Because the ivory lingerie I bought Victoria in Sublime Secrets is carefully positioned on our bed, complete with the stockings and a pair of silver stilettos. And I’m damn sure neither of us put it there.
Her eyes widen in a horror that matches my own.
Because this should never have happened.
And if I wasn’t fucking my ward, it wouldn’t have.
23
VICTORIA
My shaky fingers cling to the back of Archie’s jacket.
It’s bad enough someone was in my house but messing with my underwear propels this sickening scenario to a new level of appalling. My gallbladder’s going to have to work overtime to break down the bile my body’s rapidly producing.
Archie crosses the room, examining the lingerie without touching it. He whips out his phone, punching in three digits before holding it to his blood-red ear. Glinting topaz eyes remain focused on the bed.
‘Police, please,’ he barks at the operator. His jaw’s set so tightly it might snap.
I watch on in shock while he explains the situation, his role, and who I am.
Within minutes, two plain-clothed police officers arrive with a forensics team and another uniformed female officer. She’s not much older than me, but clearly experienced in this type of thing. While Archie remains upstairs talking to the detectives, she makes me a mug of sweet tea in the kitchen.
My whole body trembles.
Someone was in my house.
Someone was touching my things.
It’s taken years, but finally I can appreciate my family’s insistence on me having a bodyguard. They can never know about this, though. Sasha would insist on my immediate extraction by helicopter and lock me up in Huxley Castle forever if she got even a whiff of it.
I’m so close to graduation. I’ve worked so damned hard for six years. I wasn’t joking when I told Archie I always finish what I start. Nothing in this world will stop me from graduating with the rest of my class.
With only one more week of placement, and a few more weeks of lectures to go, my final exams are approaching. I can’t afford to miss a day.
Two hours later, everyone has gone. The house is silent once again. Archie begged me to check into a hotel, but I won’t be chased out of my home by a filthy prowler. Plus, the thought of being papped again is too much.
The police have left two uniformed officers outside the house, plus the security alarms have now been set.
I’m not annoyed with Archie. Before he arrived, Jared and I never bothered setting the alarm. In some ways, it was a cheap lesson. Things could have been a lot worse.
Archie’s changed into those low hanging grey sweats that I love and a plain white t-shirt. His stony expression chills me to the bone as he paces the house like a stealthy cheetah.
I pat the couch next to me. ‘Sit, please.’
‘I can’t.’ He stalks across the kitchen and back to the living area, checking each window is locked for the hundredth time. ‘I fucked up tonight. Big time.’
‘It happens,’ I shrug.
‘It shouldn’t have, though. And it wouldn’t have if I was doing my job properly.’ Regret taints his tone. Thick fingers rake through his dirty blond hair.
‘You did your job perfectly. I’m fine. Shaken, but fine. And at least there’s the camera footage.’ When Archie insisted on installing thirteen security cameras, it seemed excessive. Tonight, I’m grateful for them.
‘It was dark. The intruder wore dark clothing and a baseball cap and never looked up once.’ Archie’s frustration rolls from him in palpable waves.
I gravitate towards him, halting him mid-pace. My arms slip around his waist, and he flinches, looking everywhere but at me. So we’re back to this again.
‘The police will get him.’ Am I reassuring Archie, or myself? ‘Come on. Let’s go to bed. It’s been a long night.’ My fingers interlink with his, tugging him towards the staircase.
