“Where you are, on the road, you are protected by the law,” I say coldly, “but if you set foot on this property or anywhere near it, alarms go off. Then, anything goes. And I mean anything.”
The hood laughs loudly, and enough is enough. Using my hand, I pull Samantha just behind me.
The biggest ex-SEAL steps next to me, and he is now at my hip. Samantha is safely behind us.
We have him.
“Look, pal, I only have one job in the world now, and it’s this,” I say. “Protecting my family. That is my only priority. The same as you do, no doubt, with yours. Samantha is now mine. She knows it, and I know it. In fact, soon the world will know it. It will be that way forever. End of story.”
I stand strong and try to remain calm.
“Now. Please. Go find another.”
I know Samantha’s eyes will be on me now, and I know she will be surprised. I don’t care.
She is mine, and mine to protect.
The ex-SEAL next to me, and I, start to backstep. The other two ex-SEALs return to our sides, and like a Roman column, they protect our front.
If he has a gun, he will get cut down, and fast.
The ex-SEALs form a protective wall, their hands resting on their hips, and inside their jackets. Inches from their perfectly prepared weapons.
I yank Samantha towards the Land Rover and command her sternly, “Get in the car.”
“What?”
“Get in!”
I open her door, and she gets slowly in. Outside, the hood gets into his black fastback. After starting the rugged old V8, he does a one-eighty.
He then blasts off, leaves flying. I stand next to the ex-SEALs, my inner radar turned to full. “Nice work. Please double the shifts for a week and bring in three more to assist you. Then hire the usual investigation unit and ask them to track his car for three months.
“Consider it done.”
Climbing into the Land Rover, I exhale.
“All okay?” Sam asks, nervous.
“It is now.”
As we drive through the trees, around the lake, and towards the chateau, I start to calm. That is when Sam looks over. “The forever bit.”
I say nothing.
“Do you mean it?”
I stop in front of the chateau and say nothing. I open her door and walk her to the chateau’s large door. Pausing, I hold it open for her. “Samantha, you were mine the first time I saw you. And you’ve been mine ever since.”
Sam gives me a strange look, but I don’t care. I will never love another, and this is it.
“You are mine, Samantha. And you will be mine forever.”
Sam steps into my chateau, and I close the door. I know what I need in my life, andshe is it. She is mine!
After hot showersand coffees to cleanse the energy, we pack to drive to NYC. We then debate whether to take the safe strong newer Bentley or the old racing green convertible Jaguar.
Samantha wins the debate, and the Jag it is.
