Close Protection

Chapter 23 Daphne

23 Daphne

I look at myself in the mirror, once again hiding the necklace.

I’m wearing the same baby-pink gym set with the matching tight jacket. If I keep the jacket on and zip it all the way up, the necklace will stay hidden. I walk out of my room only to be met with Amelia walking up the stairs.

‘You and Teddy start, I’ve just got a few things to do then I’ll change my clothes and meet you outside. How was dinner?’

It’s an hour after we’ve eaten, the sun has long set and the temperature has started to drop. With Daddy having his meal in his study, I was left to eat dinner with Milosh, Henry and Teddy.

That went about as well as when I told my father I wanted to study Midwifery at university instead of Business or Chemistry. Awkward, painful and draining.

Amelia was working and couldn’t join us to break the tension, so it fell to me alone to keep the peace and power the conversation.

‘Oh, dinner went great.’ My voice drips with sarcasm. ‘Henry and Milosh really took to Teddy, and by the end of dinner they were holding hands and singing “Kumbaya”.’

‘Wow, who knew all the boys would get along so well?’ Amelia jokes, starting back towards her office.

I give a fake smile as I descend the stairs. ‘Not me!’

I walk into the kitchen and spot my father with his head in the fridge, rummaging for something. ‘You just ate dinner, how are you still hungry?’ I ask, then go to sit down in the breakfast nook to push my trainers on.

‘I’m trying this new thing,’ Daddy responds, looking up and smiling gently when he hears my voice. ‘It’s called stress eating.’

I finish tying my laces up before I look over to him again. ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend that.’

He laughs before fully taking me in. ‘You going to work out?’

‘Yeah. Me, Teddy and Amelia are going to run a few laps in the garden and maybe fit in a little strength training. You want to join? It might help you take your mind off things for a little while,’ I suggest.

‘No,’ he lightly chuckles. ‘I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on, but you have fun and run a lap for me.’

‘So what should we start with?’ Teddy asks, straightening his glasses as he walks out of the garden door. I turn to look at him and laugh. I feel like Milosh probably did when I walked out to our first training session in my fur coat.

Teddy clearly didn’t bring any workout clothes with him as he’s clad in a navy cable-knit jumper, a pair of tartan pyjama bottoms and cream loafers. ‘Interesting outfit choice,’ I quip.

‘This was all I had.’ Teddy shrugs, grinning.

‘I would go and ask Milosh to lend you some clothes, but I don’t think they’d fit.’

Where Teddy is slender and toned, Milosh is broad and muscular.

Where I’d place Teddy at 5’11”, Milosh is at least 6’3”.

Milosh looks like if you sat on his lap it would be firm and strong and secure, whereas Teddy, bless him, looks like if you sat on his lap he’d ask you to get up every now and again to give his legs a break.

Teddy is still strong and lean, don’t get me wrong, but against Milosh, or even Henry, he wouldn’t stand a chance. However, what he lacks in muscle, he makes up for in looks.

Teddy is the definition of a pretty boy. With his curly blond hair and his blue eyes protected by his glasses, he’s the poster boy for ‘Take me home to meet the parents. I’ll bring flowers and white wine .’ And for the last nearly eighteen years that’s what I’ve gravitated towards.

But then there’s Milosh. With his dark hair, sharp features and overwhelmingly striking face, he can command a room simply with his presence, his quiet dominance oozing out of every pore.

‘Even if his clothes did fit me,’ Teddy says, abruptly pulling me from my thoughts, ‘I think I’d be the last person he’d help out. I’m pretty certain if I was trapped in a burning building, he’d leave me there.’

‘Oh… that’s not true.’ Bold-faced lie.

‘Yeah, sure,’ Teddy says sarcastically. ‘Anyway, shall we start with a warm-up jog to the bottom of the garden?’

‘Sure.’

‘Do you have any secret entrances or exits in your garden?’ Teddy asks as we begin.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, you know, I wanna make sure this house is properly protected and there’s no way for anyone to get in or out.’ He starts looking around the garden for any doors or broken fencing.

‘Oh well, in that case, you’re completely safe. There is an exit through –’ I point to the far end of the garden – ‘there, but it’s locked and gated, and during the day there’s a security guard positioned there. Daddy even said he hired someone to keep watch there at night too. He starts tomorrow, I believe.’

‘So he’s not there now?’

‘No, but don’t worry, you’re completely safe.’ I smile.

‘Ah… yeah, good. That’s good, thank you.’

We reach the bottom of the garden and stop. ‘Why don’t we do our workout down here today?’ Teddy asks, looking around.

‘Okay, sure. Let’s stretch first.’ We start with our arms, stretching one across the front of our chest and holding it there for a second before switching to the other. We continue making our way through arm and back stretches before moving on to a standing forward bend. As I lean down, my necklace falls, dangling in front of my face for a second before I tuck it back into my jacket, rezipping it fully.

‘So that necklace that you’re wearing, where did you get it?’ Teddy asks innocently enough but I instantly tense up. It’s not the question, it’s more the necklace itself. I don’t know why but I always seem to get a little cagey about it when someone asks.

‘My mother used to wear it,’ I answer. Teddy knew my mother; he was twelve when she died and his family practically moved in for a month to help bring life back into the house.

‘Oh, that’s why I remember it,’ he recounts slowly. ‘Elizabeth used to wear it all the time.’ I flinch involuntarily when I hear my mother’s name. I can’t remember the last time I heard that name aloud and a rush of sadness dawns as an assortment of memories crash back into my mind.

‘Yeah,’ I respond, my voice small and remote as I slowly begin to roll up out of the stretch. Teddy takes one look at me and walks over, embracing me in a warm hug.

‘Sorry Daph, that was a bit thoughtless of me,’ he mumbles into my hair. He rubs my back but his hands settle near my neck. He starts rubbing it and I feel his fingers skimming the back of my necklace.

I jerk back and his face heats as his hands fall. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I was just checking if the clasp was secure.’ He looks at my chest. ‘It is.’

Before I get a chance to respond we hear footsteps coming from the top of the garden.

‘Amelia!’ Teddy cries, way too enthusiastically. ‘You’re here. I didn’t realize you were joining our little late-night workout.’

Amelia laughs lightly as she pulls her hair up into a ponytail. ‘Yeah, I thought I might as well, now that all my work is done.’

‘Great!’ Teddy exclaims. I study him for a moment, trying to figure out what’s going on with him. Beads of sweat are forming along his forehead even though we’ve barely started the workout. He’s also acting a little jumpy. Plus the random groping of my neck. Gentle alarm bells are ringing. Something’s wrong… but what?

‘Hey, Amelia. I just noticed none of us have any water out here. Would you mind grabbing us a few bottles, please? I want to go over one of the stretches me and Daphne just did one more time.’

‘Sure,’ Amelia responds, heading back towards the house.

‘I’ll come with you,’ I say, before she leaves. Teddy’s being weird and I’d rather have other people around than be alone with him right now.

‘No, I need you to demonstrate the stretch, if that’s all right?’ Teddy objects.

‘Okay, well, Daph, you stay here. I’ll be back in a moment,’ Amelia finalizes as she walks off. I stare after her for a moment before looking back to Teddy.

‘What was the stretch you wanted me to demonstrate?’ I ask, but he’s not paying any attention to me. He’s still watching Amelia. As soon as she vanishes into the kitchen he turns to look at me, panic in his eyes.

‘I’m sorry, Daphne, but I need that necklace.’

‘What?’

He inches closer, his eyes focused on my chest where the pendant sits. ‘I need that necklace, Daphne. And I’m going to take it one way or another so please just give it to me.’

‘Teddy, what are you talking about? If this is some kind of weird prank, please stop, because you’re starting to scare me.’ I back away from him, but he takes one step closer.

‘I’m so sorry, Daphne. I truly am.’

‘For what? Teddy, what is goin—’ I don’t have a chance to finish my sentence before he grabs the front of my jacket, yanking me into him.

‘Teddy, stop,’ I gasp, my breath shortening. The impact of the pull causes the necklace to pop out and as soon as Teddy sees it he grabs it, trying to rip it from my neck.

The clasp holds, but the pain of the jerk sears into my skin.

He doesn’t let go of the necklace, his breathing getting heavier and more staggered. I try to pull his hand off but his grip is too strong. So, I do the next best thing.

I kick him in the groin.

He yelps in agony, doubling over and loosening his grip on the necklace. I pull away and stamp on his foot for good measure, causing him to stumble back.

‘I just need the necklace, Daphne. Give it to me.’ His voice is dark, firm and desperate. But his body is shaking.

He’s scared.

I stumble back, ready to ask him what he’s doing, but before I can speak Amelia jogs up to us, bottles in hand.

‘Teddy, are you okay?’ Amelia asks, concerned.

Before I can even tell her to run, Teddy stands up tall, simultaneously retrieving something from the waistband of his trousers. It’s too late for me to stop him as he raises the butt of a gun to Amelia’s head, striking her hard.

‘Amelia!’ I cry, as she topples to the floor.

Lifeless.

I run over but stop abruptly when Teddy points the gun at me.

Our erratic breathing intertwines as I face the barrel of a gun.

A real gun.

A real gun is being pointed at me. By Teddy.

His hands shake as his breathing picks up. His whole face covered in sweat now.

‘Take off the necklace, Daphne,’ he says.

‘Teddy, please put down the gun.’ What did Milosh teach me? What did Milosh teach me? How can I disarm him?

‘I can’t do that, Daphne,’ he starts, his face racked with fear. ‘I didn’t want to do this, but you wouldn’t give it up.’

Is he… crying?

He silently starts to sob, pointing the gun at my face with his shaking hands.

He’s never done this before.

He’s inexperienced.

He’s not even holding the gun correctly.

If I took a few steps forward I could disarm him, but I’ve only ever done that with Milosh and a fake gun. I really don’t think now is a good time to play Black Widow but I don’t have a choice.

Amelia is on the ground, unconscious, and we’re all alone. No one is coming to rescue us. This is what Milosh has been training me for.

‘Teddy, listen to me,’ I say as softly as I can, taking a small step towards him. ‘I don’t know what’s going on, but let me help you.’ I take another step but stop when he tightens his grip around the gun. I hold my hands up.

‘Stay back, Daphne. I will shoot you.’

‘I know, I kn-know,’ I respond, halting.

‘You don’t believe me, do you?’

‘What?’ I ask, terrified. I don’t want to die. Least of all at the hands of Teddy .

‘This is a real gun.’

‘I know, Teddy.’

But apparently my words aren’t enough. He fires a warning shot that nicks my upper arm. The adrenaline of the situation delaying any pain.

All I need is one more step and I can disarm him.

‘Teddy, please stop. I’ll give you the necklace, okay? I’m going to walk towards you and hand it to you.’

He nods once, still holding the gun to my face as I take one more step.

Moving fast, like Milosh taught me, I reach up to the gun before Teddy can react, pushing it away from my face. I clutch it, twisting until the trigger is out of his reach, and lift up. Because of the height difference it’s hard to pull away, so instead of the gun ending up in my hands it drops to the ground. I reach for it but before I have time to grab it I feel a shoe connecting with my stomach, dropping me to the ground.

Then I feel it again.

And again.

Teddy kicks me repeatedly until I can’t move.

I can’t talk.

I can’t scream.

The pain is searing.

But then it stops.

I start coughing uncontrollably, my battered body spasming. It takes a moment for me to register that someone is calling my name.

‘Daphne,’ a deep voice calls. ‘Daphne, get up!’ It calls again. Louder this time.

I roll over and find Milosh hammering a punch into Teddy’s jaw before kneeing him in the gut. Teddy doubles over, giving Milosh leverage to place him in a headlock. One arm wrapping around his neck and the other behind it, restricting his air.

‘Daphne, baby, look at me,’ Milosh practically shouts. I look over at him, finding his eyes so full of power and darkness it shocks me for a moment. ‘Daphne, I need you to run inside and get Henry.’

‘But the gun!’ I gasp out.

‘Forget about the gun, go and get Henry and your dad.’

‘Bu—’

‘Now, Daphne.’

I get up, stumbling when I’m aggressively reminded of the pain in my stomach, but managing to break into a run.

‘Henry, Daddy!’ I scream as I run back to the house.

‘Henry! Daddy, please!’

Henry and my father rush into the kitchen at the same time, panic-stricken. ‘Daph, what’s wrong? What was that noise?’ Henry asks, bracing me when I almost run into him.

I cry out when his hands clasp my arm where Teddy nicked me with a bullet, bringing their attention to my sleeve which is soaked in blood.

‘Daphne, your arm, what happened?’ my father says, eyes widening in horror.

‘Milosh… Teddy… Amelia…’ I try to catch my breath and speak clearly, but fail. ‘Teddy attacked me and Amelia, Milosh got me away but he—’

‘Stay here,’ Henry demands, cutting me off once he’s heard enough. He and my father run past me into the garden.

‘He has a gun,’ I shout after them, just before I hear a boom.

The gun.

The gun went off.

‘No,’ I whisper to myself, imagining the worst. Terror saturates my body, enveloping my pain. Not caring about the consequences, I run back out to the garden to check what happened.

I can see a fallen body at the far end, but I don’t know whose it is.

Daddy continues running, but Henry stops as soon as he reaches Amelia. He picks her up and carries her back towards the house, his eyes black with rage.

‘Daphne, go back inside,’ he instructs. ‘ Now , Daphne,’ he continues when I don’t move.

‘But I have to check Milosh is okay,’ I plead, walking towards them.

‘He’s fine. Now go back inside.’

His tone leaves no room for argument.

We speed-walk through the kitchen and into the snug. Henry places Amelia down on one of the large sofas, planting a light kiss on her head before moving her stray hairs off her face to assess the growing bump. He gives her a full-body once-over before turning to me.

‘Are you okay?’ he asks, worry emanating off him. My lip trembles as the adrenaline wears off and I start to process what just happened. Pain sears through my upper arm and my stomach all at once.

Teddy attacked me.

Teddy, the boy I’ve known my whole life, just threatened me with a gun and shot at me.

‘No,’ I whisper as the first tear falls. Henry glances back to Amelia before walking over to me to analyze my injuries. He helps me take off my workout jacket and top so I’m just in my sports bra and leggings, his eyes darkening as he assesses my arm, stomach and neck.

‘Stay here, I’m gonna go get Josh.’ His voice is lethally calm so I don’t dare do anything other than exactly what he told me as he walks out of the room.

Josh had been a doctor for ten years until one day he realized he simply didn’t fancy it any more. So he quit and went to culinary school, proceeding to work in multiple Michelin-starred restaurants for a number of years, where he happened to meet his now-wife Bethany, all before they both came to work here as our private chefs.

When I hear the door reopen I look over expecting to see Henry returning with Josh, but I’m shocked when my eyes meet a sea of green. Milosh closes the door gently and walks over to me, his jaw tightening as he takes in my injuries.

Fresh tears prickle my eyes, the memory of what just happened coming back in flashes.

‘Don’t cry,’ Milosh commands. ‘He doesn’t deserve your tears.’ His hand comes up to cup my cheek wiping them away.

‘What happened when the gun went off?’ I ask between shaky breaths.

‘I shot him in the foot,’ Milosh explains calmly.

‘I didn’t know if something had happened to you,’ I whisper.

‘I’m okay, baby, don’t cry over me.’ His voice is gentle and soothing as he continues to wipe the tears from my eyes.

‘Where is he now?’ I ask.

‘I knocked him out and he’s currently tied up in your father’s study. We’re just waiting for him to wake up.’

‘Okay.’

‘Where exactly are you hurting?’

‘My arm, stomach and my neck, where he pulled on my necklace. But Henry went to get Josh, so he’ll sort me out.’

He nods in response then points to the necklace that still lies on my chest. ‘Is that what he was after?’

I nod.

On the outside, Milosh looks calm and collected. There’s not even a scratch on him, but something dark and slightly unhinged is swimming in his eyes.

The door to the snug opens again, but with Milosh towering in front of me I can’t see who it is.

‘I’m gonna go and take care of Teddy; get some answers for you,’ he drawls, his voice low and intimate. ‘You gonna be okay?’

I nod, offering him a small smile. ‘Could you take the necklace to my father for me?’

He nods, languidly removing his hand from my cheek. ‘Turn around.’

I comply, my lips parting in a silent inhale as I feel his warm hands on the back of my neck. My skin erupts in goosebumps at his touch. He’s gentle with his movements, trying not to agitate the darkening bruise. I’m certain he can hear the erratic beats of my heart.

‘There,’ he murmurs as I feel the necklace lift from my skin.

‘Thank you.’ I turn back to face him, his eyes potent as they bore into mine. He nods once and turns to leave, before I stop him. ‘Milosh?’ I breathe, grabbing his hand to stop him. We both look down at where our fingertips connect for a moment before we lock eyes again.

‘Yeah?’

‘Don’t go easy on him.’

He smiles slyly. ‘Whatever you say, Miss Green.’

He lingers for a moment, his eyes coasting down to my mouth then lazily back up, holding my burning gaze for a moment, before someone over by the door clears their throat. I drop my hands to my side as Milosh breathes out a chuckle.

‘See you soon, Miss Green,’ he says, before turning and leaving, ignoring Henry’s stare on the way out.

‘Totally platonic, my arse,’ is all Henry is able to mutter before Amelia stirs behind me.

Henry rushes over to the sofa, dropping to his haunches.

‘Hi, gorgeous,’ Henry whispers down at her, smiling to mask his worry. Amelia startles when she fully comes round, but as soon as she sees Henry’s face she reaches up and wraps her arms around him, melting into him and whispering something inaudible from where I’m standing. Henry whispers back and starts rubbing circles on her back in an intimate, familiar way.

I love their love. Their love gives me hope. Their love makes me long for the day someone will look at me the way Henry looks at Amelia.

I want to care about somebody that much. I want somebody to love me, to care for me, to protect me. To leave everybody behind for me, not caring about the consequences as long as I’m okay.

It’s the stuff of fiction. But if Henry found Amelia, who’s to say I can’t find my Henry?

Milosh could be your Henry . A small voice in my head chimes.

Huh. Maybe I need to add possible brain malfunction onto my list of injuries.

‘Does your head hurt?’ Henry asks when they break apart.

‘A little, but it’s okay,’ she says as she starts searching the room. Her eyes land on me and she sighs with relief. ‘Daphne, are you okay?’

‘I’m okay, Meelie.’ I make my way over to her as Henry moves aside so I have room to hug her.

‘Oh my gosh, Daph, your arm,’ she gasps, cupping her mouth with her hand. ‘And your neck,’ she adds. Her eyes widen when she sees my stomach. ‘What did he do to you?’ she whispers.

‘Josh is just gathering his things to take a look at her now,’ Henry interjects. ‘You too, Meels.’

‘Good.’ Amelia nods. She swings her legs around and places her feet on the floor, ready to get up, but as soon as she lifts her upper body she starts swaying, losing her balance. Henry rushes in to steady her, his brows knitting together in concern.

‘You okay?’

‘I got up too fast, that’s all, Hen,’ she answers softly, stroking his jaw. Her gaze flicks over to me again when I stand back up, clutching my stomach. ‘How did you manage to get away from Teddy?’

‘Milosh,’ I admit. ‘I’m glad he came outside when he did, otherwise… I don’t know what would’ve happened.’

‘Yeah,’ Henry agrees. ‘Milosh is probably the best hire your dad ever made. And he cares about you, Daph.’ He steps back a little so he can look me in my eyes. ‘He really cares about you. Almost to the level I care about Amelia.’

‘No one cares about anyone as much as you care about Amelia, Henry,’ I say with a small smile.

‘Before Milosh, I would’ve agreed with you,’ Henry admits, ‘but now I’m not so sure.’

Thankfully, I don’t have to respond to that because Josh chooses the perfect time to walk in with his medical bag and Bethany in tow. As soon as they see me, their faces drop and they let out horrified gasps.

‘Oh Daphne, what has he done to you?’ Josh says, before he spots Amelia looking a little worse for wear. ‘No, not you too, Amelia?’

She grimaces and nods as they close the door behind them and cross to the sofa.

‘Daphne, you look like you need more immediate attention so I’ll start with you,’ Josh states. ‘Bethany, could you please sit with Amelia? Henry’s going to need to go and help with the questioning, and she looks like she needs some support.’

Bethany makes her way over to Meelie as Henry stands up.

‘Henry, what’s going to happen with Teddy?’ I ask.

‘Ah.’ Henry smiles. And it’s the most unnerving expression I think I’ve ever seen cross his face. ‘Well, now that you two are with Josh and Bethany, I’m gonna go have a little chat with him, if that’s all right with you girls?’

Amelia gives him a slightly creepy smile. ‘I suggest you make him wish he’d never been born.’

‘Will do, gorgeous.’ Henry’s eyes heat up for a moment as he stares at Amelia, before cooling as he looks over to me. ‘And you, Daph? Are you all right with me having a little chat with him?’

If Henry has his way, Teddy will be leaving the house in a body bag.

‘Do what you need to do,’ I respond. I feel completely numb. I don’t know why Teddy did this, and honestly, I don’t care. He held a gun to my face.

But what if he was being threatened? That little voice in my head queries, and it’s a valid point. This is completely out of character for Teddy so there must be a reason – not that Milosh, Henry or Daddy are going to want to hear it – but there has to be. He wouldn’t do something as drastic as this unless he was being blackmailed or something. However, blackmail or not, he still shot and attacked me.

He shot at me. That’s not okay.

I look back over to Henry. ‘Just don’t kill him,’ I add, rolling my eyes. ‘Although I’m pretty sure Milosh may have beaten you to it.’

Henry laughs. Like, really guffaws. ‘Yeah. I think you’re right.’ He places a chaste kiss on Amelia’s lips before making for the door. ‘I’ll be lucky if there’s any Teddy left.’ He opens the door still laughing to himself. ‘This is gonna be fun.’