No One's Hero (Chadwell Hearts) (3 page)

“Arion hired Kevin to accompany you to college. He’ll be your bodyguard until the trial is over.”

I barely notice her use of her nickname for Axel, I’m that flabbergasted. It takes me a moment to find my voice. “You want me to take a
babysitter
to college? No way. Not happening.”

A few steps away, Kevin nods sharply at Axel. “Done. But you owe me for this, and you know I’ll cash in.”

Axel grimaces, the boys shake on it, and then they both turn to me. Victory shines in Axel’s eyes, but it pales in comparison to the determination filling Kevin’s. I don’t know what Axel said to change his mind, but whatever it was, he’s now fully on board.

“No,” I say, though no one seems to be listening. They’re all talking about me, but I might as well not even be here.

Axel jerks his head toward Angel. “Did you give her the card?”

Angel presses something papery into my hand. Moving on autopilot, I open it without looking down, keeping my eyes on Axel. “Read it, Alexis,” he prods.

“Lexi,” I correct automatically as I lower my eyes to scan the paper. “What is this?” I blink, seeing something about ‘the world’s leader in mental illness treatment and research.’

“I talked it over with your father last week, before I hired Kevin, because I figured your family would share our concerns,” Axel says.

My father knew about this and didn’t say anything? I’d forgotten Dad mentioning talking to Axel, but I remember it now, and the memory comes with a sharp sting of betrayal. I thought today was the first time they’d talked in ages. Obviously, I was wrong. I look away from the sympathy in Axel’s expression, back to the paper.

Axel continues, “He told me about your mother. I wish you’d said something sooner; with my family’s connections—”

“We don’t need your help, or a handout.” This is exactly what I didn’t want, exactly why I’ve kept the two sides of my life separate for so long.

“Like it or not, want it or not, you’re getting it. Arrangements have already been confirmed, and your mother is going to be entering a cutting-edge clinical trial starting next week that could very well help her with her grief. Don’t you want that? Imagine, you could have a normal relationship with your mom. Your
dad
could have a normal relationship with your mom.”

I can’t even process what he’s saying. He’s offering a pipe dream, an impossibility. I gave up all hopes of a normal family years ago. “So you bought my father’s support by giving him false hope?”

“No. I bought your father hope, and I’m confident you’ll decide to give him peace of mind. Your mother is in the program whether you agree to take Kevin with you or not.  No strings. But your dad will feel a lot better about traveling to New York to be with her during treatment if he knows you’re safe, and if he doesn’t have to worry about how to pay the bills while he takes family leave from the factory.”

“I don’t understand.”

Axel sighs. “I’m not paying him off, I’m paying you off. If that’s the way you want to look at it, anyway.”

“What other way is there to look at it?”

“Personally, I look at it as a business investment. Anything I can do to ensure your well-being, and to make college as affordable as possible for you, is only going to benefit me later, when you return to work for Chadwell Farm after graduation.”

“But—”

Axel doesn’t let me finish. “I know you haven’t decided what you’re doing after college, and that’s four years away. I’m not asking for a commitment. But I think if we can turn things around with your mom, you’re going to be more eager to come back, and we’d of course be delighted to have you. I’ve got big plans for the farm, and you’re very much a part of them.”

“So let me get this straight. I agree to your cockamamie plan, and in return, you provide financial support for my parents while I’m in school?”

“Correct. For as long as you agree to let Kevin be your bodyguard, and you remain in school, I will provide complete financial support for both your father and mother. In return for you letting me ease Angel’s fears, I’ll ease yours. Everyone’s happy. Everyone wins.”

If Kevin’s expression is any indication, Axel’s wrong. Kevin and I definitely aren’t happy. And I don’t know why he agreed, but I know why I’m going to. Axel hit on one of my biggest worries—leaving my father alone to deal with Mom while I attend school—and I can’t pass up the chance to make sure he’ll be okay. I’d been trying to figure out how I could manage to work full time to send money home and still keep up with a full course load. Now, I won’t have to.

“Fine,” I say, feeling a bit like a high-dollar whore. Do good intentions make it okay to let my acquiescence be bought? I hope so.

“Yay!” Chelsea claps. “Time for cake.” The cake is perfectly moist and just the right level of sweetness, but it still sticks like charcoal going down my throat as nerves curdle in my stomach. The gift-opening passes by in a blur. The best is a generous gift card to Target from Angel so I can decorate my dorm however I like, but Chelsea gives me a digital camera, with a note about always remembering to take the time to make memories and to enjoy my college experience. It’s a surprisingly deep gift from her, and I suspect Angel might be on to something with the whole smart thing.

Axel’s gift—an e-reader—is sweet, although I’m not sure when he expects me to have time to read anything other than homework assignments. Whatever extra time I find is going to be spent living up my freedom. While I enjoy a good book, I’ve had too many years under my sister’s shadow. College is my chance to live, and I expect to take full advantage of it. I’m closing up the box when I notice a gift card wedged inside.

Axel smiles. “I figure you can buy digital versions of your textbooks, and then make it read aloud to you while you ride. It’s got Bluetooth.” Maybe he put more thought into it than I gave him credit for.

“Thanks,” I say sincerely. “You guys didn’t have to do all of this.”

“We know,” Angel says. “But we wanted to.”

“Oh!” Axel pulls a velvet jewelry box from his pocket. “I almost forgot your other gift.”

He hands it over, and I slowly lift the lid. A beautiful charm bracelet with glass beads and several silver charms rests on the silk lining.

“It’s gorgeous,” I whisper, emotion thick in my throat.

“We each picked out a charm for you.” Angel beams as she helps me fasten it around my wrist.

Kevin has waited silently while the party wrapped up around him, and now he stands and stretches. “We should get on the road; it’s going to be a long drive.” Without looking at me or even waiting for a response, he heads for the door.

“Is he always so gruff?”

Chelsea laughs, then gives me a wink. “Nope, usually he’s worse.”

Worse? Kill me now.

Angel smiles. “Be patient with him. He’s had a hard time, too.” She leans close enough to whisper. “And he’s not bad to look at either, is he?”

No. Definitely not. But still. I can’t imagine Kevin, with his perfect muscles, perfect tan, and perfect jawline ever having a hard time with anything. He looks like someone used to getting his way, and he has a very strong presence—like it would be impossible for anyone to not notice him. His demeanor demands attention just as much as it demands annoyance, and under different circumstances I’d be looking forward to having him around.

As it is, I’m wary, but intrigued.

—-♥—-

L
exi

Ten minutes later I’ve abandoned intrigued, settling for just annoyed.

“Get in the truck.” Kevin jerks an impatient thumb toward the shiny black SUV I pondered earlier. Early afternoon sun is glinting off the polished wheels.

“Um, no. That’s my car there. I guess you can follow, if you want?” In truth, I’m not exactly sure what a bodyguard entails, and I don’t know how this is supposed to work, but one thing’s for sure, it isn’t going to work at all if he keeps barking orders at me.

He quirks one eyebrow, studying my dented sedan. It’s sort of hard to tell where the red paint ends and the rust begins, because the colors have mingled, becoming a palate of dingy brown. And that’s not counting the permanent layer of mud and dust. I’m sure it’s seen better days, but they were all before I had it. Still, it’s mine and I love it.

“My apologies. I mistook that as the latest entry in the Death Trap Exhibit, here at the museum of Blasts From The Past. I’m supposed to keep you safe, and the only people safe while that bucket of rust is still kicking are those not anywhere near a road.”

I tilt my head to the side. “What language are you speaking? I’m thinking that was supposed to be sarcasm, but it sort of missed the mark.” By a mile.

Something shines in his eyes, but I can’t place it. Amusement, perhaps. “Are you always this much of a brat, or does sarcasm offend you?”

I shake my head, prying open the handle of my car. It sticks for a moment and inwardly I wince, hoping he doesn’t notice. “Nope. Only when I’m breathing.”

“Is it me you don’t like, or this situation?” He sounds confused, like he can’t fathom how someone could not like him. Or maybe it’s that he doesn’t care either way and he’s just filing the info away for later. After all, I’m just a job. Why should he give a damn what I think of him? My anger is increasing by the moment.

“I don’t like being ordered around.” My keys dangle from the ignition where I left them, and rather than turn to face him, I stare at them as if the silver horse dangling from the fob is the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen. A note of vulnerability creeps into my voice, and if I hear it, he probably does too.

“Then we’re going to have issues, because when it comes to doing my job, I don’t make requests; I make decisions. You will do as I say, and we’ll get you to college safely and keep you that way. If you don’t like it, take it up with Axel.”

Oh, I fully intend to. But right now, I’m late. “Look. I don’t really care how you get to Chancellorsville, or if you get there at all. But I’m going in my car, and I’m leaving in thirty seconds.” I throw back my shoulders and whirl to face him. I’m already positive he won’t give in. He’s not that kind of guy. Which is sexy, in an infuriating, we-would-never-work sort of way.

He wastes at least twenty of the aforementioned seconds staring at me. Silence hangs between us as the moments tick past, each of us waiting for the other to call chicken. When it’s clear that he isn’t going to get in the car, my shoulders slump and I heave out a sigh. Victory lifts the corner of his lips before it’s quickly replaced by surprise.

As soon as I’ve slid into my sagging seat and jerked the door closed, I flip the lock switch, praying they’ll work this time. By the time I’ve turned the key in the ignition and the engine sputters to life with minimal protest, Kevin is pounding on my window.  I have no idea what’s come over me. My foot lands heavily on the accelerator and the rear tires kick up an impressive shower of gravel as I lurch down the lane.

My elation is short-lived as the black SUV fills my rear-view mirror, gaining at impossible speed. My knuckles go white as I grip the wheel. I’m going way faster than I ever have on the gravel lane, and it isn’t exhilarating like the bend I take too fast, it’s scary. The car is protesting, threating to slide out of control at any moment, but quitting is not an option. I know—I don’t know how, but I just do—that right now, Kevin and I are defining the way things are going to be between us. If I give in and let him control me now, any hope of freedom at college will be down the proverbial drain. I’m completely aware of how stupid I’m being, but I just can’t give up. I’ve needed this for too long.

My shoulders are trying to rattle from their sockets, but I manage to keep the wheel steady. My palms are getting sweaty on the slick leather; just one more reminder of just how out of control this situation has gotten. In my desperate attempt to keep control, I’ve brought myself to the edge of losing it.

Two mares gallop in the pasture to the left of the lane, flicking their tails and tossing their head as I screech by. My heart plummets when my eyes stray to the rear-view mirror. Instead of remaining behind me, Kevin weaves over, gliding over the grass. The road is in sight up ahead when the SUV’s nose inches up beside me, then just ahead. I risk a glance over out my window. Kevin has the window down, and he’s yelling at me to pull over. Stubbornly, I shake my head. When I glance at him again, his jaw is clenched hard, his mouth pressed into a thin, angry line. Choked coughs and growls are coming from under my car’s hood, while beside us, the SUV is barely even making a purr.

The road is mere moments away, and I’m contemplating how I can make the turn. I’ll have to slow—there’s just no way I can take it at this speed—but if I do, Kevin will catch me for sure. I glance over again and see realization fill his eyes. When I realize that he actually looks more worried than angry I falter, then steel my spine.

I can do this. Pressing back into the seat, I prepare to jerk the wheel.

My heart is in my throat as I put more weight on my accelerator.

Beside me, I’m not sure if the SUV screams in protest—or it is Kevin I hear cursing? The black truck jumps ahead, gaining with every heartbeat. He’s even with me, then he’s half a car length ahead, and then I’m staring at his tail lights for a brief moment before he spins sideways, blocking the road.

Shit! The lane is too narrow, he’s only left me two choices—hit him, or go through the pasture fence—and I’m rapidly running out of time to decide.

At the last moment, I remember the third option and I punch the breaks. My car bucks beneath me; I jerk the wheel to the side and scrunch my eyes closed as I skid sideways toward the SUV’s passenger door amid a rain of gravel and prayers.

I’m still pressing the brake to the floor when the car comes to a shuddery stop, inches away from the now dust-covered black SUV. My trembling arms are Jell-O, and adrenaline roars in my ears.

I’ve barely had time to wonder what the hell I was thinking when my door is jerked open—I guess those locks didn’t work after all—and I’m being yanked from the car amid a tangle of seatbelt straps and strong arms. Kevin crushes me to his chest as my knees give out.