Joelle

“What do you mean I can’t go anywhere without the security? Isn’t that a little overkill?”

Her father’s answer was a resounding sigh.

“Nothing is overkill to keep this family safe. And just this once, Joelle, could you not argue with something I’ve asked you? I know you think you’re a free-age feminist thinker, but not everything is an argument.”

“Says the Judge who only believes in his opinion.” She muttered, but he snapped his eyes up. “And I’m not a free-age feminist. I like asking pertinent questions when things are going to interrupt my life.”

“Dear,” her mother said. Of course, she’d jump in and take up her husband’s mantle. Nothing new there. “It’s not for very long, and it is important. The security company has assured us they won’t get in the way and will be as discreet as possible.”

“That’s all you had to say. I’m not being difficult.” She threw the word at her father, “but it’s nice to be kept in the loop.”

“Count me out.” Her brother, Reeves, stated. Standing up from the breakfast table, he grabbed his keys and phone.

Naturally, her father didn’t say boo to him. Of course not. Reeves had male anatomy, so the same rules didn’t apply to him. God, if it weren’t such a disgusting habit, she’d spit on the floor with how mad she was feeling.

“You know, you wouldn’t need to have these conversations that irritate you if I lived alone like I’ve wanted to do for the past five years.”

Her parents believed she was disorganized and lacked direction in her life.

She had three freaking degrees. Unlike her wealthy mother and aunts, who married for money and social status, she didn’t live a life of charity board meetings. How was it her fault they’d never allowed her the freedom to explore her options?

When asked to prolong her stay at home, she avoided conflict to keep the family harmonious. Despite the challenges caused by her father’s job, the police had always handled them before. She didn’t get why it had to change her life. Yeah, okay, there’d been several kidnapping threats over the years. But those people had been caught, and she’d never honestly thought someone would kidnap her just because she was Judge Snow’s daughter.

Joelle was about to lose it. But she couldn’t let the family down, so she shut her mouth. Trying to reason with her parents was pointless. She’d say yes and then do whatever the heck she wanted.

Feeling better, she grabbed a triangle of toast. She was slathering a thick layer of strawberry preserve when Kenneth entered the family dining room to announce there were guests.

At seven in the morning?

Joelle sent her father a glance, but he didn’t appear surprised. Then, the room was filled by three men, all standing on ceremony. Oh, the bodyguards, goodie. But they were not like any bodyguards she’d ever seen.

Weren’t suits mandatory for anyone who stepped into their house? She swallowed her chuckle, along with a bite of toast.

It was then she recognized the tallest of the three. It was the Viking-esque guy from yesterday. And because she wasn’t being rushed out of her father’s office this time, she could look at him for as long as she liked. While she took bites of her toast, she compiled his appearance.

Her last steady boyfriend, if it could be called that, was five foot seven. The Viking was way bigger, easily a foot taller than her. He stood like a fortress, covered by muscles and olive skin and decorated in tattoos. Yesterday, the leather jacket was black. Today, it was brushed brown and suited his complexion. He wore it with well-worn denim and thick-soled boots with twin buckles on each boot. He was imposing, but immediately, the color gray came to mind for him. Gray was for calm and peace.

Usually, her father was the dominating figure in every room. But he shrank in the biker’s presence.

Joelle continued to crunch through her toast, but the food dried in her mouth when those icy blue eyes came at her. She realized this man didn’t want to be here. The animosity rolled off his broad shoulders like mist.

What had she done to earn the biker’s ire? Her father, she could understand. He was split down the middle. You either revered him or hated him.

“This is Diamond and his staff. He’ll be in charge of your security from now on.” Her father announced.

Diamond? What kind of name was that? But she could see why as she tilted her head back to look at him better, with his tight jawline that seemed sculpted on his face and those full lips.

Women were reluctant to share something shiny and precious, like diamonds. Joelle held in her immediate giggle and reached for a second triangle of toast, knifing on more sweet preserves.

“My men aren’t here to give you a hard time. Your safety is what’s important.” He stated. His voice was not booming. Speaking quietly, there was an air of authority, making everyone take notice. His men were statues behind him. She caught the eye of one, but he didn’t smile. Okay then, that’s how it was going to be. Unfriendly shadows.

“But that doesn’t mean we’ll put up with bullshit. Just putting it out there so we know where we all stand.” He mentioned. Once more, his eyes were directed toward her as though he believed Joelle required a cautionary signal.

What had been shared about her if she was the focus of the lecture? Reeves would be better off hearing it because he had a problem following most rules.

“Shouldn’t Reeves be hearing this?” she threw her baby brother under the bus.

The Viking biker raised an eyebrow, but then lowered it. “Your brother is already under surveillance. He’ll be told the same if it’s needed.”

Bleurgh. Same old misogynistic bullcrap. One rule for men, another altogether more burdensome rule for women.

“Joelle. I need you to follow whatever Diamond says.”

“Sure thing, Father.” She crunched, her chin defiantly tipped up before she sipped coffee from a delicate cup. And since she was playing nice, she offered, “I’ll be home all day on the grounds, so there will be no need for a guard.”

“I’ll decide what’s needed.” The biker replied, glacially cold, a gravel edge of warning to his voice.

Joelle only smiled. “Whatever you say. Would you gentlemen like to sit and have breakfast? There’s plenty.”

“Oh, sweetheart, there’s no need for that. They’re here to do a job. Kenneth can always fix them a plate in the kitchen.” Her mother said, and Joelle nearly choked on her toast. Yes, she’d forgotten the class divide. God forbid her mother let a man eat at her Milan marble table. And no way would she let the lower classes drink from her crystal glasses.

“We’re fine,” Diamond answered. And then shifted his gaze to her somewhat silent father. “A word outside.”

When it was only her and her mother, she said. “Some shady shit is going on, Mom. I can feel it in my kneecaps.”

“Oh, Joelle. You have the worst imagination, dear.”

Yeah, and she’d bet her life on being right.

However, she had to face having a bodyguard who seemed to despise her family.

The next few days would be interesting.

It might just be what she needed to get out of the holiday doldrums.

Feeling a tad perkier, she stabbed the pink grapefruit on her plate.