Page 3

Chapter Three

As I pull up to David’s estate, I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to be doing. I don’t see anything out of the ordinary, and when I reach the front guard post, there are two guys in it.

“Is something going on?” I ask.

“There was some drama, but we were just told to return to our normal posts,” one says.

I sigh and start down the driveway, but before I get far, I notice a black car drives past on the road behind me… did Isaiah tail me? That’s fine if he did; I’m positive he already knows where David lives.

Was he curious?

Or was it something else?

As I park the car, I pull up the texts from earlier and realize I’d never asked him how he even got my number. Ah well.

Me: Are you seeing me home safely?

Isaiah: Shouldn’t you stay focused?

Me: I’m trying to, but I’m thinking about how much more time we would’ve had if you’d just taken your damn clothes off faster. Ah well… next time.

Isaiah: There’s not going to be a next time.

Well, that’s no fun. Sure, he undoubtedly has other shit to worry about… but now I want to know why . Did I do something wrong?

It doesn’t fucking matter. Doesn’t matter at all. It’s ridiculous anyway. I start to text “Did I do something wrong?” but then that sounds needy. And then I type “Why?” yet doesn’t that just make me sound whiny and sad? I’m not sad; it’s not even like I know the guy’s real name or anything about him besides the fact that I enjoy harassing him.

So then I settle on something simple.

Me: ?

Isaiah: Have a good night, Aiden.

Asshole. He really should have taken his clothes off quicker.

With those thoughts rushing around in my mind, I head up to the house and walk inside. I’m wet, and of course it’s the first thing Ronald notices.

“What the fuck? Were you seriously out taking a goddamn dip when there’s shit to do?” he asks.

“I started work before you even woke up. I was off at eleven.”

“Says who?” he demands. Clearly, he’s in a rage, and thinks I should take the brunt of it.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, did you need me to fluff your pillow?”

Ronald grabs me by the front of my shirt and slams me into the wall. “What the fuck was that?”

“I asked if you needed me to fluff your fucking pillow,” I say before smacking his hand off me. He’s well aware he wouldn’t win in a fight, but he still wants to toe that line. The issue is that I have no respect for him compared to David.

Me smacking his hand off just pisses him off more. “Where were you last night?”

“Last night? I took your girlfriend home like you asked because you were too busy.”

“Did you see Erin go inside?”

“Yeah… I think. I really don’t know. What? Has she finally decided she’s had enough of you and found someone hotter? Oh nooooo, do you think she likes me?”

“What the hell is going on?” David asks as he walks out of his office, probably wanting to know what all the ruckus is. “Why can’t you two ever fucking get along?”

“I was told there was an emergency. It was such a huge emergency that I had to run right over and lo and behold, I see no emergency,” I mutter. “Can I go to bed, then?”

“Erin isn’t answering her phone and according to her neighbor, the last person she saw her with was this asshole,” Ronald says.

“Yeah, because you had me drop her off. Do you ever think that maybe she’s just busy or maybe she’s tired of you?”

“Did you do something to her?” he asks.

David is getting irritated now. “Ronald, come on. Why the fuck would Aiden do something with Erin, of all people?”

“Why the hell won’t he shoot the guy who shot at you earlier today?” Ronald counters.

That does make David hesitate.

“He keeps toying with him, but what happens when his fun and games ends in you being shot?” Ronald asks.

“Up until today, he’s only snooped around, so I didn’t think he was of much concern. And today, he didn’t shoot at David, he shot my drink—he knew I was trying to cut back on consuming too much sugar. And I haven’t had the chance to shoot him yet, but I will, I will,” I say, trying not to think of the way I had him hoist me up a ladder or how I just coerced him to swim naked with me.

Ronald looks exasperated. “No, you think he’s hot, so he gets a free pass.”

David turns to look at me, and now I’m wondering how this turned from Ronald bitching about his girlfriend, who probably wandered off after a man who looks significantly better than Ronald, and on to me and my not quite love life!

“Aiden, enough of the bullshit. Why haven’t you shot him?” David asks.

“You seriously think I’m doing some undercover shit with some assassin or hired gun or whatever the fuck he is?” I ask.

“I don’t know what I think, but I do find it strange you haven’t killed him.”

“Well… he’s a little bit funny and a whole lot of hot… but fine. I’ll kill him,” I mutter. “Can I go now or am I going to get accused of something else?”

“No, you’re going to find my goddamn girlfriend,” Ronald barks before smacking everything off a little decorative table and storming off, leaving me alone with David.

“Go to bed. I’m sure she’s just… ignoring him or some shit,” David says, but I hesitate. “What?”

“I just… find it a bit shitty that you’d accuse me of switching sides after everything I’ve done for you. How long have I fought for you? What? Twenty years?”

David sighs and sets a hand on my head. “Don’t act like that, kid. You know you’re like a son to me. I just think you could make some better choices when it comes to whatever the fuck is going on here.”

“Weirdly, all of my life choices have been determined for me by you or Ronald, so maybe I’m reaching my angst years,” I joke.

“At thirty-three?”

“Yep.”

“You make your own decisions quite often. I’m not boxing you into shit, alright? I’ll tell Ronald to lay off you as well. And go… to a bar or something. Don’t try to pick up men who also want to kill you. There’s no part of that which sounds healthy.”

“Fine, fine. I’m going to bed. Let me know if I actually have to go look for this girl.”

“Yeah,” he says and waves me off.

I head up the stairs and into the bedroom I’ve stayed in since he brought me in off the streets. The first night he led me into it, I thought it was a joke. I thought he was probably some pervert or sick fuck who was storing me until he revealed his true intentions. But once he put a gun in my hand and made it clear what my job was, I felt like I was finally allowed to relax for the first time in my life.

And isn’t that funny? Being handed a gun and given this job was “relaxing” to me.

The house has a security system in place, but my job is to deal with anyone who makes it past it.

When I reach my room, I head straight into the bathroom and turn on the shower. But before I can slip inside, my phone beeps.

I pick it up and glance at Isaiah’s number on the screen.

Isaiah: What was the emergency?

Me: Are you being nosy or genuinely curious about my life because you’re positive you’ve met your soulmate?

Isaiah: Somewhere in between.

Me: Just some bullshit. No emergency. Ronald was having a temper tantrum. I definitely had time to see how far your shirt would stretch before tearing.

Isaiah: It’s pretty far.

Me: I can tell.

I don’t know why I’m so stupidly happy that he messaged me back. Hell, he’s probably using me for information and laughing at how dumb I am, but he can laugh all he wants because I’m having fun and that’s all that matters.