Chapter 1
I sighed, pausing in the middle of the mall as my phone rang. “Sorry, girls. Give me just a second,” I told them as I turned and walked a few feet away from them before hitting the button. “Athair, how are you?” Seeing my father’s number on my phone always gave me mixed emotions.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your shopping trip with your friends, grá, but there had been some developments I’d like to discuss with you in person.” Love, the only nickname he ever gave me. It was very bittersweet from his mouth. “My driver is leaving now on his way the mall. You have about thirty minutes until he gets there. Should that give you enough time to finish your shopping?” My father spoke into the phone.
I glanced back at my friends and considered. Part of me wanted to tell him no, I’d blocked out the whole day to spend with the girls. But another part of me didn’t really want to be here. They’d been making fun of me anyway, teasing me about the breakup with my now ex-boyfriend, Ronnie. He’d cheated on me, but apparently, it was my fault. And they’d brought it up a few different times now so I was starting to wonder if they were really my friends at all.
“Yes, father. That should give me enough time.” I told him, deciding being at home with someone who didn’t want me be around me was better than being out in public with people who didn’t want me around. At least I could be in my own bedroom.
“Good. He will be waiting at the front of the mall for you.” He said before hanging up.
I watched the phone for a moment, watching it flash that the call had ended, then the screen went black again. Not for the first time, I wished he cared a little more. I knew he didn’t hate me, but he wasn’t the kind, caring, loving father I’d longed for.
“Bad news, girls. Father is sending a car. I’ve got half an hour.” I said and they boo’d, despite the fact I’m sure they wouldn’t even notice I was gone when I left.
“How about a pretzel?” Maria asked, looking between Danielle and I.
I shrugged. “I could go for one.”
Danielle rolled her eyes. She’d recently taken on the Keto diet, fearing the six extra pounds she’d gained being back from Uni. “You guys are such pigs for eating all those carbs.”
I shook my head at her as I made for the stand. I had no idea why she was worried about six extra pounds; she weighed half as much as I did. While I was just starting to get comfortable in the body I had, I still weighed too close to two hundred and fifty pounds for my liking. If Danielle weighed a stone over a hundred pounds, I’d be surprised. “Ya didn’t mind none when you were having ’em two weeks ago,”
“I mean, really, if there was anybody who didn’t need a pretzel, it’s you. No wonder Ronnie cheated.” She mumbled to Maria, mock whispering.
But I heard every word and it cut me deeply. I couldn’t do this anymore. I checked my smartwatch. “Well, time’s up. Car’s here. See ya next time.” I told them, walking away without another word.
It was everything I could do not to cry as I made my way through the mall. I didn’t look anybody in the eye as I moved through the crowds, my one bag of nerd gear from Hot Topic hanging on my elbow.
I stopped right before the entrance, glancing over my shoulder. Why did I feel like I was being followed? I took a moment, watching the people moving around the mall entrance, but didn’t see anything out of place. So weird.
I decided to sit on a bench out front until the car showed up. Which was dumb because now I was really craving a pretzel. Stupid fucking Danielle. I hated her. I hated her and I never wanted to hang out with her again. I didn’t give a fuck that her dad was my father’s best friend and left-hand man, my uncle being the right-hand man.
When the car pulled up, I tried to shake off the feeling that I was being watched and instead of focusing on that, my brain played Danielle’s comment on repeat. “No wonder Ronnie cheated,” How could she? She knew how invested I had been into that relationship. I knew he didn’t love me the way I loved him, but by God, that didn’t make it any easier.
When the driver pulled up to the villa, he let me out and I thanked him, making my way up the front steps. I found father in the meeting room, with several others bosses there. I waited at the entrance until he paused his conversation and beckoned me into the room.
“Grá, it is good to see you,” My father said, sitting up straighter in his chair. “I have summoned you here because there is a threat against the family,” He gestured for me to sit.
I was more or less used to this conversation. Every few years, an up-and-coming Clan Chief would try to make beef with some of the other clans and it would cause a stir.
“However, this is much more personal than I would prefer it to be, as they have made threats against you.” He told me and I couldn’t help the panic that slowly started to fill me. I hadn’t done anything; why would anyone threaten me? “Obviously, this is my top priority and I can’t let you get hurt,” I heard the words, but his tone told me this was all business and none of it was personal.
“I’ve hired a guard, to watch after you. As of right now, he’s escorting you everywhere you go outside of this house. He will be with you full time.” He told me pointedly.
“A guard? A bodyguard? Is that necessary?” I asked, although if he felt the need to spend money to hire another body instead of putting one of the bosses on me, things might be worse than they’d ever been.
“Stone?” My father called and a man stepped into the room. He stood like a soldier and I was suddenly wondering how my life had gotten tossed like a coin. “Staff Sergeant Parker Stone, US Army Retired. He’ll be your shadow. Where you go, he goes.”
“What about the club? I still have a job I have to show up for.” I rationalized.
He went back and forth for a moment. “At this time, you can still go to work. I don’t think a threat is imminent, but I can’t be too careful. I need you safe because I need the clan safe.”
There was the dinger. He was worried if someone kidnapped me, I’d rat out the clan’s secrets. Makes sense logically, but it hurt to hear. This was supposed to be my father after all.
The Army man was strong, broad through the shoulders, firmly planted where he stood. God, he looked good too. His short hair would’ve looked nice if he’d grown it out, but I’d hardly seen soldiers let themselves go like that after retiring. But his beard was past a five o’clock shadow, but not quite a full beard, but it was well groomed.
“Staff Sergeant Stone will be staying in the room next to yours, strictly for protection. If anything happens, I want you to go to him directly.” My father told me with a firm voice.
“This seems a bit overkill, Athair. I’m sure it’s nothing. It’s never been bad enough I needed an armed guard before.” I told him pointedly. I knew I was talking back when I was supposed to say, yes sir, but I wasn’t one of the Clan drones. He couldn’t expect me to just go along with this without some form of resistance. He might’ve been cold and distant, but he should’ve known his own kin better.
He scowled at me. “I didn’t raise you to talk back to the Clan Chief with such disrespect. Dismissed.”
I rolled my eyes, standing from the table and exiting through the door I’d come in. Not two seconds later, footfalls were heard behind me. I stopped in the hall to turn and look at the man behind me.
He watched me with strong eyes, as if daring me to tell him I didn’t need him here. But something... something about the feeling of him watching me reminded me of something. Which was crazy, because I’d never met him before. But something about the feeling I had while he watched me...
“Have you been shown the house then?” I asked, wishing I had a bone in my body that didn’t want to please other people. Of course, I was being nice, I’d been trained my entire life to be nice to house guests visiting from other clans or businesses.
He nodded once and I tilted my head.
“Do you not speak?” I asked, suddenly more curious than I probably should’ve been.
“Only when it matters.” He told me pointedly. His accent was specific and I was wondering if he originally hailed from New England.
“Fantastic. I hate chatter.” I told him firmly, turning and moving up the stairs. He trailed behind me as I made for my room. I made a point to close the door directly behind him, hopefully letting him know how much I enjoyed him being there.
But Mother Mary and Joseph if he wasn’t attractive.
