CHAPTER 18
JORDAN.
ISLAMMED MY FRONT DOOR AND STEPPED INTO THE RELATIVE PEACE AND QUIET OF MY HOME… Today had been a hectic day, what with my first meeting running over and making me late for the second. Not that I minded being late, it kept the minions on their toes and reminded them who the boss was
The second meeting had been an absolute waste of time, producing nothing apart from the raging headache that had followed me through the rest of my day.
Not wanting an earful from my housekeeper Lauren. I took my shoes off by the door before stepping into the lounge while undoing the buttons on my suit jacket.
Unlike the house I’d given Melanie, mine was almost empty of staff save for Lauren, a gardener, and another lady who came in every weekend to clean. I prefer to do some things myself because it keeps me grounded. I’ve seen too many wealthy
people get caught up in the lifestyle and lose their reality, and I wasn’t going to be one of them.
Lauren came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a dishcloth and smiled warmly at me.
“Welcome home. Andresito.”
I let her warmth wash over me as I stepped up to plant a kiss on her cheek, murmuring a greeting in return. Lauren was or of my oldest staff and the only one who called me by my native name.
She was one of the only living, breathing remnants of my childhood and adolescent life, the closest thing I’d ever had to a mother and I cared deeply for her.
She took my face in her hands and stared into my eyes, seeing way too much.
“You look tired, amor. Rough day at work?” she asked. I simply nodded and she took my hand, leading me into the
kitchen
“Sit. Dinner is almost ready. Let me get you a drink.” She firmly pressed me down into a chair and I sat with little resistance, letting her take care of me like she always did. As she bustled around the kitchen she talked to me. About her nieces and nephews, her grandchildren and the latest addition to the family. It was our little tradition. I listened in silence, twirling the drink she’d fixed me and adding my input where it was needed.
She served me a plate heaped high with spaghetti and meatballs. I raised my eyebrows at her, sometimes I handled my dinner myself but when she cooked for me it was always traditionally Puerto Rican or Mexican dishes.
“What? It’s good to change once in a while” she said, serving a plate for herself and sitting down to eat with me.
After dinner and a dessert of tembleque, I thanked her and cleared the dishes while she retired to her quarters. I went up to my bedroom and poured myself a brandy at the bar before going to stand at the large floor–to–ceiling window. Pulling out my phone, I checked in with Blaine who told me he’d driven Melanie back home after work. I should see about getting someone else to do that; my best friend wasn’t her chauffeur.
I paused for a moment, then opened the app Ed installed on my phone a week ago. The app connected the CCTV cameras I’d placed in the house I’d given Melanie to my phone so I could view them at my convenience. I still didn’t trust her, and though giving her her own accommodation was a show of good faith. I’ve always been a careful man.
When I opened the app, I saw she was already in bed, tossing and turning like she was restless. As I watched, the duvet (covering her slipped down while she turned, exposing an expanse of smooth flesh.
Feeling like a pervert, I dropped my phone and finished my brandy before returning the glass to the bar.
I’d just removed my suit jacket and was in the process of taking off my vest when movement from my phone caught my eye.
I walked over to the phone and picked it up, watching Melanie open her bedroom door and step outside.
Wondering what the was up to, I quickly switched cameras and watched as she stood there for a while as if listening for something, then started to walk towards the kitchen.
It was then I noticed the unmistakable red dot of a sniper rifle trained on the side of her head. I saw the moment she noticed it too but kept going through the motions of getting a glass of water until a figure came up behind her with a bat.
I watched her duck, spin then smash the glass against the intruder’s head before crouching and using one of the shards to slice the back of his knees so he went downL
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I didn’t see more as I was already running back down the stairs. I snatched my car keys off the hallway table and took the time to retrieve a gun from one of its drawers before grabbing my shoes and dashing out.
From the look of things she didn’t need much help but they, whoever they were, had invaded my property and they were going to pay. But not before I got some answers. I got into my car and sped off, pushing the button for the electric gates and whipping out my phone to check on Melanie.
More people had appeared from nowhere and I watched as she used one of them as a human shield, his body jerking each time a bullet from an unseen source hit him. The sniper.
By the time I pulled up a block from the house, a plan had already formed in my head. She had her hands full with two or three men while still dodging bullets from the sniper so I was going to take him out first.
I’d parked so far away because he was most likely on a rooftop somewhere and would see me coming which I didn’t want. I kept to the shadows as I walked, scanning the rooftops until I saw a silhouette of a man on the roof opposite the house. Bingo
I came as close as I could without compromising my position or losing sight of him as I drew my gun and clipped on the silencer. I fired once with deadly accuracy and watched him topple off the roof without a sound.
After making sure he wouldn’t be a problem anymore, I raced to the house while calling Blaine. He picked up on the second ring and I ordered him to get here with backup ASAP. He didn’t bother asking for an explanation and just hung up after a terse “I’ll be there.”
As I made to open the front door it was flung open by a body and I shifted to avoid going down with it. I looked in to s Melanie, she had likely just kicked the man out of the door and was now going hand–to–hand with another guy He managed to get her into a headlock which she promptly broke by stomping on his instep and jabbing an elbow into his gut. They went at it again and all I could do was watch as she drove the guy back with each hit until he was on his knees. In a last desperate attempt he grabbed at her hair and she snarled, “Oh hell no” before snapping his neck with cold efficiency. Bloody, bruised, she turned slowly to look at me as she wiped blood from her nose and fucking grinned. “Hey, boss.”
