Chapter Four
ARCHIE
Delete. It’s what I should do. Delete the email without opening it, as if it’s spam. It might as well be. My ex-wife only reaches out when she wants something. I don’t. I want nothing from her. I open it anyway.
Archie,
I’m sure this will be just another message you delete instead of respond back to. I’m just asking you to forgive me, give me a second chance. It didn’t work out with Frank. We make good co-parents.
Please, I miss you. I can do better.
Vanessa
I roll my eyes. Since the divorce, this is probably the tenth time she’s reached out. It’s not like she does it often, but I have nothing left to give her. She was the one who cheated on me while I was out of the country.
It’s not unheard of or uncommon for those serving—unfortunately.
Honestly, I probably could’ve moved past it if she asked.
We could’ve tried therapy and worked on things.
It’s the lies I couldn’t deal with. She found out she was pregnant and acted like I was the father.
Nice try, but we hadn’t been together like that for nearly a year at that point.
It was the last thing I needed to hear before serving her with divorce papers.
I should hit delete, but she needs to move on. So, I hit reply.
Vanessa,
Good for you for being an adult about the child you created with Frank. Lose my contact information and move on with your life like I have.
Archie
There’s nothing left to say. I don’t want to talk to her, she needs to move on. It’s past time.
“Arch!” Tyler waves his hand to grab my attention.
My eyes flicker above my monitor to his face. “What?”
“Did you get the email?” He raises an eyebrow. “A new client. I think you’d be perfect for this one.”
I look back down at my screen and scan over my emails. I was too zoned in on the annoying email from my ex; I hadn’t noticed the one from Tyler.
“Opening it now.” I click on the email, and my eyes scan over the information. “This is super detailed.”
“This girl has been having issues with a controlling ex.” Tyler crosses his arms.
“Why doesn’t she ask the cops for help?”
“Her agent called this morning before emailing. They’ve tried, but this guy has connections.”
“Shit.” I sigh. “Those are the worst. I know the type; they’re always trouble.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “It’s not in the email, but apparently the guy attempted to kidnap her recently.” Tyler rubs his hand down his face. “It’s bad, Arch. The guy raped her before the cops could even get to her house, after she’d hit a panic button.”
“The fuck?” I roll my computer chair back. That’s seriously messed up. “I’m not saying no, but why are you asking me to take this case?”
“It’s a delicate situation that requires live in security. I know you like to keep busy, and this girl apparently has some work trips coming up.” He sighs. “I can ask one of the others to take the case if you really don’t want to mess with it.”
I groan and then lean forward to continue scanning over the email. My hands freeze when a picture comes up of the girl’s face. A face that hasn’t left my dreams since last weekend.
“Mine,” I growl out.
“Great, I’ll CC you in on the agent’s details so you can meet them this afternoon.” Tyler returns his attention to his computer.
Images flood me as the words Tyler spoke repeat in my mind, the worst mental pictures play in my head. It’s a nightmare.
Ex.
Kidnapped.
Raped.
What the hell is going on? I was just there. I just fucking saw her! She acted fine and happy. Why didn’t she tell me?
None of it makes sense.
I brush a hand down my face. Heat rushes to my head followed by ice. The urge to throw up matches my urge to murder her ex.
We’d spoken last weekend. What happened?
“I need to make a call.” I’m up and out of my office before Tyler can respond.
It rings once before my dad picks up the call.
“Arch.” He hesitates.
“When were you going to tell me?” I try to keep my voice steady.
“You heard?” His voice is gravely across the clear line.
“Our security company was just hired. I’ve been assigned the case. What happened? I thought she was happily married.” It was the last I heard.
Why didn’t I know? I think back to last weekend and replay every conversation in my head.
I remember hearing someone mention something about a divorce, but they didn’t mention her by name.
I just assumed. Why didn’t she fucking tell me?
She acted as if everything was fine, as if she were fucking happy!
“She’s been fighting with him for months to sign the divorce papers, son. That bastard had his claws in deep. It took longer than we’d like to dig up enough to get her out of there. It wasn’t pretty, and it still doesn’t seem to be over. He’s pissed and has connections.”
I tense, my jaw tightens. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” She was my best friend. Didn’t they know I would want to know if something was wrong? I would want to help. We could’ve gotten her out of there sooner.
“Arch, you’ve barely been home. When you got out, you never wanted to come around. You didn’t want to patch in. The club was involved. What were we supposed to think?” Dad’s voice rises.
“This isn’t about me. This is about her.” I run my hand through my hair.
Dad sighs. “She didn’t want you to know.”
I freeze. “What?”
Sure, we weren’t as close as we were when we were younger. The big stuff matters, though. This isn’t the kind of secret we’d keep from each other. Especially with how close our parents are. I should’ve been one of the first to know something was going on in the first place.
“What do you want to do, son?”
I want to demand answers. I want to show up on her doorstep and figure out where everything went wrong. I want to fucking take care of her. Protect her. Keep her… safe.
“I wouldn’t let anyone else have this assignment if they asked.” That’s the truth. Clearly, she needs more help than she’s willing to ask for, and I’m just the person to give it to her.
“If you need anything.” my dad hesitates.
“Yeah.” I know he means it, but he kept this from me too.
The call ends as quickly as it started, and I make my way back inside. Tyler doesn’t say a word as I sit back down at the computer. My eyes scan over the details again. I’m halfway through and have to look away. My hands are itching to rip her ex apart.
All I can see is red. When I get my hands on that asshole—and I will—he’s done. I never liked him. There was something off about him and I know I’m not the only one who thought so, even at their wedding.
“Tell her agent I’m starting immediately. I’m sure they only requested this week so we could get things sorted.” I move to shut down my computer, then stand.
Tyler eyes me cautiously. “I know you don’t like to sit around, but what’s going on?”
I sigh and close my eyes. “I know her.”
“Is this going to be an issue?” Tyler leans back in his seat and crosses his arms.
“No.” I shake my head.
“You know the rules. This is a new business, and we need to keep things professional,” Tyler groans. “I know that look. Promise me it won’t be an issue.”
The last thing she needs is for me to put a move on her; he doesn’t need to worry about that. Tabitha needs help, and I will not leave it up to anyone else. “It won’t be an issue.”
Tyler nods slowly. “Fine.” He leans forward and grabs his phone off his desk.
“I’ll let them know you’ll be there this afternoon.
It should take you a few hours to get there and maybe an hour to pack up whatever you need.
We got the new security software in. If you want to pack up any extra security items from inventory, just let me know so we can keep track of them. ”
I nod. “Of course.”
Packing my bag took less than twenty minutes. It’s not like I wear much outside of jeans, shirts, and some workout clothes. I take the most time going over what extra security setup equipment I want to take.
I’m pulling up to the gated neighborhood in record time. I sped part of the way, not much, but I couldn’t help it. Images of something happening to her while I was on my way kept coming to mind. I can’t relax until I can put my own eyes on her.
“ID?” The security officer steps up to my window.
I pass it to him, then glance at the old cameras attached to the side of the security building. It’s not good enough.
“Ah, I’ve heard about you.” He passes my ID back. “I you need anything.” He nods as the gate opens.
“Yeah.” I won’t, and pull forward and roll the windows back up.
The GPS has me looping around towards what must be the back of the neighborhood. Cookie-cutter houses surround me with immaculate lawns. People are out walking dogs and pushing baby strollers. It appears peaceful and safe.
I know the truth; it’s not enough.
I started a mental list the moment I was pulling up to the gate. Whoever is in charge of neighborhood security isn’t doing enough. I’ll take care of it myself, though. Anything to keep her safe.
As I pull into her driveway, the nerves kick in. This isn’t the same girl I partially caught up with a week ago. And this definitely isn’t the same girl I grew up with. She’s been through too much, things she never should’ve had to experience.
What if she requests a different bodyguard?
It’s not like she wanted me to know the truth. I shake the thought from my head. She will not get another option. I refuse. Nobody will protect her like I can. There isn’t a soul on Earth who cares more than I do. They’ll have to drag my dead body away before I leave her side again.