I should have known that eventually I’d have to face Clara. As soon as the file landed on my desk declaring Charlotte Rutherford Montgomery as my new charge, I knew my world was about to take a turn for the interesting.
I’ve known who she is from day one. Give me some credit. I’m a SEAL. There isn’t much that gets past me.
I’d been leaving it up to the little princess to bring up our history. Not that it really had much to do with her, but more her sister, really. Her sister and her prick of a father.
The last time I saw Charlotte she was just a lanky little girl, but I will never forget her eyes as they watched me leave their home for the last time. I could tell she didn’t share the same beliefs as her father, and I’ve never blamed her for what that family put me through.
The little squirt always had more common sense and ethics than her sister possessed in one of her well-manicured fingers. Did I love Clarabelle? No. Was she hot as fuck? Yes.
But can you really blame me? I was nineteen and thinking with my cock. Any boy my age would’ve been in full lust with Clara.
The double doors open to the French Chateau and the white-haired Sandra stands there, her rosy cheeks a welcoming sight in this otherwise frigid environment. Aside from Sandra and Charlotte, everyone else acts as if they lack a pulse. And that’s saying something coming from me, the honorary king of stoicism.
“It’s about ti—” Clara’s words get cut off as she sees exactly who’s entering the sitting area.
“Hello, sister. To what do I owe the pleasure.” Charlotte, ever the picture of manners, doesn’t acknowledge Clara’s rude greetings.
Clara, on the other hand, is gawking. Completely bypassing her sister, she beelines it to me.
“Aiden? God, it’s been ages. What brings you here? Were you looking for me?”
Of course she’d think I was here for her. I swallow a groan, not wanting to disrespect Charlotte’s sister.
“No, he’s not here for you.” Charlotte’s eyes are ablaze—there’s the little spitfire. “He’s here for me.”
Okay, not exactly how I would’ve worded it, but it’s the truth.
“Excuse me? Last time I checked, you were the senator’s wife. Is there something you’d like to tell me, sister?” Clara scoffs before returning her gaze to me, her eyes unabashedly roving over my body. No shame.
Looking toward Charlotte, I see that she’s flustered. Not wanting to leave her hanging, I finally speak up.
“I’m the head of her protective detail. The senator hired us. We’re here to ensure your sister’s safety.” My face remains impassive, although I’d like to tell Clara right where she can shove her righteous attitude. She doesn’t have a leg to stand on with how she left things between us, and if she pushes the issue, I’ll have to set her straight.
“Oh, that’s right. I heard you were the owner of a nationwide security firm. Bravo Aiden.” She purses her lips as she continues her perusal, not doing a damn thing to hide what’s going through her mind.
“I’m one of five owners.”
“Did you come here for something, Clara?” Charlotte is visibly annoyed as she stands in front of me, partially obscuring her sister’s view.
I have to chuckle a little. It’s adorable how she wants to protect me from Clara’s blatant eye fucking.
I guess the chuckle was louder than I thought because she turns around, her big doe eyes glaring.
“Right, I came over to see if you wanted to accompany me to mother’s charity luncheon. You always manage to get out of it because of your other engagements. We all know how important your life is as the senator’s wife. But if you could grace us with your presence, mom would actually get off my back for once.” Clara rolls her eyes as she speaks that last sentence and it takes everything in me not to speak out on behalf of Charlotte.
Who the fuck does she think she is, coming into her sister’s home and belittling her time like this.
“I’m sorry. I won’t be able to make it. I have a prior engagement with the Governor’s wife. Maybe next time.”
“You’ve always been a selfish little brat. I should—”
“Enough!” All eyes turn toward me. Good. “I’ll kindly ask that you reconsider the way you speak to Mrs. Rutherford. We will not tolerate any condescension or abusive behavior toward her. If you have a problem with that, you know where the door is.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Titus shaking his head. I know. This is definitely breaking protocol. We normally don’t interfere with conversations between family members unless they’re about to get physical, and we definitely don’t talk to a client’s family member so informally. But given our history, I figure this merited an exception.
There’s no way I would let anyone abuse Charlotte, in any way, shape, or form. She’s a light in this dark world—lighting up everything she touches—and I will do everything in my power to keep her that way. Unharmed and untainted.
“I see.” Clara’s blood-red lips form into a sneer. “Charlotte, I’ll be in touch.”
Clara whips her hair back and forth as she exits, leaving the air around us lighter and less suffocating with her departure.
“I’m sorry about that.” Charlotte’s gaze falls to the ground, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
Taking her chin between my thumb and forefinger, I lift her face to mine. “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Charlotte.” Our eyes linger longer than appropriate, and it isn’t until Titus clears his throat that I’m dropping my hand.
I need to remember to thank him later because just as I do, Senator Rutherford walks in. His eyes land on Charlotte and then me, no doubt noticing our proximity. Narrowing his gaze, he approaches his wife, extending his hand and grabbing a hold of Charlotte’s arm. His fingers dig into her soft flesh and I know it will leave a bruise.
My jaw clenches and I’m about to step forward when I feel Titus’ hand on my shoulder.
“Aiden, I presume. Michaela gave me your files and they contain all of your information.” Preston Rutherford extends his free hand in greeting and I begrudgingly accept. After all, he’s the one that hired our firm. If I want to keep Charlotte safe, I’ll have to play nice with this asshole.
He’s the type of pompous prick I’d have expected Clara to end up with, not Charlotte.
“At your service.” I give him a tight smile, forcing myself to show some semblance of emotion.
“That’s right. At my service. Don’t forget that.” The smug bastard looks toward Charlotte while tightening his already bruising hold.
I’m about to open my mouth to say something when Charlotte shakes her head ever so slightly, her eyes pleading with me not to intervene. Fuck. I feel so powerless. Something I never allow myself to be.
“If you’ll give us a moment of privacy. I need to speak to my wife.”
“Of course, Senator.” I nod, reluctantly turning around and walking out but not making it farther than the hallway directly outside of the sitting area. After the prick’s display of ‘power,’ you couldn’t pay me to stay away. I’ve seen that look in a man’s eyes before, and it never leads to anything good.
Charlotte
“What the fuck was that about, Charlotte?” His voice is low so as not to alert the men in the other room, but loud enough to let me know he won’t back down.
“Nothing. Clara was here and she got a little confrontational. Mr. Moretti was just checking to see if I was okay. She brushed by me and I stumbled. That was all.” I place a hand on his chest in an attempt to comfort him and feel his breathing slow. Meanwhile, my insides are banging around as I Internalize the disgust at having to touch him.
He’s gone during the week for work, and I’m thankful that any physical contact with him is relegated to the weekends.
“Hmm. We can put her on the banned list.” My heart begins to soften toward him at the thought that he’s actually being protective over me, but then the real motive spills out and I see him for what he truly is. Selfish. “We don’t want her drawing negative attention toward the family name. We have a reputation to uphold and drama has no place here.”
God, if the world really knew what went on inside these four walls. Maybe then I’d be free.
“That won’t be necessary. Mr. Moretti made it pretty clear that that type of behavior will not be tolerated.”
“At least he’s good for something. I swear, Charlotte. I better not catch him touching you, because if I do—”
I wrap my arms around him, catching him off guard and effectively stopping his train of thought. I need to shake him off of Aiden’s trail. I love having him here; it brings me comfort in an otherwise hellish world, and if keeping him around means having to placate Preston, then so be it.
“Darling, how was your day? I’m sure it was extremely busy. Everyone wants Senator Rutherford’s time.” I bat my lashes, hoping he’s buying into this charade. Who am I kidding? He loves talking about himself. Of course he’s going to take the bait.
Smiling, he squeezes my hips before lifting a hand to brush a loose strand of hair behind my ear and it takes everything in me to not shudder in revulsion.
“Yes, my little doll. They do.” He releases me and walks toward the bar area tucked into the far corner, pouring himself a glass of brandy. “But lucky for you, you get to have me at the end of every day.”
Well, aren’t I a lucky girl.
