“You little bitch. You’ll pay for that…” His eyes narrow as he closes the gap.
“Touch her and die, you asshole.” Duncan’s voice rings out across the kitchen. He’s holding the gun the man left on the table, pointing it at his chest as he walks around the dining table.
“What the–” The man’s eyes are wide.
“Back the fuck up, Tate. I told you to get away from her.” Duncan’s voice is icy cold.
The man wheels around and tries to make a break for the door, but Duncan catches the back of his coat, pulls him back and cracks him across the head with the butt of the gun. He crashes to the floor, his eyes rolling back in his head.
I sag against the counter, my breathing ragged. “How did you get in here?”
“I climbed up the drainpipe and through the window. Good thing I put all those hours in with my personal trainer at the climbing wall in Bakersville.”
“Why was he talking about my neighbor?” I ask as Duncan drags the man’s body towards the center of the living room. The man groans but his body is still.
“That’s Salvo, your bodyguard. I employed him to look out for you. He’s been shot and tied up downstairs, but he should recover. Bryan is on the way here to take him to hospital and alert the police.”
“Why did you employ a bodyguard?” I walk around to follow him.
“Because when I did a deep dive into your life, I found out all about this asshole. Louis Tate is a crook with a big ego and a history of violence against women. It was clear that money was your father’s only priority. So I had to protect you. When I called Salvo and got no reply, I checked his apartment. He managed to point upstairs and that’s when I knew something was wrong.”
“I’m glad you did. Shit. I had no idea things would get this bad. Or that my Dad would do some deal that endangered my life. One that I never agreed to in the first place!”
The man on the floor groans again and tries to sit up.
Duncan crouches over him. “Before the police get here, I want to make one thing clear. My last name is Marchetti. Do you recognize that name?”
The man nods slowly.
“Good. My cousin is Zeus Marchetti and he won’t take kindly to knowing you’ve endangered my fiancée. You’d be wise to never come back to Snowflake Falls and to move far away from Margot’s father and her friends. I’ll be checking to see what you do. Do you understand?”
The man nods again and then lowers his head back onto the floor.
I sit down heavily on one of the chairs and my cell beeps with a text. It’s my best friend.
Serenity: Have you told him yet?!?
ChapterEight
DUNCAN
It’s been a long day and I’m concerned for Margot. Not only has she not been able to sleep, she’s had to deal with the cops all over her apartment asking us both questions for the last hour.
Once it’s done and they’ve left, I wrap my arms around her. “Can I get you something?”
“I want to come to your place. I have something to tell you, but I don’t want to do it here.”
“Of course.” I grab her coat and she throws some things into a bag. The rain is starting again as I drive us home.
“I want you to move in with me and Otto. You’re safe with me from now on.” I look over at her once we’re inside the house. Bryan dropped Otto at home and he’s leaning against Margot’s legs. It’s as if this scared dog knows that she needs comforting and he’s doing everything he can to make sure she feels better.
Margot smiles. “Are you sure you can keep up with my dramatic life?”
“I’m sure. Didn’t you hear what I said earlier?”
“Which part?” She raises her eyebrow and it’s so cute I want to grab her.
“The fiancée part.”
