Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Scarlet tried to keep her attention on the doctor, but her eyes kept wandering back to the small viewing window on the door.
The man who had been looking in was now gone.
She had never seen him before, and wondered who he could be.
He wasn’t a dancer. He was too muscular and broad-shouldered for that.
Her first glimpse left her wanting more.
As she leaned forward a little, she could see Edward North pass by the window, talking to someone.
“Luckily you don’t have a concussion,” the doctor said. “Or any stress fractures, but you’ll need to take it easy for few days. Your wrist will be sore tomorrow, and the bruising to your back will take some time to heal.”
Scarlet watched the woman scribble something on her clipboard. “I’ll prescribe you some mild painkillers, and Motrin. The psychiatrist will touch base with you tomorrow for anti-anxiety medication.”
“Thanks.” Scarlet tried to smile. “I don’t think I’ll need anti-anxiety?—”
“If you experience any post-traumatic stress,” the doctor pressed on. “Call the number on the prescription I’m giving you.”
Scarlet just wanted to go to bed. It was almost two a.m., and she was tired of talking to the cops, and to the doctor. Nora wouldn’t stop texting, and soon Edward would probably want to talk as well.
She could still hear all the voices in her head. They jumbled together to make a garbled mess of anxiety.
“Get some rest,” the doctor said, handing her a piece of paper. “If your pain worsens, give this number a call. I’ll get you back in for full body scan.”
Scarlet nodded as the doctor opened the door to let herself out. Then, she scooted to the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. She caught her reflection in a mirror across the way, and reached up to brush some dried blood from her neck.
The events of the night were idly drifting through her head. It was like a bad dream. She wanted it to be a bad dream. Never did Scarlet expect one of the best days she had would accompany the worst. It didn’t seem fair.
Now what?
One thing she knew for certain. She wasn’t going to tell her parents. Her father would freak, and demand she move back home. Despite being almost twenty-six years old, Scarlet still avoided confrontation with her overprotective father.
Scarlet raised her head to the door as Edward and the other man walked in.
She couldn’t help but stare. He was taking up a good portion of the doorway he had just walked through.
His slightly messy mop of brown hair threw off the rest of his rigid disposition.
The rolled-up sleeves of his un-tucked Oxford shirt fit tightly around the defined muscles of his forearms. He had a handsome face, but a hardened expression accented by the beginnings of beard growth.
He didn’t look particularly thrilled to be in the room.
Scarlet turned her attention to Edward, suddenly wanting to burst into tears. “Mr. North,” she started. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.”
Edward held up his hand and shook his head. “Why on earth are you sorry? If anyone is at fault here, it’s me. I should’ve been more aware of outside issues concerning your promotion.”
Scarlet looked back and forth between the men. Suddenly, she wanted to know exactly who Edward’s friend was.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “What outside issues? Who?—”
“Scarlet.” Edward pointed to the man. “This is my stepson, Alex Sterling. He’s here for your protection while we figure out what’s going on.”
Scarlet looked Alex up and down again. He kept his arms firmly across his chest as he nodded to her.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Rush,” he said.
“Stepson.” She frowned. “Protection?”
She swallowed back the tears. Her heart began to beat faster as Alex tilted his head to study her.
“He’s a personal bodyguard,” Edward explained. “Not to mention, a man I trust with my own life. His company is going to provide North Pointe with security measures until we can figure out who’s behind this attempted kidnapping.”
Scarlet inhaled as a wave of nausea hit her hard. Hearing the words “attempted kidnapping” made everything come flooding back in visceral clarity.
“Jesus,” Scarlet breathed. “I don’t understand why—Victoria couldn’t have?—”
She didn’t want to finish the sentence. She’d already spoken to the police, telling them Victoria threatened her. Seeing Edward, she realized she probably shouldn’t have said anything. Even if Victoria wasn’t pulling an elaborate stunt, it would still cause problems to point fingers.
Edward sank down to sit with Scarlet. He put an arm around her, hugging her close. She wasn’t used to him being so attentive. Less than a day ago, he hadn’t cared at all.
“Everything is going to be fine,” Edward said softly. “But I want to keep the rumors low, and the safety high. Do you understand?”
Scarlet blinked, registering what he was telling her. She slowly nodded and remained silent.
“I know that Victoria has been somewhat of a bully,” Edward went on. “I will deal with her in my own way, but I highly doubt she would go to this extreme.”
“So, it’s worse,” Scarlet said. “Like…”
“You are to remain focused on this upcoming ballet season.” Edward shook his head. “I feel that the best way for us to move forward is to build a safer environment for you.”
Scarlet looked up at Alex. “And you… You’re my…”
“Bodyguard, ma’am.” He nodded. “You’ll be safe under my protection.”
Scarlet looked him up and down. “Like… all the time?”
Alex shifted his weight and took a deep breath.
“That’s up to Edward,” he replied. “But you will be under the watch of my company twenty-four-seven whether I’m escorting you or I have men stationed outside your home.”
Scarlet blinked, willing the queasiness to subside.
“It sounds overwhelming,” Edward said. “But I’ll explain more tomorrow. For now, Alex will see you home safe so you can get some rest.”
“Mr. North.” Scarlet frowned.
He held up a hand. “Please, call me Edward.”
“Edward.” Scarlet brought her hand up to her head and rubbed her temple. “I—I don’t mean any disrespect, but I really don’t think?—”
There was some commotion outside, muffled voices and a shriek of concern she knew could only belong to Logan. A moment later, the door flew open, and her friend burst into the room.
“Holy Nancy Kerrigan, are you okay?” Logan held a hand to his chest.
“Nancy Kerrigan was an ice skater,” Scarlet mumbled.
Nora and an older man were right behind Logan. Scarlet focused on the group, realizing the third party was Nora’s father, Andrej.
His entrance made Edward stand straight up. “Mr. Brevic.” He gave a short nod. “Good to see you.”
Andrej ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair.
The corners of his mouth were turned down, and his brow was furrowed in his usual scowl.
She liked the man. He obviously loved his daughter a lot, but he was an abrasive businessman with a detached edge.
He was virtually nothing like her own father.
“There is nothing good about this,” he answered with his Eastern European accent. “Nora woke me up and insisted I drive across town to see if Scarlet is alive or dead. Everything is an emergency.”
“I’m sorry she made you come down here, Mr. Brevic,” Scarlet said.
He waved a hand dismissively as he cast an inquisitive look at Alex. “I see Edward is handling things.”
“This is Alex,” Edward explained. “He’s Scarlet’s new bodyguard. His company will be providing North Pointe with personal security.”
Logan smiled wide and looked Alex up and down. “Well, hello, there tall, dark, and chiseled.”
Alex raised an eyebrow at him, but didn’t respond.
“Man of few words.” Logan winked. “I dig it.”
Nora pushed past Logan hug her friend. “This is such crap,” she said. “I could kill that awful Victoria myself. Where does she get off thinking felony assault is funny?”
“Everything is fine,” Scarlet said automatically. “I’m alive. And it wasn’t Victoria.” She glanced at Edward. “I think they were Russian.”
“Russian?” Alex blinked.
All the attention in the room shifted to Scarlet. She noted that Alex’s disposition tightened like a tension wire.
She cowered a little. “I wasn’t sure at first. But listening to Mr. Brevic’s accent, I know they weren’t the same. Similar, but not the same.”
Andrej and Edward exchanged glances. Edward shook his head a little, then smiled back at Scarlet.
“Try to remember as much as you can,” he said. “A detective will be by North Pointe in the next couple of days to talk to you.”
Nora hugged Scarlet tighter. “This is so awful, and so close to the house! I got home and cops were everywhere!”
“We can’t leave you alone for a second.” Logan tsked at Scarlet.
“I trust the police to find who did this.” Andrej reached out and placed a hand on her knee. She retracted a little from the touch; it sent her nerves over the edge. She blinked away the building stress.
“Sorry,” she muttered. “I’m just—I’m on edge.”
Andrej backed up, turning his attention to Nora. “Maybe you both should stay at the house uptown. It’s fenced in with an alarm system.”
Nora waited for Scarlet to answer. Fences and alarms sounded nice, but Scarlet knew staying in the Brevic mansion would just feed her anxiety. It was cold, minimalistic, and entirely too fancy for her taste.
“I’d rather just go home,” Scarlet said. “Sleep in my own bed.”
“It’s okay.” Nora gave her an encouraging smile. “We’re here for you.”
Edward motioned for Scarlet to get up. “I know you’re tired and want to get some rest, so Alex will drive you and make sure you get settled.
I’ve arranged for him to stay close by at Hotel Carlyle in case you need anything.
He’ll pick you up tomorrow and bring you to North Pointe. Rehearsal is as scheduled.”
Nora made a face like she wasn’t sure she heard correctly. She titled her head to the side. “Can someone attack me, so I get my own bodyguard?”
Logan chuckled and whispered something to Nora, making her smile widen. Alex rolled his eyes.