Page 10 of Battle Scars

“He’s right,” my dad inserts. “But it’s okay. Gabe is going to keep you safe.”

“Correction,” Gabe says. “Gabe’s men are going to keep you safe. Gabe has a company to run.”

“No,” Dad replies quickly. He sounds scared, and I don’t like it. “I need the best. I need you.”

“My company is the best,” he says. “Eli will keep her safe. He’ll report to me directly.”

“No,” Dad repeats. “You don’t understand. Adrienne is my whole world.”

Something I can’t describe washes across the man’s face, and dread coils deep in my belly. It’s there one minute, but gone the next. Whatever it is, it hurts just to look at. I can’t imagine what the man has felt himself.

“Dad,” I say softly. He’s breaking my heart. “It’ll be okay.”

“It will be because we’ll have the best to watch over you,” he states firmly, his gaze never wavering from Gabe as they stay locked in a dangerous challenge.

“I don’t do the bodyguard gig anymore,” he says firmly.

“I’ll double your fee,” Dad offers, but Gabe just shakes his head. Dad knows how to win, he won’t give up so easily. “I’ll triple it.”

“Fine,” he agrees reluctantly before shaking Dad’s hand. “Everything will be fine as long as you do exactly what I say.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here,” I say, holding up my hands, palms out. “I like to do my own thing.”

“Not anymore,” he says firmly.

“Uh, yes, I do.” No man is going to change that. Ever. Especially one as hot as Gabe. Jesus they’re all hot. I’m not sure where to look.

“Not if you want to stay alive,” he adds.

I grit my teeth, because this guy is not going to come in here and tell me how to live my life.

“Addie,” Dad says quietly. “He’s going to keep you safe. Let him do his job.”

I want to hold onto my anger and frustration that this man. He thinks he’s going to parachute into my world and lay waste to all my carefully laid plans when I need everything to go as smoothly as it can right now. But there’s something about the way my dad is asking that I can’t say no to.

“Dad, everything is hanging on next week’s race,” I beg. “I can’t be thrown off my game now.”

“And you won’t be,” he says quickly—too quickly.

On one hand, I feel like I’m only getting bits and pieces of the truth right now. But on the other hand, I have so much on my plate I can’t take on anything else.

I have to take what they’re willing to give me at face value… for now. This is serious. I let out a heavy sigh. “Okay.”

“Thank you, darlin’.”

“Can I get back to the track now?” I ask.

“Yes,” Dad agrees at the same time Gabe denies.

“No.”

I glare at him, feeling like he’s telling me no just to be argumentative. However long this lasts, it’s going to be a test of wills between me and Gabe. He’s probably used to women saying “Yes, sir” and rolling over like good little puppies to do his bidding. Well, he’s going to be surprised if he thinks I’m just another lap dog.

“What now?” I ask. I want to stomp my feet like a baby. I want to scream and shout, but being a brat won’t earn me a company to run and a legacy to lead. I need to be a boss.

“I’ll escort you down while Manny and your dad iron out the contract,” he tells me.

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” I reply hesitantly. “Surely, I’m safe here with all the security these companies have on site. The cars are worth way more than me.”