Page 21 of Vain (Tempest #2)
Chapter Twenty-One
AIDEN
There was another source that she hadn’t considered. I didn’t want to be the one to shatter any illusions, not until I knew for sure.
The drive back home is done in relative silence.
I keep hold of her hand, needing to feel connected to her even as I feel her trying to resurrect a wall between us.
I don’t think she’s doing it on purpose.
It’s more a self-protection thing, but it pisses me off all the same.
I wish the rest of the world could just fuck off and leave us alone.
I sigh when we reach the gates and lift her hand to kiss the back of it as the driver holds out his ID for Davey, who leans forward to see who is in the back. He nods at Matilda first, then me, before handing the driver’s ID back to him.
“You okay?”
She looks over at me and smiles with a hint of sadness. “I’m having a moment. If you could ignore the teeny tiny pity party I’m having, I’ll get over it. I’ve just gotta be dramatic first.”
“You’re the least dramatic person I know.”
“I saw that on a T-shirt once and always wanted to throw it into a conversation,” she admits. This time her grin is more mischievous. “I’m okay, promise. I let myself get stuck in my head for a minute, but I’m all good now.”
When the car stops, I pay the driver and give him a large tip before coming out. I grab the bags first before holding out my hand for Matilda. I’m just closing the door when Daniel rounds the corner with a face of thunder.
“You motherfucker!” he snarls, making Matilda shriek and whirl around.
I step up to him, nudging Matilda behind me. “First of all, watch your fucking mouth.”
He pokes me in the chest. “You took her away from her security team. Do you know how fucking reckless that is?”
I grab his finger and twist, stepping into him and sweeping his legs from under him once he’s off balance. He hits the floor with a groan.
I stare down at him with zero fucking sympathy.
“Why am I always repeating myself around you? You are to protect the fucking property. I am the one protecting Matilda, and where we went, nobody knew who the fuck she was. It was a decision I made. Taking a whole fucking entourage would have outed her almost immediately.”
“You put her at risk?—”
“She was never in danger. Matilda wanted to come?—”
“That’s not her decision to make,” he roars.
The silence falls between us all before Matilda steps around me and looks down at Daniel.
“I’m a grown-ass woman. I pay your fucking wages.
This house is supposed to be my home, not my prison.
I get to decide where I go and who I go with.
And if there is a risk involved, I’m the one who gets to decide if I’m comfortable with it.
What you don’t seem to realize is that there’s always a fucking risk involved in being me.
I was attacked on a movie set surrounded by a dozen other people.
I’ve been swamped by the press, stalked by over-eager fans, pushed, shoved, and hounded by the general public, and made to feel like an over-entitled nuisance by the police.
I’m done trying to excuse everyone else’s behavior, including yours. You’re fired.”
It’s probably a really poor time to pop a boner but fuck me, she’s magnificent when she’s fierce.
“You can’t fire me,” he hisses, getting to his feet.
“Actually, I can. I’m happy for your team to continue as long as they respect the boundaries I’ve put in place. I just don’t want you on my property any longer. If that’s a conflict of interest for you, you can take your whole team, and I’ll hire another.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Threaten her again, I dare you.”
“I’m not threatening you. I’m warning you that this stalker isn’t going to back off. You’re making yourself vulnerable. Take your emotions out of this for a second and listen to reason.”
“Are you serious right now? You came out here like a bull in a china shop, acting on pure emotion because I took Matilda with me for a few days. And this isn’t the first time you’ve overreacted. You’re in love with her.”
He snaps his mouth closed and takes a step back.
Matilda frowns and looks up at me. “What? He doesn’t love me. Don’t be silly.” When Daniel doesn’t say anything, Matilda slowly turns to face him. “Daniel?”
“I was never going to cross the line. A bodyguard has to do his job, first and foremost.”
That dig is aimed my way, but I shrug it off. “And how did that work out for you? The way I see it, I’m the one standing here with the girl.”
Daniel launches himself at me, but Matilda steps between us. “Stop it, both of you.”
I shut up and step back, knowing I was being a dick.
Daniel’s chest is heaving as he looks Matilda up and down. “You were lucky one of the crowd didn’t attack you at the airport. He’s reckless with your safety, and you’re going to get hurt because of it.”
She cocks her head, her hands fisting at her sides. “How did you know there was a crowd at the airport?”
I pause, my eyes going to Daniel’s as he swallows. “I saw it on the news.”
His answer is plausible, but something about it sounds off. Matilda clearly hears it, too. She takes a step back and bumps into me. I squeeze her shoulders. “Go on and head inside, baby.”
She hesitates for a beat before nodding and making her way to the door.
“So that’s it? You’re just going to walk away because he said so?”
“No, I’m walking away before you say something you can’t come back from. Go home, Daniel. You’ve done enough.” With that parting shot, she heads inside, closing the door on her conversation and whatever kind of relationship he thought they had.
“Fuck!” He runs his hands through his hair, looking both agitated and lost. “You fucking happy?”
I stare at him, trying to figure him out. “Why would I be happy when my girl is hurting? She didn’t want this, but you forced her hand, and you know it.”
“Fuck you. You came in here and took a sweet girl and made her your slut. Every time she opens her mouth, your cock might as well fall out—” He doesn’t finish his sentence before he’s on his ass again.
“Most people duck when a fist comes their way. Some bodyguard you are,” I tut and walk toward the house, done with this guy.
“Nobody will want to work with her after I tell them what she’s like.”
I pause and turn around. “Don’t be that guy.
You didn’t get the girl. So fucking what?
You didn’t shoot your shot. That’s on you.
Don’t make out she’s this vile person because we both know she’s not.
She was good to you, good to your men, and you want to tear her down because you weren’t the one invited into her bed? ”
He crosses his arms over his chest, his face flushed with indignation and, dare I say it, shame.
“Don’t be another bad guy in her life, Daniel. Fuck knows she has enough of them.”
“And you’re the expert on all things Matilda now?”
“I’m not claiming to be an expert. It’s just an observation, but whatever. We both know you’re gonna do what you’re gonna do. Whatever happens, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.”
He growls in frustration, but I’m already walking away. I keep talking, though, knowing he can still hear me. “I had to sign an NDA when I started working here. I’m curious. Did you sign one, too?”
His silence is an answer all in itself. I grin as I walk through the open door and close it behind me. He can badmouth her all he wants, but he will lose out in the long run. That’s the whole point of an NDA.
I walk into the kitchen and see Marley whispering to Matilda, who is eating a cupcake. I spot Greyson in the hallway. He tips his head for me to join him, so I do, both of us walking out of earshot of Matilda.
“Everything okay?”
“There’s been a daily Post-it note, each with a headless bird. Daniel and his team have no idea how this person is getting in and out without being seen.” He wrings his hands, worry etched into the lines of his face.
“We’ll figure it out. Right now, Matilda doesn’t go anywhere alone. I’m going to be checking the cameras personally.”
“Daniel won’t like that.”
“Daniel doesn’t work here anymore.”
He jolts at that. “Since when?”
“Since Matilda fired him.”
He looks shocked for a minute.
“Did you tell Daniel I texted you when our flight was due to land?”
He frowns before nodding. “Was I not supposed to?”
I shake my head. “No, it’s fine.” It begs the question, though, why lie about it?