grinned back at him. Yeah. I liked this guy.
CHAPTER 25
GRACIE
SUNDAY - FINALLY DRAFTING MY BOOK
As expected, Derrick wasn’t satisfied with a phone call and insisted on coming to check on me himself. He acted like an overprotective big brother at times, and I loved him for it. I thought that Ash admired him for that, too.
