Page 23 of Vain (Tempest #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

AIDEN

She looks a little stunned, so I swoop in and kiss her while she’s distracted. She puts up zero resistance, melting into me as I slip my hands under her T-shirt. She freezes for a moment, like she always does, but as my fingertips skate over her scars, she gradually relaxes.

I pull back but stay close. “Are you doing okay after that scene?”

“That was nothing, trust me.”

I smooth back her hair. “Not sure I got the part about Daniel turning up with your mother,” I hedge the question, though I have my suspicions.

“She’s paying him to keep her apprised of all my comings and goings.

I’m sure it goes beyond that. She’s probably paying him for all my dirty little secrets.

Clearly, that’s dried up now he doesn’t work for me, though it isn’t a stretch to assume he’s had his team reporting back to him on more than just my stalker issue.

And, just in case you were wondering, there is no way she didn’t know about you and me before she got here. ”

“So she likely knows all about the Post-it notes and dead birds, not to mention the reason you hired me in the first place. Yet this is the first time she’s been here since I arrived on the scene. What the hell does that say about her?”

“Exactly. Here’s what you need to know about my mom. She doesn’t care about me. Not as a human, not as a woman, and certainly not as her daughter. My only value is in my ability to pad her bank account.”

“So coming here today had little to do with the scripts she wanted you to read?”

“She’s losing her insider knowledge about what’s going on here. That’s not going to make her happy. It makes it that much harder to control me. That’s why she came—to get me to bend to her will.”

“Like that would happen,” I huff.

“It’s happened before,” she admits with a sigh.

“I used to think it was just easier to give in. If I was expecting the worst, then there is no sense of betrayal.” She shakes her head.

“She’s the reason so few people have access to my home.

She’s the reason I don’t trust anyone not to sell me out.

She’s forever calling the paparazzi to places I am or calling media outlets with comments from an ‘insider source’.

She firmly believes there is no such thing as bad publicity.

My wanting to leave behind a legacy of doing something that makes me proud, or even happy, means nothing to her.

It’s all about fame and money and what she can do to keep both. ”

I lean my forehead against hers, wishing I knew what to say. I know what I want to say. Her mom’s a colossal bitch that needs a cold hard dose of reality. But that’s not my call to make.

“Do you think it was your mom who called the media and told them we were at the airport that day?”

She frowns. “She could only have heard it from Daniel, and he said he saw it on the news.”

“I asked Greyson if he told Daniel when our flight was due in and he said yes. He was worried he might have overstepped.”

“So Daniel knew when we were due to land, which would have given him plenty of time to tell my mother. And yes, she would absolutely call the media and have them waiting for me. Damn the freaking woman.”

“I did wonder why he lied about Greyson telling him, but it makes sense.”

She sighs before smoothing her hands up my chest. “I’d like to say my life isn’t always this dramatic, but I’d be lying.”

“If you didn’t have any problems, you wouldn’t have me here protecting you. So as sorry as I am that your life is kinda fucked-up, I can’t bring myself to regret the crazy when it’s the whole reason I’m here.”

“That’s both sweet and kinda dickish.”

“That pretty much sums up my personality.”

She shoves me away with a laugh. “Behave. I’m going to make these emotional support cookies, and then it will be about time to head to set. That okay?”

“Of course. I’m going to head down to talk to the guards at the gate and give them a heads-up about what’s going on.

I’m also gonna call Blake and tell him what’s been going on with Daniel.

I don’t want to bring anyone else in from back home because they have a lot going on, but he’ll likely know someone up here who can upgrade your security system. ”

She looks reluctant. I can’t say I don’t understand why, but when it comes to her safety, I won’t compromise.

“Do whatever you think needs to be done. I trust you.” I kiss her forehead before she pokes me in the stomach. “Okay, stop distracting me and get out of my kitchen.”

I grin. If she only knew how exactly I want to distract her?—

“Don’t look at me with your sex face.” She slips away and grabs a wooden spoon, waving it at me. “Out!”

I laugh, but do as she asks, sensing she needs alone time to decompress. “If you need me, call me. And don’t leave the house without me, not even to come find me. I’ll arm the alarm when I leave.”

She salutes me with a wink. “Yes sir, captain.”

“I can’t wait until later when I can put that sassy mouth of yours to good use.”

She chokes a little as I walk out of the kitchen laughing, but it doesn’t take long for my mood to shift. I walk down to the guard shack first to talk to Phil and fill him in on what’s going on.

“About time someone stopped that viper from having access. I know I shouldn’t really say that shit where someone might overhear, but I never liked the way that woman treated Miss Carson. I have no idea how someone so sweet came from someone filled with poison.”

“Can’t say I’m not thinking the same thing.

What I want you to know is no matter what that woman says, or Daniel for that matter, they don’t have the power to fire you.

Only Matilda does. If they become aggressive, call the police, and then call me.

” I hand him one of my business cards with my number on the back.

“You got it. I’ll pass the message on to Davey too.”

I hold out my hand for him to shake before heading back up the hill.

My next stop is the security shack, which has been cleared out.

I take in the discarded paper cups and fast-food wrappers and sigh.

Collecting them, I toss them in the trash before settling in and getting used to the equipment.

I check to make sure all the cameras are working, noting that six cameras on a property this size is not nearly enough.

There are far too many blind spots, which explains how the stalker is getting on the property without being noticed.

I know from walking around that the cameras aren’t hidden, either.

I’m sure the guy scoped the place out first to make sure he knew exactly where they all were.

“Looks like I was right about needing an upgrade,” I grumble before pulling out my cell phone and dialing Blake’s number.

It rings for so long I almost hang up before Blake eventually answers. “Hey, Aiden, what’s up?”

“I catch you at a bad time?”

“Nah, it’s all good. Callie had the wiring removed from her jaw yesterday. Today was her first physical therapy session, and it was rough. Thankfully, the painkillers have knocked her out. I fucking hate seeing her in pain.”

“I get it. Give her a hug from me.”

“Fuck off and get your own hugs.”

I chuckle. “Possessive much?”

“How about I come wrap my arms around Miss Carson?”

I scowl. “Fuck you.”

He cracks up laughing, the asshole. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Tell me what’s going on anyway. The guys have been keeping me updated but I feel so fucking out of the loop with everything going on.”

“The business isn’t going to go under because you’ve had to take a step back, boss man. Besides, Callie needs you more than we do right now.”

He grumbles something that I miss but listens intently as I fill him in on everything that’s been happening, only speaking once I’m done. “I’ll send you the info for someone who can get the place wired better than Fort Knox. He’s pricey as fuck, but I’m guessing that won’t be an issue.”

“She wants to feel safe in her own home again. I don’t think you can really put a price on that.”

“True. Gotta say though, it ain’t looking good for this Daniel fucker.

From what I’m getting, your girl got hurt on his watch when he was hired by the studio.

He’s been unsuccessful in finding or catching a potential threat and sharing personal info with her mother.

And let’s not forget, it’s been radio silence from the stalker since Matilda canned his ass.

I’ll get the guys to dig into his company. What’s it called again?”

“Cox Security.”

He laughs. “Makes sense if they only employ cocks.”

I grin and shake my head.

“If it turns out to be Daniel or another member of his team and nothing else is happening, it might end up being just a sick joke. It’s been what…two months with nothing to report? At some point, you’ll need to think about coming home,” he says gently.

I tense. “It’s too soon. This could be exactly what the stalker wants, us thinking it’s all over, so I’ll leave. And then Matilda will be alone when he makes his move.”

Blake sighs but doesn’t push it. “Alright, just keep on doing what you’re doing, and don’t hesitate to tag one of us in if you need help.”

“Will do. I’ll let you get back to Callie. We’re heading out to do some filming soon anyway.”

“How’s the movie coming along?”

“Not a fucking clue. It’s all shot out of sequence, so I’m lost most days. But when you speak to Matilda, she can picture it all in her head as clear as day.”

“I know fuck-all about movie production myself. How much longer will she be filming for?”

“She’s hoping to wrap up in another four to six weeks. It’s not like one of those big-budget action flicks. This is closer to an indie movie, budget-wise. Definitely no special effects or green screens. She says most of the action will happen post-production, whatever that means.”

I hear a banging in the background before Blake curses. “Someone’s at the door. Gotta go before they wake Callie up. Keep me posted on shit.”

“Will do.”

I hang up and slide my cell phone back into my pocket. I make sure each of the cameras is running and recording before locking up and heading back to my girl.