Her Bodyguard

Warning: physical abuse/assault

Prologue

:Hailey/ Jacob

“Hey, look at this one,” Randy pushed a paper to me as I hid behind my hair. His eyes ran over me as he frowned. “Dad left on business again?” He stated more then asked, his eyes locked onto me.

I lifted a hesitant gaze to his brown eyes. My busted lip and hastily covered black eye made him flinch. “Yeah.” I folded the ad and slid it into my pocket. When dad left, that was when mom became unbearable having her boyfriend come over, and then the hitting and screaming began.

“Legit call,” he pointed. “Starter says they will do on-the-job training, which pays good healthcare and possibly housing.”

I pulled it back out and smiled. “No shit. “I-Randy, I need this so bad.”

“Do it, Hailey. Free yourself,” he pushed.

I grabbed my phone and dialed the number; it rang for a while before a man answered.

“Mac’s Self Defense Training, this is Cade.”

“Uh, hi, um, my name is Haley Caspian. I was wondering if the secretary position is still open.” I stuttered.

“How soon can you get here for an interview?”

“Uh, how soon do you need me?” I bit my lip.

“Half hour,” he barked.

“I-I mean-”

“Can you or can’t?” He demanded.

“I can”

“Good. See you then, Ms. Caspian.” The man hung up.

“So?”

“I got 30 minutes to get home changed and there,” I groaned.

“Well,” he grabbed his keys. “Let’s run”

I blink in shock. “What”

“I’ll take you there, you’ll have to take a bus home, but I can get you there. We can skip the rest of the day.” He grabbed my wrist. “Get your butt moving.”

--

I stumbled out of the car and gave Randy a wave as I ran up to the building and threw the door open, making my way to the half-moon desk. The inside was crisp with an ashen gray tiled floor and grey walls with white trim. I eyed the empty desk and found the phone just ringing, but no one there.

I glanced at the clock, frowning. I was late by five minutes. I hope they will still see me.

Time rolled on as I stood there waiting to be afraid to leave till finally someone came out the back.

The man was tall and well built in a black tight-fitting shirt and grey camo tactical pants that hugged his hips and thighs. His cool eyes locked onto me, and I froze as they narrowed on me.

“I’m Hailey Caspian. I called about the secretary position uh, Cade said to be here.” I rushed out in one breath as he strolled to the phone and picked it up.

“Mac’s Self Defense Training,” his gruff voice made me blink. This was Cade, the man behind the voice. His dark brown hair was trimmed on the sides, but the top was long and combed back; his blue eyes never left me as he listened. “He’s not in office right now, he’s out at the moment,” he scowled. “Fuck sake, why don’t you just use his cell?” He waited again, seeming to be more annoyed. “Fine-what time again, 1:40,” he paused. “The fuck kind of time is that just say 1:30 or 2,” he huffed, looking away from me for something. He grabbed a pen and wrote it down. “Fine,” he hung up and pinned me down in his intense gaze.

I shifted but met his gaze as he watched me silently. Time ticked on till the doors he’d come from opened again.

“Ah, Miss Caspian.” A more friendly voice drew my eyes from him for a moment before darting back, unsure where to look. “Cade, your scaring her,” the man smacked him up side the head, earning a glare. “I’m sorry about that; he’s like a guard dog,” the man joked. “I’m Jacob, follow me.”

I smiled. “Hailey. ” I took his hand he offered and shook his.

“Good, good, come,” he guided me along, leaving Cade behind, but I felt his gaze follow after me till we were out of sight as he guided me to an office. “So-Hailey, do you have any experience?”

“Um-” I looked down nervously. “Honestly, no, I’ll be fresh out of high school in a few days,” I admitted.

His brows shot up. “I’m shocked—do you not want to go to college?”

I shook my head. “Not for me,” I admitted.

He nodded. “Well, from the looks of your resume. You’ve been active through school with your odd jobs here and there, good recommendation letters.”

My phone went off, and I went to turn it off but flinched when I saw my mother’s name pop up.

“Ms. Caspian?”

I blinked as I was snapped out of the daze.

“Is that important? You can answer it,” he frowned.

I shook my head and declined, it went off again.

“It really is okay,” he promised.

“Okay,” I answered. “Mom-”

“WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU GET OFF LEAVING THE HOUSE?” She billowed, causing me to flinch. “You were told to stay home today, Hailey,” she snarled. “The last thing I want is the school call because you decided to be stupid and lip off to Trenton like that last night,” she screamed.

“Mom, I had tests, and I wore makeup. I swear no one has seen anything,” I stuttered.

She snorted. “Your lip can’t be hidden by makeup, you stupid bitch.”

I avoided Jacob’s intense gaze as his lips thinned.

“You get your ass home, me, and you had best pray that Trenton doesn’t notice you aren’t home,” she snarled.

“I-okay,” I whispered and hung up quickly, feeling tears prickle.

“Ms. Caspian” Jacob’s voice was soft as he spoke. “Ms. Caspian,” he repeated, pulling my attention.

“I’m so sorry.” I rubbed away the tears and blinked when he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Fill these papers out, and I’ll give you a moment to clear your head,” he slid a folder to me and stood before quickly leaving the room.

I blinked back the remaining tears and grabbed a pen to fill out the papers.

After 20 minutes I’d finished and Jacob walked back in with two cups and a bag. “I grabbed us drinks and something to eat since this is taking a bit. I hope you don’t mind. I got a strawberry cocktail. The lady at the counter said it’s all the rave with young ladies now a days,” he smiled.

“Thank you,” I accepted the up.

As he said down, he pulled out two sandwiches and slid one to me. “#9 from Jimmy’s, uh, I just ordered like mine, no onions.”

“Oh, thank you—you didn’t have to.”

He shrugged as he grabbed the folder, looking it over. “Now Ms. Caspian, we do detailed background searches on all our employees,” he warned. “Are you in danger?”

I froze mid-sip. “Im-okay”

“I would like to believe you.” His voice was soft and gentle, as if he didn’t want to spook me. “But your busted-up lip and bruised eye say otherwise, Ms. Caspian.”

I flinched and realized I’d cried, then rubbed my eyes. Most likely smearing the makeup. “Is it true—about the housing possibility?” I whispered, avoiding eye contact. “The paper said, What would I need to qualify?”

“Yes, it is true. Our company owns at least three apartment buildings here in the city. You could choose between 4 different layouts, everything is included.”

“How would that work? Does it come of the check?” I asked as I took a sip of the bubbly drink.

“It’s a perk we find employees are less distracted and worried when they have stable housing and short commutes to and from. You’d be able to take the bus or walk,” he sighed softly. He pulled out a different folder. “These are the layouts and-”

“I’ll take whatever I’m not picky just how soon could I?” I shook my head.

“Four days, you said you graduate by then. That gives times for papers to be filed, background screened, and the apartment cleaned and prepared for you.”

I felt my shoulders relax slightly.

“We also have company phones that are both for personal and business.” He reached into the desk and pulled it out. Within minutes, he had it activated and slid it to me. “Use this, the members of the company that are important are saved and stared,” he listed as he began to talk. I nodded when needed as we ate as he discussed what was expected of me. “Now, I will need your measurements to get your uniform in the right size. We have the preferred tactical pants with a black, grey, or white shirt or long sleeve. But sense you are a woman and one of the first working here. You can also wear dress suits if you so desire. I know women care more about looks than practicality for the most part.”

“Thank you,” I gave another sigh as I held the new phone in my hands. My eyes flickered over to the one my mom gave me, and I turned it off and threw it in the trash.

He watched with a blank face but smiled and moved on.

****

“Cade,” I called over the system as soon as the young girl left her head down, hiding behind her hair as she trudged along with the weight of the world on those tiny shoulders.

Within minutes the moody mother fucker strolled in eyes narrowed. “So is she a go or?”

“I want a background run on her. ”

He nodded and threw a folder at me. “Done, soon as she gave the name over the phone. ”

I peeked in my eyes ran over the pages. “She’s being abused.”

He was silent as I spoke, but his clenched hands told it all. He had one nasty history with abuse, especially women.

“It’s the mom’s boyfriend this Trenton Peak,” I scoffed. “She’ll start in 4 days. Tell the men to keep it under wraps about the other side we don’t want to scare her off. She’s flighty as is, but the incentives are going to keep her here for now.”

“Will do” He was short to the point the muscles on his arms flexed as he continued to clench his hands.

“I gave her one of our phones the number has been shared already,” I continued. “Set her up in one of the nicer apartments on the high level. Single bed should be fine its just her go for the pet friendly she may want a cat or some kind of shit for company.”

He turned and left, leaving me to my thoughts as my eyes ran over the file that held the multiple hospital reports and calls to the cops from the amount of abuse she suffered. No wonder the poor thing was trying to run as fast as she could from home.

****

“Where have you been?” Trenton’s voice made me freeze as I shoved the last of my clothes into the duffel bag.

I turned slowly. “Trent, what are you doing in my room?”

He shoved the door open, making it smack into the wall. The pictures I’d hung rattled as he strolled in, his eyes narrowed on me and to the bed. “Think your going somewhere? ”

“I just got some last-minute senior stuff to work on, so I have to go to Kali’s house,” I lied smoothly in a nervous tone.

He caught me by my chin in a firm hold, making me wince. “You can’t fool me, bitch,” he growled. His other hand caught me across the cheek. My head spun from the force as he let me go. I stumbled and fell.

With a lunge, he was on top of me, his hands at my throat squeezing as I whimpered and cried out, clawing at his hands and neck, attempting to fight him off my foot caught him between the legs, his grip loosened, and I pushed away, trying to crawl out from under him, gasping for breath, my heart racing.

“You little bitch,” Trenton roared in a wheeze as he grabbed my ankle and dragged me back.

“Stop-Trenton-no,” I cried out, scrambling to get away. My phone fell out of my pocket, and I reached for it with a sob. “Stop,” I begged as he gripped the front of my shirt, slamming me into the ground twice. My head knocked back, dazing me as he shook and threw me towards the dresser. My phone skittered across the floor as it fell from my hand.

His grunts and heavy breathing drowned out my cries and whimpers and please as he threw me down again. My eyes flickered to the phone and hit emergency before he kicked it from me. I felt the tears streaming down my face, realizing he wasn’t going to stop this time as he kicked me in the ribs. Pain shot through me as I gasped in shock as the wind was knocked from me.

“Stupid bitch, all you had to do was stay here,” he huffed, pushing his ratty brown hair back as he stood over me, his heavy boot on my chest. I lay there clawing at his leg, struggling. “Think your some hot shit, huh? Strutting around here in those little ass shorts and tops,” he licked his lips, a glint in his eyes as he undid his belt. “You’ve been a bad girl,” he smirked as he grabbed something from my bed and grabbed my wrists, tying them in the robe sash. I whimpered and cried out as he forced me to my knees, my back to him.

My shaken breath as tears ran down my cheeks.

“Your so pretty when you cry, Hailey, you know that?” I whimpered when I felt him touch my cheek before pulling my head back by my hair to look at him. He forced his lips against mine as I kept my lips sealed. Glaring up at him, he grinned. “Thats what I love about you, so defiant even when so beaten down, nothing like your mother,” he shoved me, and I fell forward slightly.

He moved behind me, and the belt whistled through the air before slamming into my back. I cried out in shock and pain, biting my lip. I lost count as he rained down lashes till I slumped against the floor, my arms trapped under me. I whimpered when I felt him move behind me.

“no-” I managed to grumble out as he lifted my hips more. Fear gripped me as he fumbled with the belt of my jeans and button. I cried as he pulled them down, revealing my gray pants. I struggled to get away in vain as his greedy hands gripped my hips.

“Your 18 now, right?” he grinned. “Give or take a month,” he chuckled to himself. “I’ve waited long enough for you,” he said, going to grab my pants.

A sob twisted from me in a broke “No,” I begged.

There was a loud bang, and the house rattled as footsteps thundered up the stairs, and suddenly Trenton was hauled off of me as I sobbed and cried out as hands grabbed me. Gloved hands turned me and pulled me up.

“I got you, kid.” That voice. Was that Cade? Through the tears, I whimpered as he pulled a blade from his boot and sliced the rope around my wrists as he pulled me to his chest. The tactical vest’s rough material pressed to my cheek as he cradled me, grabbing a blanket from my bed as he wrapped it around me. “Here, take her, ” he went to hand me off, but I clutched onto the vest with shaken and battered hands. He froze and made a disgruntled noise. “Take him back to the facility,” he growled. “I will deal with him personally.”

Cade carried me from the house to a black SUV as he slid me into the passenger seat, carefully buckling me in. I grabbed his wrist with a whimper, finding it hard to talk.

He rested his gloved hand over mine, eyes locked onto me. “Your safe now,” he stated calmly. “You survived. You will survive this kid,” he stated in a firm and confident tone. My eyes locked onto his, and I frowned. This wasn’t Cade. Green eyes looked back at me, and I flinched back in fear. He gave a sigh. “Names, Remington, you must know Cade. He’s my cousin; you’re in good hands, okay?”

I nodded before slipping into unconsciousness.

--

“Clear out the infirmary,” Remington’s voice broke through the haze. “I don’t care who is there just clear it out and call in the female doctor,” he ordered. “Jacob,” he growled. “She will want a female doctor to see her do not have anyone else there she will want to have her privacy. Yes, he’s being taken back into custody, ” he paused. “Yes-yes-no, it was wise of you to give her the phone; it saved her today,” he hung up, and just as my eyes opened, I met his green ones. “Welcome back, kid.”

I groaned softly, my head lolling as I struggled to move. “Hurts-”

“I know, just bear with me we are almost there. Get you looked at the hospital.”

“NO” I shot up and cried out in pain at sudden movement. “No hospital”

He frowned. “Fine, then I’ll take you to the infirmary at the training facility.” Just calm down, okay?”

I nodded slowly, letting myself fall asleep again as the pain became too much.

When I woke again, I was in a whitewashed room hooked up to a machine and IV.

“Ah. Ms. Caspian,” the female nurse smiled warmly.

I went to move but froze when she gently pushed me back.

“Don’t rush it, please,” she stressed. “Let me go get Dr. Mel, and she can explain it all to you. Would it be okay if I let Jacob and Remington know your awake now? They have been waiting here for you for three days.”

I blink in shock. Shit three days? I nodded slowly as she gave me some water and left quickly. The door opened, and Remington walked in all 6′5 of him. I blinked and wondered how I ever considered he was Cade. He was slightly shorter than Cade with striking green eyes, but his hair color was the same as Cade’s, just longer, almost wild, giving him a roguish appeal his skin was more tan from being out in the sun, littered with scars from what I could see on his arms and neck.

“Good to see you up, kid,” he smiled at me, unlike the last time he wore a plain gray t-shirt along with those trademark tactical pants. “Hungry kid?”

“I’m sorry for all the trouble,” I managed as I met Jacob’s hazel eyes. “I-”

“Hailey, you have nothing to apologize for. I am just grateful that I put us down as your emergency number, ” He gave me a warm smile as he gently touched my hand. “Once the men heard, they got into the car and peeled off to get to you.”

I blink in shock. “Men?”

“Ah-yes,” he smiled. “A few of the trainers had heard when you had called my number.”

“Oh-” I blinked a couple times to try to stop the tears that swelled they fell silently as I bit my lip. “thank you-”

“We just did what was right,” Remington stated calmly as he patted my head. “You focus on healing we’ll go get you something to eat. Are you allergic to anything?”

I shook my head with a half smile through the tears. “No”

“You rest up, listen to what Doc tells you,” he waved, and he and Jacob left quickly, leaving me alone as a female doctor walked in and smiled warmly at me.

“How bad was it this time?” I asked as the door closed behind the guys.

Her eyes widened for a moment, and she sighed. “Dislocated shoulder, wrist, multiple bruised ribs, and two fractured. To put it bluntly, your neck is bruised, you will have trouble talking while it heals from the force used on you, and your body will need time to heal. We put your shoulder and wrist back into place, and thankfully it only took one try. You did have a concussion, and your eyes are bloodshot from the abuse you suffered,” she sighed softly. “You are truly a strong woman, Hailey,” she stressed. “I will prescribe pain meds and sleep aids if needed,” she began. “I suggest warm tubs to help with the pain as well.”

I nodded, feeling numb to it.

“I was told you are to start work in a day,” she continued. “I already informed Jacob that it is minimum at best; do you understand?”

“I’ll be fine.” I shrugged and flinched at the pain. “I can handle it.”

She frowned at me but nodded. “very well”