Chapter 5
KAYLA
I knew this would happen if I called Michael. I knew he’d get pissed and force the bodyguard on me. But what choice did I have?
It was either that or take my chances at getting rid of my DNA all by myself. And let’s face it: I don’t know how to do that.
But Michael does. He has resources I don’t. So I had to bite the bullet and ask for help.
“You okay?” Elsie asks as we sit in her yard the following afternoon, lounging around the pool with Jade.
I can’t even call this a yard. It’s acres of greenery, so much land around the two-story mansion that I don’t know how anyone lives in such a big home.
But Michael and his brothers are wealthy beyond measure. Private jets, homes in exotic places, they have it all. That’s all nice, but I don’t need that. Give me a cute cottage by a lake and I’m happy.
“Have you been seeing the therapist?” Jade squeezes my arm, her bright blue eyes kindly assessing me like a broken bird who needs mending.
“Yes, and he wants me twice a week now.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.” She reaches for her iced tea, fixing her straw sun hat. “It helped me so much to talk to mine. As long as you’re honest, you’ll get a lot out of it.”
“Do you both tell them everything?” I whisper, like I’m afraid of someone overhearing us.
“Yes,” Elsie answers with a one-shoulder shrug. “It was hard at first, but I’ve gotten better.”
I nod, wishing I was like them.
But I’m not. I’m Kayla. Weak. Afraid. Unable to break through the walls those bastards continue to erect around me. And every day, it feels as though they’re adding more bricks, making it harder to fight through.
Elsie’s cell vibrates on the table between us. She lifts it up and stares at the screen.
“Michael wants to see you for a minute.” Her eyes climb to mine. “We’ll come with you.”
I groan because I know what it’s about. “Did he say why?”
“Yep. You’re meeting your bodyguard.” She grins, and as though she’s waiting for me to protest, she adds, “I don’t want to hear it. We all need to be safe.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Right…” One end of her mouth lifts. “Come on. Let’s go meet him.”
“He’s here?” My eyes burst.
“Sure is. Michael hand-picked him, so we know he’s good.”
“Awesome…” I mumble as Jade giggles.
All three of us rise, making our way down a long path back to the home.
When we enter, the first person I see is Michael. Beside him is a tall man, maybe six-three, and he definitely enjoys the gym. Because even through his suit jacket, I can tell he’s built with pure muscle. Not the kind that is overly bulky, but enough to show he cares. A lot.
His hair is dark, almost as dark as Michael’s, and when he turns to me, I notice it’s tapered on each side while the top is full and thick. The kind of hair a woman probably enjoys running her fingers through.
Not me, though.
I have no desire to get involved with any man. How would that even work if I can’t be honest with him about who I am and what I’ve been through? He’d look at me differently. Treat me differently. Hell, he’d probably break things off. Too much baggage.
I am, though.
No one wants a work in progress, not someone who’s as bad as me.
I don’t even know if I’m capable of having sex. I’d probably cry…or stab him to death. And neither of those things would be good.
So, yeah. No, thank you.
I much prefer to be alone. It’s safer that way.
The bodyguard’s brows snap, as though he’s somehow heard my inner thoughts. But that’s obviously ridiculous. Maybe he can already tell I’m a mess.
His face is sharp and stoic as he assesses me. A deep wrinkle forms between his beautiful pale honey-colored eyes while he continues to take me in like I’m a project he’s deciphering.
I instantly don’t like him, and that’s probably because I don’t want someone watching my every move.
How in the world will I work? Because I’m not quitting. Maybe I can bribe him to be quiet.
And what do you have to offer a man like that?
My thoughts ring with the answer, though. I can offer him me. Anything to stop him from running his mouth to Michael. At least this time, I’d be using my own body for my own needs.
He continues to stare, his gaze like sand that glistens beneath the rays of the sun.
“This is Chris Embers,” Michael offers. “And he will be your bodyguard for the foreseeable future.”
Fucking fabulous…
“Chris, this is Kayla Jenkins. You have her schedule already, along with all the places she likes to frequent. Anything else, feel free to ask her or talk to me. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” That voice is so rugged and powerful. Like with one word, he could bring the world to its knees.
Michael’s expression is tight as he regards me before his attention returns to Chris. “You start now.”
I roll my eyes, and Chris’s mouth twitches.
“Come on, Jade…” Elsie cracks a smirk. “Let’s allow Kayla to get to know her new friend.”
“Don’t plan on being her friend, ma’am.” Chris slips his gaze to me, intensity rivaling within it, one I match.
“Good thing because I’m not looking for any.”
Jade laughs as they all stride away, Michael pulling Elsie to his side and kissing her temple.
My heart pitches at the affection, longing for that feeling of being loved and wanted and free. So free that I’d let a man touch me—crave it, even. But I don’t see how I can. Even if I trusted one for long enough to tell him what happened to me, I can’t be fully honest.
How do I tell a man the depraved things I desire? The things I’m afraid to tell anyone about? No man wants someone like that. A girl who’s turned into this: a twisted-up woman.
Chris clears his throat, and I almost forgot he was here. A mere inconvenience I will have to figure out how to avoid.
“Will you be sleeping in my home?” My gaze narrows.
“No.”
Thank God.
“But I’ll be right outside at all times.”
Oh, goody.
“When do you sleep?”
His mouth lifts into a quick grin, and it does something to me. Something I don’t care to admit.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Ms. Jenkins.”
“You wish I was worried.” I roll my eyes.
“We don’t have to do much getting to know one another,” he goes on. “I get paid to protect you. All I need to know is where you go, and that will be easy to figure out. Because I will be right behind you. Think of me as your shadow.”
I huff. “This is insane. Completely insane. Normal people don’t need bodyguards.”
His gaze reduces. “But you’re not normal, are you, Ms. Jenkins?”
The way he says my name, all gravelly and seductive…I’m suddenly warmer than I was a moment ago.
A tattoo peeks from beneath his deep blue dress shirt, right below his neck. If only I was able to pop a few more buttons, I’d be able to tell what it is.
Why do I care, anyway? He seems like a jerk. But the curiosity keeps gnawing.
“Something catch your eye, Ms. Jenkins?” He smirks.
The bastard caught me.
“Are you just going to keep calling me by my last name the whole time you’re stalking me?”
“I am. Why? What would you like me to call you?” His deep, raspy tone only makes it harder for me to respond.
“Kayla is fine.”
“Okay, Kayla.” His mouth tips up.
I hate him. Did I mention that?
“What kind of tattoo is that?” I go with the bold approach.
He lets out a lazy laugh. “How about we only discuss things pertaining to your wellbeing?”
“My wellbeing is just fine. Thanks for your concern, Mr. Embers.”
“My…what a relief that is, curious Kayla.” His eyes fill with mirth, and that tempting mouth of his gives me a teasing smile.
He’s enjoying this. My torment. My dislike of the situation. Of him.
Well, he’s going to enjoy what I have in store too.
ADRIEL
She’s here with him, yet I don’t want her to be. It’s a foreign feeling I’ve never experienced and don’t know what to do with.
I stare at her as she exits her car in front of the strip club, him parking right behind her.
It was one thing she refused to give up. Her right to drive her own car. Michael allowed it, especially when Elsie gave him that look which said he either agreed or faced the consequences.
And by the looks of him, he definitely didn’t want to face them.
Michael has no idea I work for him. That I infiltrated his system without much effort.
It was easy enough to kill one of his men and steal his ID, then pretend to be him. No one suspected a thing. Not very smart of my brother. Maybe they should hire my company and upgrade their tech. I’d have everyone scan their retinas before they even step foot on the grounds.
They have a lot to learn.
They’ll learn soon enough, though.
It’s a shame I haven’t seen Kayla here before. Had I, I’d have known who she was connected to before I saw her at the bar that first time.
Michael usually has me doing work outside the house. But today he needed some of the other men to travel for an overseas job, so he called on a few extras to run ops.
“What are we doing here?” Chris asks her.
She snickers, drilling him with an irritated stare. “Look, I don't need a babysitter, okay? So how about you go and get some food somewhere?”
“That's not what I heard.” He crosses his arms. “I heard you very much do need a sitter.”
“Wait…” Her eyes widen. “He told you?”
He nods.
Of course Michael told him she killed a man. With him protecting her, he has to know what he’s getting himself into.
“Oh my God…” She squeezes her temples between two fingers and shuts her eyes for a moment. “Listen, you cannot tell anyone, okay?”
“I don't plan to. That would mean death. So, I will ask again, what are we doing here?”
I can see her chest puff out as she wonders what to tell him. She paces back and forth a few times before she stops in front of him.
“This may shock you, but I work here.” She straightens her spine like she’s ready to fight whatever judgment he’s gonna dish out. “I’m a stripper, and this is something I do for me. So if you’re uncomfortable with that, then I suggest you make an excuse and quit.”
His brow lifts a fraction.
“Oh, and let’s get one thing straight.” She digs her index finger into his chest, staring heatedly at him.
“You keep your mouth shut about it, okay? I know you work for Michael, but you cannot tell him or anyone about this. It would ruin me.” Her hand returns to her side.
“And the last thing I want is for my parents to find out. This would break their hearts.” Her face falls as she glances down at her feet before gathering her composure once more.
“They’ve been through enough, and so have I. ”
His expression grows stiff. “It's not my job to tell anyone your business. My job is to keep you safe.”
“It won't bother you to see me naked?”
“Is it supposed to bother me?” His mouth hikes up, and he keeps his eyes connected with hers.
“I don't know…” she ponders, gaze wandering down his chest. “I mean, I think it’d make me uncomfortable to see you naked.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not the one who’s stripping, then, Ms. Jenkins.”
She scoffs, and her cheeks grow pink. “Kayla.”
“Right.” He chuckles. “Well, Kayla, I can keep my eyes closed if it would make you feel better.”
“Pretty sure you won't be able to do that.”
“Why? Think you have what I want?”
“No…” Her face twists harshly and it’s a bit adorable. “Because there are literally dozens of naked women at the club, and there's no way you're not going to want to look at them.”
“I think it's cute how you think you know me.” He chuckles.
“You think I'm cute?” She fights a bemused smile. And I very much would love to see it.
“I didn't say that.” His lips turn up at each end.
She pivots on her heels and starts toward the entrance. “Sure you didn't. Now, come on. I’m running late. Stay in the back and don’t kill anyone.”
“I think I should be telling you that.”
She glares at him from behind her shoulder, then proceeds inside. “It was one time, and he deserved it.”
“He did…”
I make my way to the last row of tables and settle in, watching as she disappears into the back of the stage.
Though I don’t want it to, my dick jerks at the thought of seeing her bare again.
Women come and go, dancing to a beat I don’t care to hear. But as soon as I see her, my breath catches and my eyes stay glued to hers.
She doesn’t know me.
It’s better that way.
Nothing good ever comes from knowing a man like me.