Page 3 of Her Noble Protector
“Hi, Dad.”
“Thank you for joining me on such short notice.”
“What’s going on? Why is everyone looking like someone died? Don’t tell me you’ve found more family members to kill off.”
“Sunni,pleasehave some decorum.”
I frowned. “Okay, but I’m serious. The last time we met with this much tension in the air, Mama and SJ passed away. If I’m going to prepare to go to another funeral, I’m getting my jokes off first.”
“No one is dead.” Daddy sighed.
“Okay, cool. What’s the emergency that cut into brunch with my girls? I was in the middle of the best catfish and grits in the city.”
Daddy rubbed a hand down his face. “Have a seat.”
“You rush me home and now you want to prolong the announcement. I’m not sitting down, because the suspense issounnecessary, Dad. Please, just get on with it!” I tossed my hands into the air.
“This is difficult for me to say, Sunni. The simplest way I can say this is . . . you’re in danger.”
“Huh?” Confusion covered my features as I stared at him.
Sonny Stone was in his early fifties. His salt-and-pepper beard and thick black eyebrows were the only hair on his round head. Dad was bald, but it fit him well. His skin was a rich brown with the same freckles that covered my nose and cheeks. I was his twin, which was why we shared a name. I was the junior before he had a junior.
“You know I come in contact with a lot of powerful and dangerous men. A few months ago, I put the leader of a mid-level mafia crew in prison on a double life sentence. His family and followers are not happy about it. We got word a few hours ago that his second-in-command has put a bounty on your head in retaliation of what I did.”
I laughed deep within my belly. The humor in his statement consumed me until I glimpsed at his face. There was no laughter in his eyes. His words were serious, which sobered up my amusement quickly.
“Wait. You’re serious?”
“Unfortunately, I am very serious, princess. Very dangerous people are out to kill you.”
I blinked. “Why me? I have nothing to do with anything. I’m literally just a girl.”
“I know, baby girl. It’s out of both of our control. They want to hurt me. You are my sole reason for living, so hurting you will hurt me more than any torture they could put me through.”
I was silent as I listened to his words. A man I had never met had put a hit on me, and now a group of unknown men were trying to kill me. Whoever had my voodoo doll must have been bored as hell to come up with this type of storyline.
“So let me get this straight. There are men who are trying to kill me?”
He nodded. “Correct. When we first got word, they had posted the bounty on the black market. There is a seven-figure number attached to the confirmation of your death. Anyone with access to the database is a potential hitman.”
This couldn’t be my life. This had to be a sick joke.
“So what am I supposed to do? Hide out at the manor for who knows how long?” I finally took the seat that was offered to me upon my arrival. I placed my elbows on my thighs and folded my fingers together. I couldn’t stop the incessant tap of my foot against the hardwood floor.
“No. I know neither of us would survive you trapped here against your will. I don’t want your life to stop completely. Instead, I have hired the best of the best in terms of security. Noble Nash has come highly recommended and will be your bodyguard until we handle the situation.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “A man in prison is orchestrating a bounty on my head, and you’ve gotoneman watching me? You want me dead?”
“I can assure you he’s the best at what he does. His success rate is unlike anything a team of men are capable of. He will be with you at all times. He should actually pull up shortly for you to meet him and go over your schedule with him.”
I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my father’s mouth. If I didn’t respect him, I would have screamed a slew of curse words at him. How could he put my life in danger? Why was I roped into elaborate schemes to punish my father? Was my life not important? Did I not deserve a chance to live?
I was only twenty-six years old. I had done a lot of side quests but never found my purpose in life. Would I ever get to figure out why God put me on this earth? Would I ever settle down and have kids of my own?
“Please don’t let me die, Daddy.” My lip quivered.
The weight of the situation had settled on my heart, and my emotions got the best of me. I didn’t want to appear weak, but I was terrified. This was all new to me.
