I look up at Marcus, who’s watching me with a mix of hope and desperation. “I need your help, Kaden,” he says. “I need to know who’s doing this. And I need my daughter to be safe. She’s due to be married next week. I’m afraid of what will happen if the Bedfords find out about this. We’re about to undergo one of the biggest deals of my reign; I can’t afford anything to screw it up.”
“Can I ask for details on this deal? Of the people involved? Maybe the timing isn’t coincidental.”
“The Bedfords are an upstanding family. I doubt they’d be behind any of this nonsense. They wouldn’t have anything to gain.” His dismissal of my inquiry bugs me, but I let it slide for now. I’ll check it out on my own.
Marcus mutters, looking angrily disappointed, “I had hoped this issue would have been resolved by now. I have lots of enemies - wealthy, influential ones. It could be anyone, but I’ve started to think what if the problem is closer to home.”
I nod, seeing a man with no other option sitting before me, and determination settles over me. “I’ll help you. I’ll find out who’s behind this—and I won’t let anything happen to her.”
After finishing up our chat, I agree to help, and Marcus walks me to the family room so that I can meet with Ashleigh. All the while explaining that he’s meeting with a contractor to make repairs to the south roof. I have no idea what he’s on about.
My eyes are elsewhere, more specifically, across the room. Ashleigh Burke is even more beautiful in person and a fuck ton more captivating than some issue with a roof.
Her beauty is impossible to ignore, even as she stands beside a stern-looking woman. Ashleigh doesn’t look happy—her expression guarded, her lips pressed into a thin line. Even so, she’s gorgeous enough to make my heart stutter. For a fleeting moment, I imagine what it must be like to move through life with that kind of effortless grace, that overwhelming presence.
Then my fantasy sours. Being wealthy and stunning? There’s got to be a downside. She’s probably a spoiled brat—privileged, entitled, the type who’s never had to work for anything. I shove the thought aside and remind myself why I’m here: to investigate, to stay objective, and to protect her.
I check my watch before continuing to follow Marcus.
“I’ll leave you here. Ashleigh will be notified that you’re waiting to speak with her. Shouldn't be long, but I have to get to my other meeting. We’ll speak later.” Marcus has asked me topersonally guard her when I’m available, and I took that as an opportunity to talk to her privately.
This whole ordeal could very well be the work of an ex-boyfriend going to extreme lengths to get her attention. Marcus may have no idea what we’re dealing with, but maybe Ashleigh does.
My eyes scan the living room before taking a seat at a nearby table, waiting for Ashleigh to grace me with her presence. I take the free moment to catch myself up and get ahead of this situation. I scan through the list of suspects Marcus wrote up for me. Honestly, it’s a long list.
“Yeah?” I swipe my phone to answer the incoming call from Lee.
“Background checks are all clear of any ties to any of the other families. It should all be the same as what Marcus has in his files.”
“What about financial records?” I fire back.
“There’s a low-level guard with a second mortgage on his townhouse. No other bank loans higher than $10K. But Marcus’s right-hand man, Felix, has a brother-in-law who’s in some hot water. He’s got a substantial gambling debt with a loan shark in Atlantic City. He skipped town a year ago, but he’s still on their radar.”
Hmm. Interesting, but after a year… “Must be quite some debt.”
“Aside from that, nothing else popped as suspicious. I’ll keep looking and shout if anything else comes up.” It’s unlikely that he’ll find much else online. People who don’t want their affairs made public keep their shit under tight wraps, and in the non-digital world.
“Thanks, Lee. Have you checked into Owen Bedford and the Bedford family?” While they weren’t on Marcus’s list, I still think it's wise to check into anyone so eager to marry into the family.
It’s an arranged marriage. If they have any worries that Ashleigh won't go through with it, maybe this is their way of scaring her into it.
It’s a possibility, anyway. There’s plenty of those floating around in these early stages.
“Not yet. I’ll get on it, but it might take me some time. Cass is on my ass to finish typing up my case reports.”
We hang up as a maid enters the living room, carrying a tray with a delicate porcelain teapot and two cups, rattling softly on their saucers. Her uniform is perfectly pressed, her hair pulled back in a neat bun, and she moves with practised grace. She asks if I need anything before leaving the room, but I decline, watching as the door closes behind her with a quiet click. The aroma of black tea and lemon lingers in the air, comforting and oddly out-of-place amid the tension in the house.
Impatience gnaws at me. I’m about ready to leave and go find the princess myself when the door finally opens. Ashleigh walks in, chin high, long dark hair swaying over her shoulders.
“My father sent for me,”again.I think I hear her whisper.
“My name is Kaden Mills, I’m with Heartline Security. I’m here to investigate your threats.”
“Hmm. Good luck with that.”
5
Ashleigh
