My strides are long and steady as I cross the room. Everyone must understand I’m a man on a mission because not one person tries to stop me to speak, nor does anyone step in front of me as I move.
I search for Hawk. The man is a beast at over six and a half feet tall. He’s almost always visible above the tops of everyone else’s heads. If not, I look for the ridiculous brown man bun orthick mountainman beard. He heads toward the hallway from the right side of the room.
Good.
I won’t have to rip him a new asshole.
Outside of being my best damn friend, he’s been my number two for years. He’s the only one in my organization that I trust implicitly, and that made him my only choice to assign as my wife’s full-time bodyguard.
Hawk is less than enthused with this turn of events, but he promised to watch over her until we can do an extensive search for a team to take over Vanessa’s day-to-day security.
Chapter Eight
Vanessa
My father rips my head back at an uncomfortable angle using a handful of my hair. I glare as his burned scent hits my nose.
Oh yeah, he’ssuperpissed.
I’m not exactly pleased at being dragged into a room with him and my brothers, but I knew this was coming.
“How long have you beeninvolvedwith Emory Moretti?” He hisses the question close to my face.
The alcohol on his breath makes my nose wrinkle.
“Long enough to understand my husband isn’t going to appreciate you putting your hands on me.” My chin tilts in the air, and I struggle to pull free of his hold.
The door flings open.
A massive man with brown hair up in a bun on the back of his head strides inside. He moves around behind my father, so I’m not able to see what he does, but a second later, Moretti follows him inside.
“Take yourgoddamnhands off my wife,” Moretti growls. A shiver runs down my spine at the dominance that accompanies him into the room. “If either of the twins move, break both their necks.” The latter part must be directed at his bodyguard.
All parties held at the warehouse are weapon-free. Everyone is searched on the way into the building, and guns are returned on the trip back out the door. I bet it would be more convenient for that guy if he could just shoot them. I’ve heard that breaking a neck is actually a lot harder than the movies make it seem.
My father bares his teeth at me, digging his nails into my skull painfully. It’s only another beat before he releases his hold on my hair and shoulder. Stepping back, he pastes on a friendly smile.
It’s disturbing how quickly his demeanor changes when he knows he’s being watched. I’m pretty sure being able to flip the switch so fast makes him a psychopath.
“I was just telling my daughter how much she looks like her mother,” Julian says, lying his ass off.
“Mmm, yes. That’s exactly what it looked like you were doing,” Moretti replies sarcastically.
“Congratulations on your union,” my father says. “I won’t lie. I’m disappointed you didn’t come to me man-to-man to discuss the terms before taking things into your own hands.” He turns to face Moretti.
I’m torn between watching the giant holding my brothers at bay with just a glower and whatever is about to go down between Moretti and my father.
“Keep them there, Hawk,” Moretti says to the man.
I recognize his name from the night I was kidnapped, but I never got a look at him up close and personal. He was the guy Moretti ordered to find my things. He’s a beast, even taller than his boss.
If Moretti is six-three or six-four, the bodyguard has to be closer to six-six or six-seven. He has a wide nose, thick brown eyebrows, and a strong jaw covered by a full brown beard.
“Vanessa is my scent match,” Moretti says, keeping his voice level and calm. “I kept my distance out of respect for MalachyO’Connor and the union between your families. However, not one of you approached me in your search to find someone to take over the contract.” He holds out his arm for me, wiggling his fingers. “Come, darling.”
I blink in shock but eventually get myself together, shoving off the wall and running into his chest. I weave my arm under his open suit coat and wrap my hand around his lower back. Maybe it’s pathetic, but I’m going to play to his need to protect me as hiswife.
Moretti’s palm comes to rest on my hip and stomach, but he continues to stare at my father. “In the future, if there’s anything you feel you need to say to Vanessa, you go through me. Consider that for your own safety. If you put your hands on her again, I won’t be held responsible for what I do.” He pats my hip and nods to the door. “Go on, I’ll be right behind you.”
