“Freya,you want anything before I leave?” Carter’s voice came through the door.
“No,” I called back, my eyes not moving from the ceiling, hoping he’d just leave me alone.
I’d allow myself another hour of questioning the life I’d led and the terrible choices I’d made. Then I’d dust myself off and get on with it. I always knew my past would catch up to me one day. I’d been ignorant when I should have known better.
Thinking I’d be able to cut ties to someone as powerful as Constantine Olysses just by telling him I’d had enough was foolish.
“You haven’t eaten since lunch. You want me to make you something?”
It was a nice thought, but I wasn’t hungry. I was too angry to eat. And I didn’t want to face Carter and Gunner.
“I mean this in the nicest possible way when I say leave me alone,” I said.
“Okay, fine. If you get hungry, there’s leftovers in the fridge. I have to get going, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I didn’t respond, hoping I’d have found a way out of this fortress before he came back. He was a nice guy, and this wasn’t anything personal. I once thought of him as a friend. Well, as much as your security detail could be.
When my bladder wouldn’t let me hide out in the room any longer, I tiptoed to the bathroom, hoping Gunner would stay in his Batcave and let me do my business in peace.
I thought I’d be able to sneak back to my room unnoticed, but his voice stopped me two steps away from my door.So close.
“You still angry?” he asked.
He still had a lot to learn if he thought that would get a positive response.
“I think I have a good reason to be angry,” I ground out, turning to face him, locking eyes with a slightly disheveled-looking Gunner. His hair was standing up in all directions, and his shirt wasn’t tucked in all the way.
Even that look suited him well.
Damn him for being so freakishly attractive.
“He only wanted to keep you safe.”
I ground my teeth together before answering. I knew he was talking about my dad, forever defending his actions. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Whatever you think you know about him is most likely wrong. And good to see you’re still acting like his good little lapdog.”
Other than a flare of his eyes, he showed no reaction to my comment. “I’ve been in this business long enough to know if someone is genuine or not. And your dad cares about you. Everything he does, he does to protect you. Don’t you think it’s time you stop acting like a spoiled brat and maybe say thank you for all he’s done for you for once in your life?”
The tight hold I had over my anger snapped. “How dare you. You know nothing about me or my life. You think because you lived in the same house as me for a few months five years ago that you have me all figured out?”
He stalked closer, his eyes blazing fire. “I know enough. And it’s time for you to grow up and stop blaming everyone else whenever something goes wrong.”
I stared at him, opening my mouth to respond, my anger gone, replaced by resignation. There might have been some truth to his statement five years ago. But I was not the same person I was back then.
But screw him for not even giving me a chance. This was my life he was picking apart. It was the only one I had, and I would do anything to protect who I had become.
I didn’t get a chance to respond because the world around us exploded. Bits of plaster hit me in the face and side, and I dove to the floor. Gunner was on top of me a second later, covering my body with his.
“Stay down,” he called over the noise of gunfire.
Great, this was just like being back home.
“Please tell me you stashed more guys somewhere,” I said, not wanting to find out how long it would take for the Irish to put a bullet in my body.
The attack told me they were done playing nice.
“It’s just me. Because this location is safe. Only Carter and Blake knew we were here.”
Well, that fucking sucked. He had a mole.
