Page 2 of I Don’t Need Your Protection (Harrington Bay Academy #1)

Addie

I try not to stumble back at his sharp brown irises.

They’re identical to Dad’s, well without the sharp part, since Dad’s eyes were always so soft.

He has a strong jaw, and the way he lifts his chin makes me swear he knows how to command authority.

He’s wearing a crisp dark suit without a single crease, and his tie is of a gentle blue color.

I can see my dad in him. Actually, the more I study him, the more striking he looks to Dad. I bet Dad would have looked very similar to him had he reached his father’s age.

He does a leisurely scan of me, from the top of my head down to my sneakers, which I admit have seen better days. There is no expression on his face or in his eyes, no sign of any emotion. I have no idea if he approves of what he sees.

I don’t know how long he stares at me, but it feels like a million years.

A part of me wants to spin around and high-tail it out of here because I feel so awkward just standing here in front of this rich dude, but I hold my ground.

There’s nowhere for me to run to because Mr. Nathaniel Bradshaw is now my legal guardian.

“You have his eyes,” he finally says.

My gaze snaps to his face. Maybe I’m imagining it, but I think I finally see a hint of emotion in his eyes. Maybe pain? Loss? Guilt?

“You have his eyes, too,” I stammer.

He continues to study me for a bit longer, then gets up and makes his way to me.

I stagger back when he stretches his arms around me, totally shocked that he actually wants to hug me.

Before I have a chance to return the hug, he goes back to his seat and motions toward one of the chairs across from him.

“Please have a seat. There is a lot we need to discuss, Addilyn.”

“It’s Addie,” I say as I lower myself on one of the chairs.

His sharp eyes settle on me again. Why do they make me feel so unnerved?

“Are you aware of why you were named Addilyn?” he asks.

“Yeah, my dad said I’m named after his mom.”

He nods, and I once again see a shadow of emotion in his eyes. “Yes, that is correct. Addilyn Montgomery Bradshaw was my late wife. She died when your father was a teenager.”

There’s no mistaking the tremor in his voice. It’s very subtle—maybe most people wouldn’t pick up on it—but considering I’m scrutinizing every little detail about this man, I definitely notice it. It’s obvious he loved his wife very much and is deeply saddened by her death .

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“Never mind that.” He leans back in his seat and focuses on me. “I suspect you have many questions. From what I gather, you weren’t aware of my existence until yesterday.”

I nod.

“Your father and I…well, let’s just say we had our differences. He decided to cut me out of his life. Because of his foolish actions, I was not aware that he had even married, let alone had a child.”

I’m not exactly liking his tone. I have no idea why my dad would shut his father out of his life, but I’m sure there was a good reason. And considering he’s not here to explain or defend himself, I’d rather not hear my grandfather talk crap about him.

“He was the best father in the world,” I say before I can stop myself. “And a good man.”

“A good father doesn’t deny his daughter a relationship with the only grandparent she has.

A good man doesn’t deny his father a relationship with the only grandchild he has.

You cannot imagine my shock when I learned of your existence.

And you can’t imagine my shock and pure rage when I discovered you were living in those terrible conditions.

” He shakes his head in disgust. “A Bradshaw living like a peasant? My parents would roll in their graves.”

“I’m a Hayes,” I say. My dad took my mom’s surname when they got married.

“That may be your legal surname, but you’re my son’s child, which makes you a Bradshaw. There will be a lot of changes in your life now, changes I assume you will eagerly embrace.”

He has to be totally deluded. I mean, sure, living in this huge mansion is like a dream come true, especially compared to the group home I was living in.

But I know there’s a lot about it I’ll hate with passion.

Like the fact that my only living relative gave me the most awkward hug in the history of awkward hugs.

Almost as though he doesn’t know how to hug.

“Your room has already been taken care of,” he continues.

“The staff will stop by to make sure you have everything you need. They will tell you where you can order your clothes, shoes, accessories, devices, and anything you may need. It goes without saying that money isn’t an issue for you anymore. ”

I fold my arms over my chest. “Actually, I like the idea of earning my own money.”

He waves his hand like I’m a little kid who said the most ridiculous thing. “Your new life might seem difficult at first, but you’ll grow accustomed to it in time. Now, the next order of business is your schooling. I have enrolled you in Harrington Bay Academy.”

“Harrington Bay Academy? I never heard of it.”

“It’s one of the most prestigious schools in the country. It’s located in upstate New York and will provide you with a top-notch education.”

“So…I’ll have to dorm?”

“Naturally you’ll dorm. You can’t expect to travel every day from here.”

“But I’ve never dormed anywhere before—”

“Now, Addilyn, there is something very important we need to discuss.” He sits forward in his chair and says in a graver tone, “Because of who I am, I have amassed a few enemies over the years. Most are harmless, but there are a few who wish to do me serious harm. In fact, the only reason I learned of your existence is because my security team discovered you. I was worried it wouldn’t be long before my enemies discovered you as well. ”

My eyes widen to epic proportions as I gape at him. “ What ?”

“That’s why I removed you from that group home as quickly as possible and brought you here, where you’ll be safe.”

I continue to gape at him, wondering if I seriously fell into one of my worst nightmares. “Are you saying my life is in danger?”

He presses his lips together, as though contemplating if he should be one hundred percent transparent with me. Then he nods. “You’re not a small child. I think you deserve to know if your life is in peril.”

“So…are you saying my parents…” Tears prick my eyes. “Are you saying my parents’ accident wasn’t really an accident?”

His face fills with surprise. “Well, you certainly have a good head on your shoulders. You’ve definitely inherited the Bradshaw brain.”

I get up from my chair and amble to the window in a complete daze.

I’ve spent the last month crying over my parents’ deaths and agonizing that it was my fault.

I was supposed to join them on a hike, but one of my friends had a last-minute party, and I preferred to hang out with my friends instead of my parents.

I called them while they were driving to catch up with them, and that’s when…

I squeeze my eyes shut.

If my parents were killed on purpose, then I’m not responsible for what happened. But hearing that they were murdered doesn’t make it any better. And I was supposed to be in the car, too. I was supposed to die that day along with my parents.

“Addilyn, there is no use for tears,” he says. “Crying won’t bring back your parents. Please return to your seat. There is still much we need to discuss.”

So now he thinks he has a right to tell me when I can and can’t cry? Who does he think he is? I just learned my parents were murdered and he expects me to hide my emotions like he does? That’s not me and it never will be. If being a Bradshaw means I have to live like a robot, I reject it.

His face softens for a second as his eyes move over my face. “I understand this is difficult for you, Addilyn, but we live in a harsh world. You need tougher skin.”

“It’s Addie ,” I grit out. “And my skin is just fine.”

He sighs like he has no patience for my childish outburst. He gestures to the chair I just vacated. “Please sit down, Addilyn. There is still a lot we must discuss.”

I lower myself in the seat and cross my arms over my chest.

“Now as I said, you’ll be attending Harrington Bay Academy tomorrow. But considering your life may be in danger, I have hired a bodyguard to watch over you. ”

“Wait, what? You’re giving me a babysitter?”

“He won’t be a babysitter. He’ll protect you with his life.”

Oh my gosh, how is this my life right now? This has to be a terrible nightmare. I think I’d rather live in the crummy group home with the mean guy who always stole my food.

“Various staff and faculty will be undercover security officers as well,” he continues. “And for your safety, your identity will be hidden.”

My eyes bug out. “What the heck?”

“You may keep your first name, but your last name will be Nelson. And your story is that you are attending the school on a scholarship.”

I fall back in my seat. “This is insane.”

“If word gets out that you’re my granddaughter, your safety will be compromised,” he says. “We must take every necessary precaution.”

“I’m going to be a prisoner in my own reality,” I mutter.

“This is only temporary, Addilyn. Until my private investigators catch the people who killed your parents, you’ll be in hiding.”

I rub my hand down my face. Can someone please wake me up from this nightmare?

“I’ll have Louis provide you with a guide of rules you must adhere to,” my grandfather says. “The most important one is that you cannot, under any circumstance, tell a single soul your true identity. Is that understood?”

“Yes.”