Chapter 4
Chapter Four
“Shit.” Devon was back in the other apartment, pacing. Aurora had pegged him as security from minute one.
How was it possible that a tiny woman could be harder to manage than the men he’d used to command?
This was never going to work. She’d seen right through him. Then that condescending tone had come out of his mouth. He didn’t even know where that came from. Probably some asshole he’d overheard in a bar back in LA.
Spoiled little rich girl?
Okay, so maybe he thought that could be true of Max Bennett’s younger sister. But it had been an awful thing to say, especially considering what she’d been through, and he didn’t even know if it was accurate.
And then the girl had practically fainted.
He figured that she was worn out from everything she’d endured in the last twenty-four hours.
That was what her friend Lana had assured him.
But Lana’s tone had become clipped and professional with him.
Which he’d deserved because he had been a complete jerk.
He had deflected Aurora’s suspicion, but he hated the way he’d had to act to do it. God, I can’t manage this.
He took out his phone and dialed Bennett’s number.
“How’re things going, Whitestone?”
“Sir, I’m not sure I’m the right person for this job.”
He explained what had just happened: how Aurora had seen through his weak cover in about five seconds. But Bennett reassured him.
“It sounds to me like you did fine. I’m sure that she or Lana will call me any minute, and I’ll back up your story.
And from now on, our team in the office will keep an eye on things remotely, and you’ll only step in if it’s necessary.
If you offended her, I promise she will get over it. She’s been facing a lot worse.”
That was true. His rudeness didn’t even rank on the scale of Aurora’s problems. “You’re right. I’ll get back to work.”
“I know she’s in good hands. Get to it.”
After Bennett hung up, Devon realized that he hadn’t mentioned the other thing that happened.
Picking her up off the ground, carrying her down the stairs.
He hadn’t meant to leave that out. Technically, he had been touching her, which he wasn’t supposed to do.
He hadn’t been protecting her from an imminent threat.
But surely Bennett didn’t mean emergency situations.
Devon couldn’t have left her lying there.
Right? He might be playing the part of an arrogant businessman, but the act could only go so far.
And he was really trying not to think about how good she had felt in his arms. She’d been wearing an oversized T-shirt and sweatpants, yet the shape of her body had been clear enough underneath.
Ample curves, tiny waist, long legs. And the way her hair draped over his arm, how her lips had been slightly open, and her long lashes had splayed on her cheeks…
No, he was definitely not going to think about any of that. He adjusted his jeans, telling his dick to calm down.
No wonder Bennett was so concerned about guys getting handsy with her. No straight, single male could be around that girl for long without wanting to have her.
Devon would just have to think of her as his own sister.
But as he opened his laptop and logged in, he knew that would be impossible. The way his body was stirring without his permission revealed that he didn’t remotely think of Aurora Bennett as his sister.
He would just have to ignore those impulses. He knew how to control himself. He would steer clear of her as much as possible and focus on his mission.
Devon spent the rest of the day getting acquainted with the building’s security system.
Bennett had installed it himself, so most of the protocols were familiar to Devon.
In his three months so far with the company, he had been tasked with reviewing the security for several of their big clients, and the system here was as fancy as they came.
Closed circuit, motion sensor cameras in all the common areas and the garage.
Biometric access controls and landlines in every unit that connected directly to a specialist at Bennett Security.
The penthouse level boasted an additional unique feature—access to the rooftop terrace.
It wasn’t just a beautiful place to relax and take in the ocean views.
The rooftop also connected to a secret escape route out of the building.
Max Bennett had designed the upgrades himself.
Apparently, he’d had visiting Middle Eastern royals and A-list celebrities in mind, but such exclusive digs weren’t in high demand in West Oaks at the moment.
Briefly, Devon had been worried that Max might’ve included cameras throughout his sister’s apartment.
Like, her bedroom. That would’ve gone way beyond Devon’s comfort level.
In fact, Devon would’ve started second-guessing whether Max Bennett was an honorable leader at all.
But the inside of Aurora’s place was entirely hers.
Of course, she had cameras aimed at the front door from several angles and multiple locks.
The elevator up to this floor required a key fob or fingerprint scan.
Only Devon and Aurora, and her invited guests, had access.
So, all he had to do was keep in touch with the team at headquarters and serve as a last line of defense.
He felt gratified that Bennett had trusted him with this assignment, and he intended to make the most of the opportunity. But in truth, he wasn’t likely to see much action. This was going to be a quiet assignment, hardly all that different from manning a desk at the office.
So, he probably shouldn’t worry his mom by telling her.
He made himself a quick dinner with some of the supplies he’d brought along with him.
Bennett had promised a grocery delivery later.
While he waited for the food to heat, he did push-ups and sit-ups on the living room carpet.
One of the tough parts of this job would be remaining in this apartment, in front of a computer screen, instead of being able to take his daily run or go to the gym.
When he’d left the military, he’d just finished his second year in the Army Rangers.
Devon liked to think his training hadn’t worn off yet, despite six months as a civilian.
He’d been working hard to keep himself in shape, and he’d been sparring at the cops’ gym ever since he’d arrived in West Oaks. That was how he’d met Chase.
He knew he didn’t have the breadth of training that Bennett’s other bodyguards did, guys who’d spent a decade in various special forces and had even more time as elite personal security under their belts.
But Devon could strip down and reassemble any weapon within a matter of seconds, had skills in marksmanship and emergency medicine, and he excelled at close combat with hands or a knife.
He itched to use his skills in the real world again. He didn’t want Aurora to see any more danger, but if threats did happen to emerge, Devon was determined to be ready.
After dinner, he was back in front of the computer. Only a few residents had come in and out of the building, and nobody had ventured up to the penthouse level. Nor had Aurora or Lana come out of the other apartment. He assumed that the women had gone to sleep for the night.
Devon checked his video chat and saw that his mom was active. He pressed her name, and the call connected.
“Hi, sweetheart. Where are you?”
So she hadn’t failed to notice the new background behind him. This apartment was far more ostentatious than his own. The place had come fully furnished, complete with art on the walls and expensive looking vases on the shelves.
“I’m on a special assignment. Don’t worry, just manning a computer terminal. How was your day?”
His mother told him about her day at work.
She’d been an ICU nurse for decades before retiring due to her arthritis.
Now, she answered calls as a customer service rep.
She was able to work from home, and the hours were flexible.
But the pay wasn’t much. Her clients, big retail companies, liked that she didn’t mind working late at night.
His mom had suffered from insomnia ever since they’d lost his father. It had only gotten worse after Kellen.
His mom kept her voice low since Ruby and the baby were no doubt asleep in their own room. “I hope you’re taking care of yourself. I don’t think you should be working these long hours.”
“Look who’s talking.”
“We’re doing fine. You put too much pressure on yourself. If you’re on a special assignment, you must be busy. What can I do for you? What do you need?” She stood up, carrying her phone with her. “I know, you’ll need to eat. I’ll just throw some things into the slow cooker, and—”
“Mom, please. You don’t have to do that. I’ve got plenty to eat here.”
Devon knew that she would go without sleep if necessary to provide for him and his sister. And that was exactly why he had to work so hard. So that his mom would give herself a break.
“I’m sure you’ve got things handled for yourself, son.
I just wish there was more that I could do for you.
And you know your birthday is almost here.
If you can think of a gift…” She trailed off, and tears filled her eyes.
His birthday meant Kellen’s birthday. Their second since his brother’s death.
Devon would turn twenty-seven, another age that Kellen would never reach.
“We’ll do something special.” He knew that was what his mom and sister needed. They would want to spend the day together remembering his brother, and yes, probably crying and hugging each other a lot. He would grit his teeth and get through it. He had to stay strong for them.
The hardest part was watching them fall apart, feeling all the same anguish inside of himself, yet pushing it down and away. He couldn’t show how shitty he felt because they needed him to be the stoic one.
They talked a little more about plans for his birthday, and Devon managed to coax a smile out of his mom before saying good night.
After his mom was gone, Devon pulled out his phone and sent off a text to Chase, his friend and sparring partner.
On assignment. Going to be busy for a while. Would you mind checking on Ruby and my mom for me tomorrow? See if they need anything?
Chase wrote back, Of course, man. No prob. Will do.
He changed into his sweats and did a few more push-ups before getting ready for bed. The new surroundings kept him up and alert even though it was late, so he streamed a TV show for a while.
He was just switching off the light when a thump came from next door.
Immediately, Devon sat upright, listening. He checked his phone, but it didn’t show any warnings from the team at headquarters. Maybe there was no reason for concern.
But then he heard another thump.
Then a shout.
In half a second, he was on his feet and charging for the door.