The Bodyguard

chapter 2

Cautiously, I began, "Caden and I had another scam in mind. He never disclosed all the details, just took me to an abandoned building a few miles from the coffee shop. He asked me to wait outside the door. When they realized he was scamming them... they shot him," I struggled to hold back tears, my voice cracking.

"I'll send someone to check for any signs of his body. They likely disposed of it somewhere. I'm sorry. You realize you're a witness to his death. They won't cease trying to find you," he said, looking at me with a grave expression.

"What do I do?" I ask, seeking guidance.

"Let's gather your things; we'll discuss our next steps during our trip," he proposed, rising from his seat. The young woman obediently followed him.

He guides me to a car, opening the door for me as I took the passenger seat. As he began to drive, I hesitantly speak, "I guess I should give you my address."

"No need. I already have it. Obtaining that information was quite simple. Rest assured, the Aldo Mafia will likely have your address soon, if they don't already," he stated, briefly glancing at me before returning his focus to the road.

I took a moment to study the man, only now appreciating his handsome features. His brown hair gleamed in the sunlight, and his broad shoulders remained evident even in the confines of his suit and tie. His hands, though not overly soft, lacked the ruggedness of manual labor. All in all, he presented a striking figure.

Upon arriving at my apartment complex, he parked the car and turned to me with a serious expression.

"Duck down and stay covered," he instructed, draping a blanket over me. "I want to ensure it's safe before you come out," he added, swiftly locking the doors and stepping out. Several minutes later, he returned.

"It's safe for now. Let's grab your things quickly," he said, opening my door and extending a hand to assist me.

Arriving at my apartment door, I swiftly extract my key, unlock the door, and enter. The sizable man trailed behind, promptly shutting and securing the door.

I gather my bags and began to pack, a routine not unfamiliar to me; after all, Caden and I were seasoned con artists, accustomed to avoiding extended stays in one location.

"So, you know my name and much about me. Yet, you've never introduced yourself," I pause, glancing at him. Our eyes briefly met as I admire his chocolate brown eyes, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

"Didn't bother checking the name on my badge?" he inquired, smirking, a small chuckle escaping his throat.

"Well, no, I didn't," I admitted, a tinge of embarrassment coloring my expression.

"Alexander. Alexander Mathews," he introduced with a chuckle.

"Well, Mr. Mathews, I'm all packed and ready to go," I declare, slinging a bag over my shoulder.

He scrutinizes me for a moment, eyeing the backpack and two duffle bags. "That's all you're taking?" he asked skeptically.

"Yeah, when you're a con artist, you learn not to linger and only carry what you can handle," I explain.

"Hmm. That brings me to a couple of questions," he remarked, taking my other two bags so I only had to manage the backpack.

"Such as?" I inquire, feeling the weight of my bags lift from my hands.

"Well, how did you become a con artist, and how did you end up entangled with Mr. Stien? I certainly don't see a baby, as he claimed," he probed.

"Haha, well, let's begin with how I became a con artist. I left my home at 18 with nowhere to go. I crossed paths with Caden, who was 21 at the time. He used to run scams on people at bars, but he had this rule about not scamming those who didn't deserve it. One night, as luck would have it, I walked by a bar where he was at, and some drunk guy was harassing me. Caden came to my rescue, knocked the guy out cold. He offered me a place to stay, and from there, we became fast friends," I recounted, glancing at the man beside me.

"So, what did Mr. Stien do to deserve being scammed?" he inquired, glancing back at me. Motioning to exit the door, we head to the car.

"Well, he r***d a prostitute. Probably thought she was beneath him, took advantage, and she ended up pregnant. She's been working on turning her life around, living with her mom who supports the kid. She wanted things for her baby, so Caden and I decided to con him. He posed as a lawyer, and I posed as that woman—we share a resemblance, I guess. Highly doubt he'd notice the difference. We told him I had a baby and threatened to ensure he went to jail unless he paid up. You can probably guess the rest," I explain, chuckling slightly.

"Well, I don't endorse scamming people, but it sounds like he deserved it," he chuckled. Opening the trunk, he stowed the bags, then courteously opened the passenger door for me again. We drove until we reached an opulent neighborhood, eventually pulling up to a sleek, modern house. I admired the expansive glass windows as he swiftly jogged to open my door.

"Wow, it's beautiful," I remarked.

"The house? I suppose so. My workplace arranges these for me when I have assignments," he explained, retrieving the bags from the trunk.

Leading me to the door, he walked to a spare room and placed my bags down. I followed, appreciating the room that had been offered to me. It had been a while since I had stayed in a place this nice.

"This will be your room. The bathroom is down the hall, and I'll start on some dinner. You don't have a problem with planes, do you?" he inquired.

"No, I don't think so. I've never been on one," I replied