Chapter 14 #2
“Of course,” the woman says. Her dark hair is cropped short and her black pants and black, button-up top—similar uniform to the men’s—screams professional badass .
“I’m Cora Fenton, and I’m taking the lead on this team.
This is Terrence, Hunter, and Roman. The four of us will be your primary bodyguards, although shifts may have to change depending on our schedules. ”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Kingston says, shaking their hands.
I do the same, trying not to be intimidated by how strong everyone looks. In a room full of apex predators, I am most definitely the fluffy little bunny. I’m tempted to call the whole thing off. I know Kingston and Sebastian would disapprove, but they did, after all, say this was up to me.
But I’m not going to risk myself, or my men, again.
We exchange a few pleasantries, and then Sebastian comes out of the bedroom in a rumpled t-shirt and jeans. He’s introduced around, too, and then it’s time for me to go to work.
The bodyguards don’t seem shocked in the slightest when I kiss both men on the lips to say goodbye. I puzzle over that for a minute in the elevator before remembering that they work for Ironwood—and Olivia, Jaxon, and Ryder are in a relationship together as a threesome.
It’s reassuring to think that my relationship with Kingston and Sebastian won’t seem out of the ordinary to these guards.
Cora and Terrence drive me to Dorado Terrace.
They don’t talk much as they drive, either to me or to each other.
I sneak peeks at each of their profiles when they turn their heads every so often.
Terrence has brown skin, black hair, and brown eyes.
The only way I can describe those eyes is sad .
Something about the way Cora interacts to him, even though they barely speak, gives me protective vibes.
Something happened to him. I wonder what, but it’s not my business.
When we reach Dorado Terrace, they shadow me at a respectable distance.
The concierge on the ground floor already knows them—likely because of Jaxon, Ryder, and Olivia living here.
Her eyebrows hike high on her forehead when she realizes they’re escorting me .
Thankfully, though, she doesn’t comment on it and Cora, Terrence, and I travel up the service elevator to one of the floors I’ll be cleaning.
At first I’m self-conscious, as if every move I’m making is being watched and judged. But after a while, I start to forget they’re even there. They blend into the background not because of their appearance, but because of how quiet they are and how relaxed they seem.
I’m vacuuming next to the elevator when it opens—and my brother steps out.
I jab the vacuum’s off switch and turn to face him, shock rendering me speechless. He’s a wreck—his face is bloody and bruised. One of his eyes is swollen shut.
“Ella.” His voice is rough, like he’s really thirsty or hasn’t spoken in a while.
Finally, I find my voice. “Tommy, what the hell happened?”
He reaches forward. As he tries to hug me, Terrence comes barreling down the hall and grabs Tommy’s arm.
Tommy winces. “Ow, what the fuck, dude?”
“Do you want me to see this man out?” Terrence asks me in a low voice.
“No, it’s okay,” I tell him. “He’s my brother. But thank you, anyway.”
Terrence ambles down the hall and takes up his station next to Cora once more.
“Who the hell is that?” Tommy asks, rubbing his arm where Terrence grabbed it.
“Some shit has happened—as you’re aware,” I say, “and now I have some personal security guards.”
He snickers. “You’re probably the only maid in the world with her own security team.”
“I wouldn’t need them if your loan shark buddies hadn’t knifed my boyfriend.”
Sobering, he clears his throat. “Personal security is probably a good idea. I’m sorry about before.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrug. I’m not going to tell him it’s okay, because it most certainly is not. “What do you want, Tommy?”
“You don’t live at your old apartment anymore,” he says. “Your name isn’t on the listing, and that old lady told me if you didn’t give me your new address, then it was a hint you probably didn’t want me coming around. Ella…do you really hate me that much?”
Bless Mrs. Dali. I should make her cookies. Even though I’ve moved away, she’s still protecting me.
“I don’t hate you, Tommy. I moved. It seemed safer, and I love my boyfriends.” Boyfriends seems like such a casual word, when what I have with Kingston and Sebastian is a lot bigger. “But you didn’t come here to talk about that, so how about you just tell me what you want, so I can tell you no?”
He has the audacity to look hurt. “I wanted to talk about Dad a little. And yeah, I’m strapped for cash, too, but I don’t want to ask you for anything.”
“We can meet up sometime later to talk about Dad,” I say. “Right now, I’m trying to work.”
“Really? I can take you to breakfast one day. We can get pancakes. That’s what Dad used to make you on your birthday, right?”
“French toast and fruit salad,” I say. “You always wanted pancakes and sausage.”
“Right. Damn, can’t believe I forgot that detail.”
“Tommy,” I say, “do you have a job right now?”
Deer-in-headlights. His blue eyes are wide.
“You need to get a job,” I say, “but first you need to get cleaned up.”
“That’s why I could really use some cash,” he says.
I have some money in my purse, which is on my cleaning cart just behind me.
A little under eighty dollars—left from when Kingston passed me a few twenties to grab lunch for us last time we visited Bash in the hospital, and what I didn’t leave behind at the Bistro yesterday.
I’ve been meaning to return it but haven’t yet.
I shouldn’t do this. I promised myself I’d stop giving him money. But the dark purple bruises on his jaw, his black eye, and the general miasma of despair surrounding my brother tugs on my heartstrings.
Retrieving the cash, I hold it out toward Tommy. When he reaches for it, I yank it away.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“This money is for food, and clothes,” I say.
He nods.
“It’s not to gamble with. You have enough here to clean yourself up, get a good meal, get an interview outfit. Nice slacks and a button-up shirt. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“You will go to the library and start filling out applications right after this.”
“Jeez, who’s the older sibling?” he asks.
“Me, apparently.” I hand him the money.
He hugs me goodbye. If no money had changed hands, would my brother give me a hug?
Impossible to know.
As soon as I’m done with my shift, I ask Cora and Terrence to take me straight to the bank where I withdraw four twenties from the ATM. It’s going directly onto Kingston’s table when I get home.
Tommy might be comfortable taking my boyfriends’ money, but I’m not.