Claimed By my Damaged Hero (Grumpy Bodyguards for Hire #2)

Chapter 1 Marcus

Marcus

"So that's what you'll be doing. I expect that you'll be able to take care of Lila to the utmost degree. Obviously, there is nothing that I won't do to ensure the protection of my daughter, and whatever is required to allow that to proceed, just bring it to me, and I'll make it happen."

Reginald Kendrix's house is by far one of the most affluent, pompous pieces of architecture I've ever seen in my life.

But a job is a job, and I'm hardly one to get picky about it.

I've done my share of dirty business, things that would make other people's stomachs turn sour, working for this company, and I'm not about to stop now.

Hell, this isn't even that bad of a job. I'm just looking after some spoiled heiress.

Still, I can't get over the way the house looks, my eyes scanning everything as Reginald keeps droning on about the protection of his dear daughter and how he would do anything to protect her.

Everything is cream marble, gold, sconces, and filigree. Everything looks like it cost about as much as I made in my entire life. Times a couple.

The guy has an entire house full of staff. A butler showed me in from the front door and walked me directly to this large office, which is easily the size of a house just by itself.

Now, Reginald leans back against the desk behind him, this thick, ornate mahogany monstrosity that looks like it weighs five thousand pounds easily.

And he holds himself with the air of somebody who's been given everything he'd ever want in life. Reginald clearly never had to work hard for anything, and I can see it all over his face, the way he talks, the way he dresses.

Business attire is a must at all times. I'm sure the unnerving lack of wrinkles suggests plastic surgery and Botox, along with stark white veneers. This guy has modified every part of himself to be perfect.

It's easy to say that I don't like Mr. Kendrix, but again, I'm willing to do whatever it takes so I can make my money.

Some of us have bills to pay.

"Protecting someone shouldn't be too much of a concern.

I have a history of dealing with intense situations, and I should be able to handle anything that comes at me.

" I eye Reginald, crossing my arms over my chest. "I believe the rate has already been settled with the company when I was sent this way, and I will look for payment confirmation as soon as the details are finalized. "

I watch Mr. Money Bags stiffen, like he isn't made of dough and could pay for this job a few dozen times before he ran out of cash.

Reading people is part and parcel of working for Boss on any job, and all I see when I look at Reginald Kendrix is a spoiled rich boy with daddy issues.

Ugh, fucking kill me. Why the fuck did I take this job?

But it's too late now.

"Of course, I can sign the non-disclosure agreement as discussed.

I was never here. You never did this. I'll also need your signature on the contract agreeing that I will do everything in my power to keep your daughter safe, save risking fatality.

Nothing more or less. I will not die on this job.

And should it become clear that your daughter will not comply or cooperate, I reserve the right to withdraw from service.

Boss might be able to send you someone else who is better suited, or if she is deemed too difficult to work with. .."

I linger on that phrase because something tells me the local princess is going to be as much of a handful as her father, and frankly, I'm not in the mood.

Yeah, I have rent and shit to take care of, and yeah, Boss said I basically had to take this job because of the last one I up and left in the middle of because that guy was a dick.

But I'm not dealing with a spoiled brat too concerned with shoes. Boss can dock me. Ramen noodles are cheap, and the car is paid off.

That's food and a home, asshole.

Narrowing my eyes on Reginald, I drop my chin and glare, making sure my point is clear. "You're going to have to go somewhere else."

"Understood, Mr. Griffin." Pushing up off the desk, Reginald steps up to me, his hand outstretched. "I believe we're in business then. I look forward to—"

"What the hell is this?" A high-pitched voice calls out, and before I can blink, something is shoving past me, and I'm forced to take a few steps backward while a tiny little figure steps between me and Reginald.

"I told you I didn't want this. I told you this was a terrible idea and that I was not going to be kept prisoner in my own home.

Father, you cannot do this to me. I barely get out as it is, and now you want me to stay cooped up in here until you're finally satisfied that I'm not going to be hauled off the property in some sack? "

I have to keep myself from chuckling at that one, because the image of somebody stuffing the tiny woman into a sack is actually pretty hilarious.

This must be the aforementioned Lila, and unsurprisingly, she is decked out in just as much expensive couture as her father.

She's small, though, and from the back of her, I can see that she's thin with soft blonde hair that is perfectly styled. There's not a single strand out of place.

I can't see anything else about her, how she might look exactly like her father, how she's probably sneering at him with that patented I'm-way-too-good-for-this look.

Honestly, I don't want to be dealing with this kind of shit. I have better things to be doing than tending to a princess who isn't going to listen to orders.

"Lila, you can't come busting in here like this.

That is entirely inappropriate. I'm in a business meeting.

" Lila scoffs in response, but her father just keeps on talking.

"This threat from Cilento is very real, and you know that yourself.

I am taking the necessary steps to ensure your safety, and you will listen to me.

I've had enough of this rebellious attitude. "

Standing back from all this, I watch the two of them sneer and fight with each other. I can tell by the way they're both behaving, their body language, that they're both furious.

Neither one of them looks like they'll back down any time soon, too.

There's also a tone in Reginald's voice that tips me off. He's clearly a my-way-or-the-highway type of asshole, and I can guess that he runs the tightest ship around.

From what I understand, details from the file that Boss gave me before I arrived, Lila is twenty-four, and she has been groomed to be a member of her successful family her entire life.

As far as I can tell, every move she's made has probably been planned out by her family. She's never had to work hard. They've given her everything she would ever need to succeed in life, and she lives in this incredible mansion without rent, without paying for groceries.

Hell, she might have someone to wipe her ass for her.

"Father, this isn't me being rebellious.

It's not like I'm trying to start a rock band or something.

You don't let me have control over my own life.

I have been begging you for weeks to allow me to at least have a say in what is going on.

You do everything without speaking to me.

I'm an individual, a person. I am not just some pawn to be moved around the board by you. "

It doesn't surprise me that the two of them have a relationship like this based on everything I'm seeing. Still, I'll admit that there is curiosity piqued when I hear Lila say that she is desperate to make her own decision.

I don't think she has any idea how lucky she is, how good she has it. Many of us would love to have someone take care of all these "little" things for us, so that we could just focus on being happy instead of just surviving.

The situation is really different when all your bills aren't being paid for you.

"Absolutely not. You know the rules. This is my house, and you will do as I say.

I know what's best for you. You have no idea how serious this situation is, and you refuse to listen to me when I try to explain it to you.

You will go where I say and do what I say until I deem otherwise.

This man will be monitoring you to ensure that you do not leave the grounds and that you are under the safe care of me and the staff. Are we clear?"

"Ugh!" Lila throws her hands up, spinning around to storm out of the room.

As she's passing me, I roll my eyes down from staring at the ceiling, and everything stops.

Holy shit.

If it weren't for the exchange I just heard, I'd be certain I was looking at an actual angel.

Lila is small and thin, yes, but she's also stunning. Her soft, blonde waves are delicate and frame her face. A face that's covered in pale, creamy flesh, dotted with faint freckles.

Her eyes are blue-gray, like a storm, and they are so full of frustration and fury that I almost miss the desperation and sorrow deep beneath the surface.

Almost.

As it is, though, I don't miss a thing about the way she looks or the pain she's carrying, clawing to break free.

Her expensive clothes and perfect makeup don't hide the way she's struggling. And neither does her perfect button nose and sweet mouth that silently begs to be kissed.

To be fucked.

Jesus, Marcus. What the hell is wrong with you? She's over a decade younger than you, for fuck's sake.

Just then, her stare meets mine, and Lila glares hard. Her jaw is tense, and the anger she's wielding flares hotter.

"You're just as bad as he is," she mutters under her breath. "Worse because you're completely okay getting paid to be a glorified babysitter."

Lila storms off, and my blood is boiling. I can't tell if I'd rather spank her ass until she can't sit or kiss her until she can't breathe.

Probably both.

Which is a fucking problem, Marcus.

But suddenly I realize that I'm standing in the room with her father, just the two of us again. Cocking a brow at Reginald, I wait for him to say something.

"As you can see," he begins, circling his desk and sitting in the massive chair behind it, lording over things like he's a fucking king, "I require quite a bit of assistance.

Cilento, the man I spoke to your employer about, is quite adamant.

He'll be sending more people to harm Lila.

I have no doubt. Still, this is hardly the best foot to start on. As such..."

He reaches into his desk, pulling out something small and a fountain pen that's gilded with gold trim. I want to roll my eyes, but I'm hung up on what he said.

This Cilento asshole is looking to harm Lila. He's made threats before, but nothing physical yet, and no attempts, according to the files at least.

I will not let some mafioso touch a hair on Lila's head, and not for the first time, I'm wondering what connection Reginald has to the guy in the first place.

But I'm not supposed to ask. Don't be concerned with the why, just the what, as Boss always says.

"Allow me to offer a signing bonus as a show of appreciation." I look up from staring at the middle distance to Reginald tearing the small check free of its book. "And if all is still settled, I will return the paperwork, and you can begin tomorrow."

Walking up to the desk, I snatch the check out of Rich Boy's hands, glancing at it. Another fifteen thousand. Like it's nothing.

And the truth is, he didn't need to offer it. Once I saw Lila, one thing was abundantly clear.

"Tomorrow morning, bright and early. I'll be here."

I turn on my heel and stride out of the room. I need some fresh fucking air because there were too many red flags for me to have agreed to that job.

But I did. And I'd do it again because Lila isn't getting harmed, touched, or even looked at funny on my watch.

That girl—that bratty little heiress with an ass for days—is mine now.