Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Allora
I don’t know exactly what time I fell asleep, but it had to be somewhere between nine and ten, so I’m shocked when I open my eyes to discover it’s almost noon.
Apparently, I was in desperate need of sleep.
I take care of business in the bathroom and stare at my reflection.
The bruising is a little better and now the dark purple is more of a purplish-green, and it’s spread farther down my face.
Super attractive.
Figures I would meet the hottest guy on earth when I look like death warmed over.
Unfortunately, I have to wear the same clothes again but Landon said Elliott is going to meet us at the Shadow Security headquarters with some of my things.
Which makes me so happy. A tiny semblance of normal.
He also wrangled Cleo without any trouble.
That surprises me because she doesn’t like many people, especially men.
But it appears that these guys aren’t like regular men—there’s something special about them.
When I’m finally as presentable as possible, I pad out to the living room. Landon is on the floor doing pushups and my step falters. He’s in shorts and nothing else, muscles bulging as he easily moves up and down.
He’s an exceptional picture of raw, unfiltered masculinity.
Tan, sinewy skin reveals a plethora of tattoos, and all I can do is stare. He’s downright breathtaking. And the light sheen of sweat on his back makes me think about things I shouldn’t.
What the heck is wrong with me?
I swallow, continuing to watch for a few more seconds before I clear my throat. “Good morning. Or afternoon, I guess.”
He doesn’t pause his movements or look up. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”
“Pretty well, I guess.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I think the answer to that question is always yes these days.”
“If you can give me ten minutes to shower, we can head out and stop to grab something on the way to headquarters. Sound okay?”
“Sure.”
He jumps to his feet and frowns a little. “Your face is looking better.”
I chuckle. “Thanks?”
“I just meant that it looks like it’s healing…”
Did his ears just turn red? Aw, that’s kind of sweet.
“I know.” I smile. “Maybe we can stop at a drug store and I can pick up some arnica. It helps with bruising.”
“Sure.” He nods. “Okay, ten minutes.” He disappears into his bedroom, closing the door behind him, and I sink down on the couch.
I was too tired last night to really take in my surroundings but now I look around curiously.
This is definitely a bachelor pad, with a big, expensive-looking TV on the wall and a massive sectional that takes up most of the room.
Other than that, it’s pretty sparse. There’s one framed piece of art hanging on the wall, some kind of abstract conglomeration of colors, but that’s it.
No throw pillows, no chachkas or decorations, everything fairly basic.
The flooring is a dark wood, the couch is black, the TV stand underneath where the TV is hung is black, and the stools by the small kitchen counter are dark gray.
There’s a rug in the kitchen that’s a combination of gray and red, and his Keurig machine is red.
That’s about it for color. And his bedroom is the same except that his dresser and nightstand are dark mahogany wood.
He definitely needs a new color palette, but it’s not my place to say so.
I get up to stare out the window and note that his building is on a quiet side street.
We’re in Culver City, an area I don’t know very well, but it seems nice enough.
Not the kind of apartment I’d live in—my condo is bigger, brighter and overlooks the water—but I made some decent money when I was modeling so I could afford to buy it.
Military men probably don’t make a lot, although I imagine the private sector pays better.
Thinking about money makes me melancholy.
I called the bank yesterday and there were no fraudulent charges but they canceled my debit card anyway.
It’s going to take five business days to get the replacement, so I have to survive with the thousand dollars my dad lent me until then.
My American Express card should arrive in a couple of days, so that will help, even though I don’t really need anything while I’m in hiding.
In hiding.
I dislike that I have to hide, but if I have to be locked away with a bodyguard, I would absolutely want it to be with Landon.
There’s something about him that soothes me.
Makes me feel safe. That’s probably a reaction to my ordeal but it’s more than that.
My father could protect me, but he doesn’t necessarily make me feel safe.
Landon is just…protective. Gentle. Strong.
A combination that quiets the demons lurking at the edge of my subconscious.
“Ready to go?” Landon comes out of the bedroom looking…gorgeous.
He’s wearing khaki pants, a short-sleeve navy polo shirt that pulls tight across his shoulders and gives me a lovely view of his biceps, and black boots. His dark hair is still damp from the shower, falling over his forehead in a sexy little curl.
God, he’s hot.
I shouldn’t be thinking things like this, but I can’t seem to help it, so I avert my eyes as I get to my feet.
“Yes. Ready.”
We head down to the parking garage and get in his truck. Five minutes later he pulls into a Starbucks and we order coffee and sandwiches. Then we head south toward Sage Canyon.
“Thank you for giving up your bed,” I say once I’ve eaten. “It’s very comfortable.”
“As I’m sure you noticed, I don’t have a lot of luxuries but my mattress cost almost ten grand. That’s one thing I’ll splurge on every time.”
“Damn.” I let out a low whistle. “Well, I’d say it’s worth every penny.”
“My body works hard,” he says. “The least I can do is give it a comfortable place to relax. Especially now that I’m a little older.”
“How old are you?” I ask curiously.
“Thirty-eight. What about you?”
“Twenty-eight.” Why do I suddenly feel a lot older?
“Have you always lived here? In Southern California?”
“Yes. I went to UCLA and commuted back and forth to New York for a while but this is home. What about you?”
“Nah, I grew up back east. Just outside of Philadelphia. But I’ve moved around a bit between the military and then working for my old firm. It was based in Vegas but most of my clients were in L.A. so I thought it made more sense to be local.”
“I bought my condo in Oceanside because I love the water and it’s close to where I grew up. I don’t know that I’d ever want to leave Southern California, to be honest. The weather, the beach…I love it here.”
“I’ve never really felt a pull like that,” he admits. “Home is wherever I lay my head at night. Now that Courtney is married and has a family, that’s changing. I like living close to her, being in my nephew’s life. We didn’t have much of a family growing up so this is nice.”
“I’ve been alone since my mom died,” I say quietly. “I have my dad but you already know we’re not close. And I don’t have any interest in the club, which means it’s just me and a small group of friends.”
“No extended family?”
“They’re all involved in the club.” I shrug.
“There’s something to be said for forging your own path.”
“Is that what you did?”
“To an extent. I mean, I’ve always been close to my sister, but we both wanted to get away from how we grew up and the military was our out. We were able to go to college and she wanted to be a pilot. It’s not perfect, but I don’t think either of us have regrets.”
“Are you happy?” I ask. “I mean, in general. Is your life everything you wanted it to be?”
He’s quiet for a beat. “You know, I never think about it in those terms. I love my job, but there’s never really been time for anything else.
I have Courtney, and now Daniil and Micah, and Rage is my ride or die.
Beyond that, I’m a confirmed bachelor and a workaholic.
I would say I’m content. I don’t know about happy.
I’m not even sure I know what that means. ”
“That’s kind of sad but I understand.”
“Are you happy?” he counters.
“I thought I was,” I say softly. “Great job, a condo I love, friends, a social life. But now…” I let the sentence linger because I don’t know how to finish it.
“Now?” he presses lightly.
“Now I feel like my life before was a dream. A fantasy that wasn’t real.
Because even though I know I’ll be okay, I don’t think I can ever go back to how I was before.
I’ll always be a little more wary. More cognizant of how precarious life can be.
Maybe, in the end, it’ll be a good thing but right now all I can do is search for my new normal. Like the old me never existed.”
“Don’t say that.”
“No, it’s okay. I thought about what you said, about not letting what happened define me and that’s what I’m trying to do. The old me would have been devastated. The new me is figuring out how to survive, how to make sure I come out the other side stronger.”
“Honey, if you were any stronger you’d be a hulk.”
“I don’t feel strong. I definitely didn’t feel strong when they—” I stop talking because I can’t say the words. Still. I may never be able to.
“You were so damn strong. Don’t ever forget that. You’re a survivor. They don’t come much tougher than someone who fights back even when the odds are against them.”