Page 78 of Reign of the Queen
“Tyson, I’m not sure. I need extra security here immediately at the house. I’m pretty sure some rich abusive assholes are going to be knocking down my door at some point in the next couple of hours. I also need to speak to my grandmother about the source of the threat, but if you could assist me with the first immediate problem, I would appreciate it.” I tangle my hand through my hair, nerves making an appearance.
“Miss Mia, I will have security immediately directed to the house. You will have Clark, our head of security, on the phone with you within the next five minutes. I will also go and wake your grandmother.” He doesn’t wait to say goodbye before he’s gone and the line drops.
I hear footsteps coming into the room and look toward the door. Finn’s walking in on soft steps, his face lined with worry.
“Is he okay?” I immediately push away from the desk.
“Yeah, for now, he’s passed out but he’s breathing steadily.” He sighs and comes closer.
“Ah, good then.” I sit back at the desk, pulling up the gate camera on the laptop in front of me.
“Mia, what you’re doing for him, for us.” He takes a shaky breath. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Stop Finn. I am not doing this for you or even for him specifically. I’m doing it because I hate fucking abusers. I will not let them take Carter and hurt him.” My hands clench tightly on the lip of the desk until my fingers are white with strain.
He looks at me curiously, coming closer to the desk. “I used to know someone who felt as strongly as you do about abusers when I was a kid. She would threaten to rip out their “man parts” if she could.” He chuckles, making the quotation gesture.
“What happened to her Finn?” I move closer to him as we watch little Sybil walking with the school social worker toward a waiting car.
“Her daddy beats her, Amelia.” His nine-year-old little fist clenched at his side. “I think they are taking her to a new home. My momma says her daddy deserves to rot in jail for hurting her.”
“I wish I could rip out his man parts, Finn. No one deserves to be hurt like her, she’s just a little thing.” I look on with sadness as Sybil gets in the car followed by the social worker lady.
“I know Amelia, me too.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder as we watch the car drive away.
The breath momentarily stalls in my chest, the memory of our past assaulting me. “Hmm, I think you’ll find quite a few people who would agree with her.” I observe him approaching me and rounding the desk. “What happened to your friend?” I inquire.
He leans against the desk, his hands braced behind him, and his ankles crossed. “Umm, I actually don’t know what happened to her. It was when I was young, before my mom and I came to live with Jack, my stepdad. When we still lived on the outskirts of Casbury. I lost touch with her after that.”
“Well, she couldn’t have been that important to you then, if you haven’t seen her in years, but lived in the same town.” I turn my body back to the laptop just as my phone starts ringing. Clark, my grandmother’s head of security’s name flashing across the screen.
“I have to take this.” I point to the phone.
He looks at me, and then the phone, nods, straightens his long frame, and then walks out of the room, leaving me behind with my thoughts, memories, and rage.
“Clark?” I put the phone on speaker and continue watching the property surveillance on the laptop. I’m now bringing up all the cameras we have hidden all over the property and electrifying the fence and main gate remotely in case anyone tries to climb them.
“Miss Stratford, there is a group of four of our trained ex-military security detail fifteen minutes away from the property. They are heading there to assess the risk and protect you. I need more information about what we are up against in order to make further arrangements for your safety Miss.” His quick, strong voice comes through the phone reassuringly.
“Clark, I have an injured guest here that cannot be moved and is in medical distress, but we cannot take him to a hospital. I believe that there are those who wish to do further harm to him in his current state. I have reason to believe they will attempt to strong-arm their way into my home to take him by force.” I close my eyes at the fear that settles in the pit of my stomach at the thought of Carter’s dad trying to take him in his current state.
“Miss Stratford, I can assure you, no one is entering your property and no one will be taking anyone off that property unless you request it. My men have instructions to shoot anyone not authorized to be on the property, regardless of who they are. Your grandmother is meeting with me shortly, and together we will be boarding the Stratford jet within the hour and heading directly to you.”
FUCK!That’s exactly what I was afraid she would do. She didn’t bother to call me because she’s coming like death herself in person to protect the Stratford princess. My heart starts racing in my chest.
“Er, of course she is.” I rub my tight forehead, already feeling a massive headache coming on.
“Miss Stratford, how many are currently on the property?” Clark questions.
“Five, including myself, one of which is unwell and needs medical attention.”
“Your mother, Miss?” I can hear him typing in the background.
“Not here, she didn’t come home, but I’m guessing you already knew that and know perfectly well where she is, Clark.” I groan.
“Eh, well, I hadn’t checked yet, to be honest, but I have no doubt we can locate her quickly if necessary. I’m dispatching one of our trusted medical responders from Raleigh. They should be there before we arrive. Please only allow our men onto the property. They will set a perimeter and check for everyone’s clearance before allowing them entry. You will recognize Tom from your New York detail leading our men, due to arrive shortly.”
“Thank you, Clark.” I’m guessing Tom has been my shadow here all along. There’s no other reason for him to have been so close to the property. My grandmother and her precautions, for once it is paying off.
