Chapter 2
Chapter two
Eli
Idon’t know the exact day it happened—the day I fell in love with Madeleine Alarie.
Maybe it was when she sent her first letter to me, subtly trying to let me know she missed me without directly saying she did.
Maybe it was when she kissed me during spin the bottle, her heart beating as fast as mine was.
Or maybe it was the day she felt safe enough to break in my arms, letting me see a side to her that she never showed anyone else, in fear of appearing weak.
Like I said, I don’t know the exact day it happened, but that’s only because I can’t think of a single day when I didn’t love her.
“So, what do you think?”
Leo’s voice cuts through my thoughts, and I internally shake my head, looking at my best friend as he waits for my answer. If only I weren’t daydreaming over here about his fucking sister, then I might have a bloody clue what the hell he just asked of me. “Think about what?”
He crosses his arms over his chest, his dark eyes focusing on me. “Reassigning you to Madeleine.”
My cold, beating heart picks up speed for the first time in a long time, thundering violently as if awakening from hibernation.
“You promised to never hurt me.”
The words she hurled at me at her engagement party awaken. Thundering across my skull. Invoking a restlessness that slinks across my chest.
And every day since that night, I’ve wondered, what the hell did she mean?
How did I hurt her when I wasn’t even here?
I’m the one who came back from the Middle East to find out that the woman I’ve been in love with for my entire life is engaged to another man.
I’m the one who had his heart brutally ripped from his chest, shredded into a million fucking pieces.
So, how could she accuse me of hurting her when she’s the source of the pain that emits over the center of my chest, day and night?
“Eli?”
I drag my fingers through my hair, exhaling. “Sorry. Didn’t sleep well.” Not a total lie. I lean against the counter as I process his question. “You want me to be Madeleine’s bodyguard?”
Leo reaches for the bottle of whiskey on the counter beside him and pours it into two glasses, handing me one. His gaze turns to the back of the kitchen, toward the commotion.
A few caterers dash around the space in a tizzy, preparing the final touches on the desserts for his celebratory engagement dinner with his wife. Yeah, I didn’t say that wrong.
A pan falls to the floor, dishes crash in the sink, and someone shouts out orders to others.
“Signore, concedeteci un momento,” Leo instructs the staff, who nod and step out of the room, giving us privacy.
He picks up his glass of amber liquid on the counter, swirling the contents before taking a sip.
“Actually, it was my mother’s idea. She thinks it will be good for Madeleine to have you nearby. Someone she’s known her whole life.”
Fuck, none of them have any clue as to how well we know each other. If they did, well, I probably wouldn’t be standing here before Leo breathing air into my lungs.
That’s for bloody sure.
Not to mention, he’d probably regret the day in primary school when he beat up the kid for making fun of my accent, instantly making us best friends.
“And what about Scarlett?” I ask before taking a hefty taste of my drink. Scarlett, his wife and a woman I grew up with, is who I’ve currently been assigned to these past few months while they were hunting down her kidnapper.
Leo hesitated to call me about the job offer, waiting until it was essential for my presence, understanding the challenges I had recently faced.
He was giving me time to heal—both physically and mentally.
However, he didn’t realize that his need for me in such an important matter made me feel like I had a purpose in life for the first time in too long.
Let’s just say that right after that phone call, I didn’t hesitate to pack a bag and hop on the first flight from England to New York.
Back to a place that always felt like my second home.
The Alarie Estate.
“I’m assigning Asher to her,” Leo answers, placing his empty glass on the counter beside him.
“He’s ready for the new assignment and has proven himself worthy of this position through his years of loyal service.
Besides, it’s not like he hasn’t already been keeping an eye on Scarlett for me while she was living off the estate, even if she didn’t know it. ”
I nod. Asher’s a good guy and highly qualified to keep Scarlett safe. I can’t argue with that, and I don’t see any problems with the reassignment except for one thing…
“What does Madeleine have to say about this?” I saw her just a little while ago on the beach with the others, and she didn’t seem upset. Maybe she’s okay with—
“We haven’t told her yet.”
Dread coils in my stomach. Heavy and impenetrable.
I bring my drink to my lips, downing the rest of it. The slight burn from the liquid slithers down my throat, temporarily distracting me from the uneasiness that begins to simmer within me.
“She’s waiting for us in the office,” Leo tells me. “Vin will be the one to inform her.” He squeezes the back of his neck. “I’m not exactly sure how she’ll take the news, but you did take a bullet for her, so that’s got to count for something, right?”
“Right,” I solemnly answer, remembering that day like it was yesterday and not almost a month ago.
The Alarie Estate was overtaken by men who coveted two things: power and revenge.
And they were dumb enough to think they would achieve it.
But the scariest moment of that night wasn’t when the explosions went off or when the power went out.
It was when we circled the cottage, where we knew Scarlett was being held captive, and I looked through the window, finding Madeleine unconscious. I didn’t know if she was alive or dead. I didn’t know up from down. Left from right. Or even how to fucking breathe.
But the second I saw the perpetrator raise his gun and aim directly at Madeleine, I acted on pure instinct. Everything around me blurred as I jumped through the window, shards of glass flying all around me. My body flew before hers, the bullet piercing me in the shoulder.
Me and not her.
That’s all that mattered to me.
That she lived even if that meant I died.
Fortunately, I didn’t.
But the impact of the bullet, plus the loss of blood, had me going in and out of consciousness.
When Madeleine came to, learning what I did for her, she gripped my shirt as she sat in the ambulance beside me, quietly pleading, “Please don’t do this to me! Don’t you dare leave me, Eli Lyon! I can’t live in this world without you!”
Maybe she thought I was dying.
She certainly didn’t know I could hear her every word.
However, when I came back to the Alarie Estate, she returned to being her distant self, keeping as far from me as she possibly could. Acting as if the two of us were merely strangers.
When that’s far from the truth.
“Why now?” I ask.
“Things are tense,” Leo replies. “Vin’s concerned others in our world view us as weak after what happened, and in case anyone gets brazen enough to pull anything, we want to ensure that every security precaution is taken both on and off the estate.
Madeleine should have always had a bodyguard, and she did when she was younger.
But we’ve been lenient with her over the years.
Too lenient. And it’s time to step up safety protocols.
It would destroy this family if anything ever happened to her.
So, as furious as she is going to be, it will be worth it knowing she’ll be in good hands. ”
Furious is probably an understatement of how Madeleine will be, but I don’t dare mention that to him.
Footsteps approach, and Leo and I both turn to see his brothers Vincenzo, Alessandro, and Mauro entering the space. Three intimidating motherfuckers who’ve always treated me as one of their own.
“I’m assuming you’ve told him,” Vin states, glancing at Leo.
He rolls up his shirt sleeves as he approaches before crossing his arms over his chest. With his imposing size and presence, it’s clear why he became the head of the family after his father’s death; not only is he the oldest of the five siblings, but he also exudes authority.
Leo nods.
Vin’s eyes land on me. “And what do you think?”
I release a deep breath as I rub the back of my neck. “I’ll guard her with my life.”
None of them realize the extent of my words. That I’d willingly sacrifice my life for hers if need be. Or that I’d burn this fucking world to ash for her if that’s what she asked of me.
I’d do anything for that woman.
Well, anything except watch her walk down the aisle to marry another man.
Yeah, that’s not happening.
Mauro grunts in approval before pouring himself a glass of whiskey and downing it in one go.
His stature matches that of Vin’s: burly and muscular.
His shoulder-length hair is held back with a black leather strap while a few loose strands escape, framing his face.
My eyes catch on the scar across his neck, a reminder of one of the worst days this family has endured, before quickly looking away.
We all bear scars.
Some that can be seen, and others that can’t.
I should know.
“Good,” Alex answers, grabbing a paper towel to wipe away a few drops of liquid on the counter. “That’s what we wanted to hear.”
“Jesus Christ, can you go one day without fucking cleaning something?” Vin pinches the bridge of his nose.
“If this falls to the hardwood floors, it will stain.” Alex tosses the napkin in the trash and then adjusts his glasses before pushing back his light brown hair.
“Oh, in that case, you missed a spot,” Vin informs him.
“Where?” Alex scans the counter, grabbing the roll of paper towels.
“Made you look,” Vin chimes back in amusement.
Alex rolls his grey eyes. “Fuck you.” He whips the roll of paper towels at Vin’s head, who ducks out of the way.
“It’s too easy.” Vin smooths out his dark hair, laughing.
“You’re giving me a headache.” Leo rocks his neck from side to side. “Don’t forget why we’re meeting.”
“Of course.” Vin turns his attention to his Rolex. “Well, let’s not keep her waiting. If I know our sister, she won’t take the news very well. She’s used to a certain level of freedom, which she’ll still have, but…with a shadow nearby.”
“I take it I’m the shadow.” I squeeze the back of my neck, every muscle in my body tensing with apprehension.
Vin’s finger taps on the counter beside him as he watches me with trepidation in his eyes.
“What?” I ask.
“We know this has been a challenging year for you. And we don’t want to force your hand in this assignment or risk setting back any progress you’ve made.
” He sighs, his fingers gripping the counter behind him as he looks down.
“I can only assume the unfortunate incident at the Alarie Estate last month might have caused some…unease.” His eyes meet mine.
“So, if you’d rather take some time off, we understand.
We can find someone else to guard Madeleine if—”
“I can handle this,” I interject. There’s no way in hell I’m trusting anyone else with her safety. “I’m fully prepared to be her bodyguard.”
Vin takes a moment to digest my answer, determining if I’m being truthful. “Okay then,” he answers as he steps away, walking out of the room. “Let’s get this over with.”
Mauro clasps my shoulder before turning and walking out of the room, his other brothers trailing behind him.
I follow after, my heart rate accelerating with each step I take.
Right before I step into the office, I take a deep breath and pray that agreeing to this doesn’t make things worse between us.
But then again, she’s engaged to another man.
How much worse could it get?