Chapter 5 Madeleine
Chapter five
Madeleine
Sitting on the dock behind my house, I look up at the ominous sky, pinching my eyes closed as I take a deep breath. My beige quilted jacket offers little protection from the elements, so I wrap my arms around my middle a bit tighter.
As I open my eyes, I take in the frozen lake before me. The snow-covered mountains in the background create a charming view as big, fluffy snowflakes slowly fall from the sky.
This is my home: the Alarie Estate.
And I will miss it more than I can put into words.
“I miss you, Daddy,” I whisper, a puff of smoke escaping into the cold air in front of me. “Although I don’t think you’d be too proud of me right now. Or maybe you would be. I’m not really sure anymore.” My throat burns, and the tip of my nose stings. “I wish you were here to tell me what to do.”
As my eyes blur with unshed tears, an alert on my phone chimes. I pull it out of my pocket and glance at the screen. I bring up my surveillance camera and see a black Land Rover descending my long, winding driveway.
Of course, he’s right on time.
With a heavy sigh, I uncross my legs and stand up, pushing my hair behind my ears and wiping under my eyes in case any tears have managed to somehow escape.
Entering through the back of the house, my boots squeak slightly against the marble flooring as I walk toward the front and approach the larger-than-life black iron door of my entryway.
Momentarily hesitating, I press my hand to the scanner and step back.
As the door slowly swings open, my eyes catch on the man standing on the other side.
A black T-shirt molds to his muscular chest, and his defined biceps, which are covered in intricate designs, are on display as he drags one hand through his thick brown hair and lifts his duffel bag onto his shoulder.
My eyes quickly scan his body, taking in every hard line and perfectly sculpted muscle. This is not a body built from steroids or countless hours spent in the gym. It was created from manual labor. Put through a level of physical hell that the average person could never understand.
There was a time when I was privileged enough to appreciate every inch of it as it deserved.
A sudden warmth rushes over me, a small fire igniting in my lower belly as old memories come to the surface to play.
“Hey, roomie.” Eli smirks, his words instantly dousing the fire within me.
“We are not roommates,” I deadpan.
He casually shrugs. “Roommates. Flatmates. Whatever you want to call us works for me.” He winks, and that annoying warmth within me returns tenfold.
“We are neither,” I grind out, crossing my arms over my chest. “No coat? It’s thirty degrees out and snowing.”
One corner of his mouth lifts in a playful grin. “You worried about me?”
“Not in the slightest.”
He laughs, the sound sending a swarm of wild butterflies to my stomach. “I like the cold. After spending so much of my life in the Middle East, I find this weather to be my favorite.”
The Middle East. My stomach churns, the butterflies dying one by one as I’m suddenly hit with guilt, knowing what he’s been through.
Or actually, not knowing. Not really.
“Well, are you going to let me in, or is your real plan to let me freeze to death?” A puff of air forms before his lips, proving just how cold it is.
I step to the side and let him enter, closing the door behind him, leaving us completely alone for the first time since…
“New painting?” he asks as he steps into the living room and approaches the canvas hanging above the roaring fire.
It’s an abstract piece I found while visiting family in the south of France.
The image is split down the middle, with one side engulfed in darkness and the other in light.
Two figures stand at the bottom, back-to-back, staring off into their respective sides, longing for the other, but the worlds they live in keep them apart.
Separating them from the one thing they both desire most in this world—each other.
The artist I bought it from didn’t tell me this story.
It was just something I felt deep within my bones.
“Yes,” I say, waving a dismissive hand. “It was a gift from an artist overseas.” Lie. I bought it the moment I saw it, drawn to it like a moth to a flame. But I won’t admit that to him—he’ll read too much into it.
His eyes skim the canvas, taking in every detail before he turns to look at me.
He knows.
Of course, he knows.
It shouldn’t surprise me that he would see the same story I do.
There used to be a time when I felt so in sync with him.
Like no matter what, we would always have each other’s backs. That we would always be on the same page as each other.
That is…until we weren’t.
Four words.
Back and forth.
Up and down.
I press my fingers into the side of my scalp, where an ache forms, and take a few steps toward the kitchen. “All right, well, would you like a tour?”
He adjusts his bag on his shoulder, gazing off into the distance. “I’m pretty sure I remember my way around the place,” he states coolly.
A slight stab of irritation from how casual he’s being hits me in the center of my chest.
Did none of it mean anything to him?
“Of course.” I turn, making my way to the stairs. “Well, if you’ll follow me, I can show you to your room.”
Awkwardness instills as silence reigns over us.
It’s not that I’ve never had a bodyguard before. There have been times in my life when tensions were high between rival families, especially right after my father’s death, when I was forced to have a bodyguard with me at all times. I didn’t particularly mind it, but I didn’t love it either.
So, this isn’t new to me.
It’s just that none of my bodyguards have ever been…him.
As we approach the guest room that I’ve arranged for him, I point to the scanner on the wall. “Alex had your handprint programmed, so you’ll be able to use this.”
Eli extends his arm and presses his palm against the scanner. I’m immediately drawn into the tattoos swirling over his skin, the ones I used to trace with my fingers—and sometimes even with my tongue. I get lost in thought until the scanner chimes and the door opens.
Eli gestures for me to go ahead of him, and I do.
It’s a lovely bedroom, if I do say so myself.
It’s large yet simple, expensive but classy.
The walls were painted with a fresh coat of grey just last week, while the dark wood beams were left untouched.
The exposed bulb fixtures have been hung to provide a soft glow.
The weathered wood and steel furniture that was recently delivered gives the space an almost industrial look.
“There’s an en-suite bathroom, and the mattress was just delivered a few days ago, so it will probably take some time to…
break in.” My cheeks flush as I face the balcony doors overlooking the terrace.
What the hell is wrong with me? I step closer to the balcony, trying to avoid looking at him as I open the door, enjoying the arctic air that cools my overheated skin.
Once I feel sufficiently cooled down, I close the door and turn to find Eli starting to unpack.
“If there’s anything you may need, just let me know. ”
I step for the door, but Eli takes a larger step between me and the exit, blocking my path. “You placed me in the room directly across from yours,” he notes.
I swallow hard and manage a small smile. “I hope my close proximity to your room won’t be an issue, but all the other rooms are currently packed up as I will be expected to move after the wedding.”
His brows furrow. “Alastor isn’t moving here?”
I run my fingers through my long hair, pushing it over my shoulder. “No. He thinks it would be better for us to move to Italy. That’s where most of his business is conducted.”
His eyes darken. “I see.”
“Yes, well.” I sidestep him, positioning my foot to step out into the hall, but my boot heel falls awkwardly and makes me lose my balance.
Just as I’m about to face plant, strong hands grip my arms, spinning me and pulling me against Eli’s chest. My breaths come out hot and fast as I look up, finding his face far too close to mine.
His lips part, and I swear the look in his eyes tells me he’s about to go in for a kiss, but just as suddenly, he shakes his head and releases me, allowing me to stand upright.
Good. I didn’t want him to kiss me anyway.
Definitely did not want that.
Nope. Not one bit…
“Well, I’d better unpack.” He turns away from me, bending down to retrieve items from his bag.
Standing in the doorway, my lips part, ready to say the words that have been on my tongue for weeks. But I lose my courage and slightly close the door before walking away. I take a few steps down the hallway and come to a stop.
I am Madeleine fucking Alarie.
I can say these simple words and then be on my way.
He’s going to be living with me, for God’s sake.
It would be even more awkward if I didn’t say anything.
Quickly returning to Eli’s room, I push the door open and walk inside. “Eli, I—”
My words die in my throat.
He looks over his shoulder, our eyes connecting, but I lose all train of thought when my gaze lands on his exposed back.
His very red, scarred back.
Burns.
A small gasp escapes me as my chest tightens.
What happened to him?
Without missing a beat, he quickly faces me and throws on his shirt. “Sorry, I was just going to take a quick shower.”
I stare at the carpet, shaking my head. “No. That was my mistake. I shouldn’t have just walked in like that.”
Silence envelops us, and I’m unsure how long we stand there before he asks, “Did you need something?”
“Huh?”
“You came in here saying my name.”
“Oh. Right.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Yes, I just wanted to, umm, well, see, I never properly thanked you for jumping in front of that bullet for me. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened if you didn’t, so…thank you.”
He nods but looks down at his bag, continuing to put his clothes away. “It was nothing.”