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Anger rose inside me and burned the back of my throat. Had he recognized me? Did he realize I was the same woman that he’d resuscitated after I’d died in front of him a year ago?
“Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand, then quickly pulled away as if his touch had burned me. He’d singed my soul, marked mine with his own when he hadn’t left me for dead. Rage sizzled beneath the surface, battling with the ever-present sorrow and disappointment that I was still alive. Zayne Wilson might have thought he’d saved me, but he was sadly mistaken. And here he was again.
I checked myself before I glared at Donovan. The evil bastard had known precisely what he was doing when he sought out my new bodyguard. Lighting Donovan on fire and watching him burn slowly would be the best Friday night movie ever. If only.
“Giselle, Zayne will accompany you full time unless I’m with you. Pierce assures me his security firm and men are top-notch.”
I didn’t need protection from anyone except Donovan, but that’s not why Zayne had been hired. My brother had been furious when I’d attempted suicide, and not because I’d nearly died, but because I’d found a way to escape him. If I was going to leave this world, it would be by Donovan’s hand and nobody else’s.
“I thought Zayne would be the perfect man for the job since he saved your life last year.” Donovan’s calculated gaze connected with mine. “I can trust him to value your safety as much as I do.”
I’d assumed correctly. Donovan never made a move unless it was strategically planned out, and controlling my life and death was what he thrived on. Reminding myself that I had manners, I said to Zayne, “Thank you for your help that night.”
Donovan turned to the men and offered them a pleasant smile. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost Giselle. She’s my world.”
Bile swam up my throat and my stomach flip-flopped. No matter how often I’d witnessed Donovan’s lies and manipulative charm, it still sickened me.Hesickened me. I wasn’t a goddamnthing. I was a grown-ass woman with a fully functioning brain in my head, but any time I attempted to break away from Donovan, he laid claim to me and ensured that the world knew.
As the men continued to discuss me as though I wasn’t even in the room, I stepped behind Donovan’s chair and placed my hands on the high back. The cool-to-the-touch leather was soothing, but what I found even more comforting were the thoughts of sliding my fingers around Donovan’s neck and choking the life out of him. The mere idea of watching as the light slipped from his dark eyes was thrilling.
“Giselle?” Donovan’s clipped tone reached me, breaking me out of my trance.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.” I squeezed his shoulder, ever the dutiful sibling.
“Pierce was explaining that another bodyguard named Jaxon would fill in for Zayne when he takes time off. I assured him that we were comfortable with his choices. His reputation has preceded him, unlike the last security guy I hired. The one job he had was to keep eyes on my sister, but apparently, it was too difficult for him.” Donovan steepled his fingers together. “He stopped showing up for work about a week ago. No call. Nothing.”
I didn’t know what had happened to Randy. Honestly, I didn’t care. For all I knew, Donovan was lying and had fired him in order to hire Zayne.
“Thank you, Pierce. I appreciate you and Zayne planning ahead. I’m sure your men need an occasional day off.” I shifted from one foot to the other, my heels pinching the shit out of my toes. My gaze landed on Zayne, who had remained quiet while his boss spoke with my brother. I wondered what he was thinking. Did he really know who I was? Did he have any clue of what a filthy snake Donovan was? Surely not. If he had, he would have done me a favor and left me dead in my ex-husband’s home.
After I’d woken up in Sacred Heart Hospital, my mother and father each held a hand and cried, kissing my knuckles and speaking to me in French about how much both of them loved me, while Ander stood near my leg, doing the same. Once my father realized I would live, he pulled Ander into the hall and berated him for allowing this to happen. For allowing his beautiful daughter to become so distraught that she tried to end her life. Before I left the hospital, Father had men pack my things and move me into Donovan’s house. Not only was my marriage over, but he’d also fired Ander from the family business.
At first, I thought I’d found sanctuary from my husband and would move back in with my parents, but then I learned about my new living situation. Donovan was worse than living with Ander any day of the week. I was being punished and lived in constant fear, forced to reside with my wicked adopted brother. Father had no idea that Donovan was a monster, and Donovan had made it clear what would happen if I breathed a word to anyone.
Pierce and Zayne stood, and I watched as Zayne’s powerful hands buttoned his black suit jacket. Donovan walked the gentlemen to the door, then Zayne and Pierce stepped outside to chat business before Pierce left. Curiosity bubbled up inside me, and I speculated on what they might be discussing. I assumed Donovan had given them plenty of details about my life and why he thought I needed a bodyguard. I wondered how much of it was the truth, though.
Before I could ask Donovan what he’d said to Pierce when he hired the firm, he grabbed my arm and dug his fingers into my skin.
“Jesus, seriously?” I snapped. “Let go. You’re hurting me.”
Donovan slammed my back against the wall, and the air whooshed from my lungs. “Don’t even think about saying a word to these men about the business. I don’t give a shit who is babysitting your pathetic ass. You still answer to me. And if you give me any problems,” Donovan leaned down, his warm breath fanning my cheek, “I’ll make sure you suffer the consequences.”
My stupid body betrayed me, and I trembled beneath his gruff hold and the threat I knew, without a doubt, Donovan would follow through on. His dark chuckle grated over my skin and filled the foyer as the door opened and Zayne strolled back into the house.
I tipped my chin up, projecting an air of confidence that I didn’t have. My brow arched slightly as my attention landed on Zayne. I smirked when I realized there wasn’t one fucking thing I liked about the bodyguard in front of me except that he was gorgeous. A soft voice whispered in my head that maybe he could save me a second time. Since my suicide attempt, Donovan had to figure out a new way to control me, and now I had something I was forced to live for. What if Zayne showing up in my life again was a sign? A way out?
My hatred for him intertwined with a shred of hope, but I would have to proceed carefully. First, I had to find out if I could trust him or if Donovan had Zayne in his back pocket like he did so many other bribable men.
My emotions flip-flopped until anger won again. I had business to take care of as soon as Donovan left us alone. Before this shit show even began, I would tell Zayne Wilson exactly how protecting me would play out.
4
Zayne
Not many things unnerved me, but the second that Giselle stepped foot into Donovan Lambert’s office, and I saw those light hazel eyes again, my blood gelled in my veins.Holy. Fucking. Shit.The woman I’d saved nearly twelve months ago was my next assignment.
As soon as Pierce and I had gone outside, I released a groan. Concern creased Pierce’s forehead as I explained that Giselle was the same girl who had dropped dead in front of me the year before. I felt I wasn’t the right guy for this job. But Pierce patted my shoulder, apologized for the shock, and stated that I was the perfect person for this assignmentbecauseof what had happened in high school. He also reminded me not to let my past interfere with what needed to be done—protecting Giselle with my life.
When Giselle had overdosed at the party, Pierce and Sutton had been in a meeting and missed all the excitement. Neither of them had any idea what Giselle looked like or her name. Afterwards, I looked into her to follow up and see if she was okay. I became well aware who the mystery woman was, but once I learned that she was married, I stopped digging. Pierce hadn’t known of my efforts and probably didn't feel the need to mention anything about her. Donovan was the client, not Giselle.
