AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Donovan, I should see the rest of the manor.” I stepped toward him, ready to snap his fucking neck.
“Let’s show Zayne the house and property. Since you can’t seem to behave, I’ll accompany you.”
Giselle cleared her throat and a calm, careless expression slipped into place. I’d seen that look more times than I cared to count. A wave of righteous anger roared up inside my chest. Shit, I had to watch my step and figure out how to protect her from not only herself but this fucking prick. I just wasn’t sure how to win her over and prove that I could be trusted. Whether she realized it or not, I was here to help her, no matter who the monster was. Even if it was her brother.
Over the next hour, the two of them led me around the eight-thousand-square-foot home and additional property. Clearly, Donovan enjoyed flashing his gawdy red and cream Victorian furniture, oversized crystal, and ten vehicles in the five garages. His pores oozed greed.
Pierce had mentioned that Donovan was a high-profile businessman, but he’d forgotten to mention he was a piece of work. A pompous ass was more like it. I’d dealt with men like him a million times, and it never failed to leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Pierce and Holden were wealthy, but they weren’t assholes.
Stopping at one last room, Donovan placed a protective hand on the small of her back, then opened the door. “This is Giselle’s.”
Glancing at her, I saw a flash of something I couldn’t identify flicker in her eyes. Without a word, she stepped into the large space filled with wall-to-ceiling mirrors. Her heels clicked across the wood floor as she gestured to the area. “This is Donovan’s way of trying to—"
“Giselle.” Donovan’s tone was sharp and held an undercurrent of a threat.
“I was just going to explain to Zayne that it was your way of trying to give me some of the same happiness I had when I danced professionally.” She dropped her arms, her palms smacking her thighs. “I was a ballerina.”
Donovan kept his intense gaze trained on her. “She was the best her ballet company had ever had the privilege of witnessing. Giselle is incredible on stage.”
Her hazel eyes connected with mine. “Was.” That one word was laced with a heavy sadness.
Before I could ask what happened, she took a few steps, then leaped up, performing the splits mid-air. Her move was effortless, and her body floated in the air, suspending time for a breathtaking moment. Astonished, I realized talking about dance might be an excellent way to connect with Giselle and break down her walls. I made a mental note to text Claire later for some tips.
Donovan rubbed his hands together. “I have a meeting that I need to head out to. Giselle, your dinner is ready in the refrigerator. I made sure Gretta portioned out the size of your protein and loaded the plate with vegetables. I’ve noticed you’ve put on a pound or two,” Donovan tsked.
What the actual fuck was he talking about? Giselle was an adult, for Christ’s sake. She’d earned the right to eat whatever she wanted. Why in the hell would he track how much food she ate?
I’d been wrong. Giselle wasn’t going to be the pain in my ass. It was her fucking brother. The son of a bitch would test my limits as I tried to stay professional, but it wouldn’t stop me from daydreaming about beating the shit out of the weasel. I reminded myself that I had to remain calm if I wanted to learn what was behind Giselle’s cold façade. Donovan hadn’t hired me to dig into his family, but the first time he was rough and aggressive with Giselle was the moment he’d fucked up. After I saw firsthand how he treated her, all bets were off. I wanted to know everything. Game on, motherfucker.
“I don’t dance anymore, brother, so stop monitoring my food intake.” The corner of her full lips twitched as she held her ground.
Respect for her standing up to him accompanied my fear for her safety. My training kicked into gear, and I maintained a neutral facial expression before I did something that I would regret. Pierce’s words bounced around in my head, reminding me that the only way to learn what was happening to Giselle was to stay cool. But who in fuck’s name treated his sister like a child?
He stalked over to her and peered down. “Do as you’re told or else,” he ordered, his voice dripped with authority.
The muscle in my jaw tensed as I struggled to restrain myself from choking the life out of Donovan. When this assignment was over, I was going to make sure Pierce gave me first crack.
“Of course.” Giselle folded her arms across her chest, and a sweet smile slipped into place. I suspected she wasn’t in this situation because she wanted to be, but rather because she wasn’t sure how the hell to get out. She was strong and determined. There had to be something more holding her back from leaving. I just had to figure out what it was.
Donovan roughly cupped her chin and kissed her goodbye on the cheek before glancing at me. “Call if you need anything, Zayne.”
“Will do.” I watched as he left, but my attention soon drifted back to the beautiful woman in front of me.
She wiped her face off with her hand, disgust evident on her features. “How much is he paying you?”
That was an odd thing to ask. “He’s not. He’s paying Westbrook Security, then my boss pays me.”
She huffed, irritated with my response. “How. Much.” She formed the words as though I was reading lips and couldn’t understand her question.
“A lot.” It wasn’t for me to discuss the financial agreement with anyone other than Pierce. “You can talk to my boss if you need that information.”
She placed her hands on her dainty hips, then approached, slowing to a stop only inches away from me.
When she spoke again, her words were so soft I thought I’d misunderstood. Astonishment and confusion pulsed through me, but after what I’d just witnessed with Donovan ...
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
5
