17. Beck
CHAPTER 17
Beck
The second I saw Faith’s name flash across my phone screen, I knew something was wrong. While she occasionally texted in a group chat with Sebastian, Faith had never used my phone number despite having given it to her numerous times, including when I was hired to protect her from the overzealous paparazzi.
I excused myself when the call came through, passing off the team meeting to my second-in-command to finish facilitating our strategy for the next big gig: protecting celebrity clients at an upcoming festival in the California desert.
“What’s wrong?” I answered.
“It’s Luna. We were on the phone, and she was complaining about her head hurting when just seconds earlier she said that she was coming to visit me. I don’t think she feels okay and I’m too far away to check. Are you home? Can you stop by?”
My steps quickly swallowed the distance between the conference room and the exit. “Already on my way. ETA is…” I glanced down at my watch. “Twelve minutes.” At this time of day, I’d have to fight through some congestion on the sidewalks, but I’d lived in the city a long time. I knew how to navigate the town regardless of the time of day. It wasn’t worth trying to flag down a taxi; I’d just waste time sitting in the car.
For the second time in the span of a week I’d barged into Luna’s house. This was a pattern I wasn’t fucking enjoying.
And when I brought her upstairs I damn near set her on my own bed, remembering only at the last second how inappropriate that would be.
She zonked out the second her head hit the guest pillow. I’d had Luna’s doctor on speed dial since the day she entered the hospital. Adrenaline surged in my body as I waited for someone to answer my call. Luna wasn’t in any imminent danger and yet my body reacted viscerally as if waiting for the next shoe to drop.
“Thank you for calling the office of Doctor…” fucking voicemail.
I left a message and called Faith to let her know that I was with her friend. In usual Faith form, she demanded regular updates. “Don’t make me come out there.”
Faith did confirm that Luna had taken the migraine medicine. She seemed much more together than the last time I found her passed out over the toilet. That likely meant she’d caught it in time.
Still, it unnerved me to think of what might have happened if Faith hadn’t been on the phone with Luna.
I pinched my brow. “Fuck.”
My phone started blowing up with text messages. Some from the office asking where I’d rushed off to. Some from Sebastian.
I took a closer look at the one from Sebastian.
Sebastian:
Harrison Barnes wants me in London TOMORROW.
Sebastian
Fuck, I thought I had more time. I know this is extreme, but can you come and look after Faith while I’m gone? The insane press has died down, but I still don’t fully trust them not to track her down.
Sebastian
Bring Alice. It’s the weekend, so she won’t have school.
Sebastian
Faith says that Luna is not feeling well. Call me when you can.
Alice would be out of school in an hour. I could swing by, get her, and call Sebastian en route, a kernel of a plan forming in my mind. Luna wouldn't love it but at this point I couldn't care less.
I was about to become Luna's personal bodyguard whether she liked it or not. If she wouldn't protect her body, then it left me little choice but to do it myself.
* * *
“This is kidnapping.”
Luna stirred awake the next morning. Yes, the damn woman slept on and off all night. I slept with the door open to my room, getting up to check on her occasionally as if she were some newborn I had to check to make sure she was breathing.
Sebastian requested my help, and Luna was getting it whether she wanted it or not. I made the executive decision to bring her with me upstate where I planned to spend the weekend watching Faith or at least just being nearby so my friend could focus on his business deal, and I could pull Charlie or someone else Faith knew to take over babysitting duty.
Besides, it sounded like Luna planned to visit Faith anyway. I’d found a half packed to-go bag, so I grabbed that and figured I’d just go out and buy whatever I missed.
Alice had her headphones on singing Taylor Swift’s latest bop as Luna finally came to.
“Where are we going? Are you taking me into the woods to murder me because this is really sketchy? And frankly this outfit is not the vibe.” She sniffed her shirt and winced.
Then our eyes met in the rearview mirror. I'd placed her in the backseat to give her more room while making sure I could watch over her.
“We’re spending the weekend at Sebastian's house upstate. He left this morning for London and doesn't want Faith all by herself.”
Luna rubbed her temples. “Faith's a grown woman. She can look after herself. But as it so happens, I do need her help. So this works out just fine. Except for the kidnapping bit. That's not cool.”
She reached over and smacked my head from behind.
“Hey, I'm driving here.”
“Oh, please, I barely hit you. Suck it up, buttercup. You don't get to pull a kidnapper move and then complain when I get pissy about it,” I grumbled, still waking up.
“Daddy, what's a kidnapper?”
My eyes darted to Alice who now had her headphones in her lap. When did that happen?
“My bad,” Luna whispered before turning to my daughter. “So let's talk about consent. Consent means someone says yes to something. For instance, I didn't say yes to this excursion because I was unconscious. It's impossible to give consent when you're sleeping off a migraine. Does that make sense?”
Jesus Christ . The woman wasn't wrong, and I was all for age-appropriate discussions about bodily autonomy. This wasn't the place and time…
I had to step in. “Technically, Luna is right, honey. I should have waited for her to wake up and make sure she was okay with the plan before putting her in the car and whisking her away to her best friend so that she can get some much-needed girl time and fresh air so that she can let her body rest because her body is battling her right now.”
Alice frowned. “Is your body okay, Luna? Do we need to go to the hospital?”
Annnnd I made it worse .
I opened my mouth to respond but Luna beat me to it. “I'm okay now. Don't you worry about me. Now tell me, have you been to Faith's house because let me tell you, I love it. We can explore the woods, play with Willow, and enjoy the fresh air. It's delightful.”
“I love Willow! She'll be there?” Alice asked.
Luna smiled. “She'll be there. Last time Willow cuddled me all night. It was the best feeling ever.”
My daughter's eyes were as big as saucers. “Can she sleep in my bed tonight?”
Luna hummed. “I'm sure she'd love that. We just have to check with Faith first.”
Alice put her hands in prayer. “Daddy, can we get a dog? Please. Pretty please.”
“My bad,” Luna said again, this time a little louder.
I knew this was coming. Hell, it was one of the reasons for the new house. Maybe this weekend could be a trial. “Let's take good care of Willow this weekend and then we’ll see about getting a dog.”
Luna tapped her painted nail on her plump lips. “You know, Sebastian does help out at the local animal shelter. Maybe you could check it out…”
My eyes collided with Luna’s.
“Riiiiight.” She made a zipping motion with her hand before throwing me a wink.
The damn minx knew exactly what she was doing.
“I'm going to take very good care of Willow, Daddy,” Alice said firmly.
My face softened. “I know you will, sweetheart.”