Her Protector

Chapter Six

For the last two weeks it has been like heaven to me until today. The day that I am supposed to turn Ariel over to the client. I have slept next two her for two f*****g weeks. I can’t give that up. This whole s**t show can stop but her. She can’t leave. I need to protect her. 

I hanged my head low as Timothy walked in, “So I was able to get us two more weeks.” I straightened up when he said that she is mine for two more weeks, “How? What about her work? She is itching to get back.” He sighed, “You can’t take her back home, not yet.” I looked at him confused, “You think he hired someone else.” Timothy sighed as he sat next to me, “I know he hired someone else.” I saw it in his eyes, “f*****g Carl.” He nodded, “The one and only.” 

I  threw my head back,” Then it is not safe. He will kill her if she doesn’t do what he wants. We know how he works.” Timothy shrugged his shoulder, “Are you going to tell her or do you need me, too.” I groaned, “I will.” I heard her little sweet voice, “Tell me what?” Timothy placed his hand on my shoulder then got up and walked out as she was in, “What is it Slate?” 

I pulled her into me, “I can’t take you home yet.” She tilted her head, “You are not taking me to the client.” I kissed her forehead, “Timothy bought us two weeks but we can’t have you at home.” She nodded, “Okay.” I shook my head, “He hired someone else to find you. I think he is on to us about keeping you safe.” Her eyes went wide, “Does he know about this place.” I shook my head, “No one but my men and Timothy knows where this place is.” 

“The house isn’t even in my name.” He said. I smirked at him, “I got you so I don’t care if I stay here little longer.” I titled my head, “I got used to the house and all the men that live in it.” He laughed as he laid his lips on mine, “This may mean that I will not be able take on any jobs.” I wiggled my eyes at him, “I think I can come up with some ideas for your free time.” He roared with a laugh, “How did I get so lucky?” I shook my head, “You kidnapped me.” He kissed me again, “I did.” 

We jumped as we heard a groan as Derek walked in, “Oh how cute you two are there is like five rooms upstairs that you can use.” Slate smirked as he leaned towards me, “Let’s have fun, kitten.” He grabbed my hand and ran me up stairs as Derek yelled, “Just stay out of my room.” Slate yelled back, “We are using your room just to piss you off.” I chuckled as Slate kicked in our bedroom door. 

The next couple days went by quickly as Slate and I did a lot of love making. He held me tight while we woke up. He pulled me into him as his fingers went through my long red hair, “Can I tell you something, Kitten.” I smiled at him as I brushed my lips against his, “Always.” He sat up then leaned to me as he cupped my face, “I love you.” I quickly searched his eyes to make sure that I wasn’t hearing things as I lifted him and kissed him as I whispered, “I love you, too.” He held me tight, “ I will find a way to make sure you are safe from your father and the client.” I nodded, “I know you will.” 

We sat down stairs in the living room when Timothy walked in, “Thanks for all being down here.” Slate looked up at him as he sat back on the couch with his arm around me, “What’s up?” Timothy sat down on the couch across from us, “Ariel, Do you know a guy named Nicholas Carter?” I tilted my head, “I know he is big in steel and oil.” He nodded, “Anything else.” I shook my head, “I never met him.” He sighed as he pinched in between his eyebrows, “He is the one that hired us.” 

Slate sat forward, “You gotta be kidding me.” Timothy shook his head, “I wish I was.” He sighed as Derek and Ted sat around us, “I spoke with a friend of your mom’s, yesterday.” I tilted my head, “Oh?” He looked up at the ceiling, “The day you were born and the day your mother died, your mother made a confession before she went into labor.” He shook his head, “She held on to a video until someone came looking for the truth about your father, you and her life with your father.” Slate placed his hand on my knee, “Do you have it?” Timothy nodded as he got up and hooked the vcr up to the television. 

We all sat back as my mother was on the television. Her voice filled the room, “If someone is watching this it is because my husband Mark Kingsley murdered me. He murdered me because I decided to finally leave him and raise my child away from him.” I started to tear up and the blood drew from my face, “I found another love, Steven Carter. He is Ariel’s real father. Mark and I have not been intimate for over three years.” I looked at Slate as he shook his head and pulled me into him, “Please, Whoever finds this video. Keep my daughter safe. Mark will abuse her if not kill her. Tell her that I love her and will be with her.” The picture went black as I cried, “My father killed my mother.” 

Slate shook his head as he looked at Timothy, “This motherfucker is really her brother.” I looked at Slate, “Wait, you knew that there was a possibility?” He sighed, “I have been told but we weren't sure if it was true until now.” I shook my head, “So this whole time, you kept that from me.” Timothy snapped his head, “He wasn’t allowed to tell you.” I relaxed back into his arms knowing that it wasn’t his choice.

She relaxed back into me as Timothy just saved my ass from not telling her. Timothy sighed, “Listen, Ariel. I have spoken with Nicholas and he is not right in the head. After his parent’s split and the affairs that they were having really f****d with his head.” She shook her head, “Okay”

He tilted his head at her, “He doesn’t believe that you are his sister and has said that he was going to f**k the s**t out of you just to get back at your father for his mother’s death.” She  shook her head in disbelief, “He killed her too?” He shook his head, “She was pregnant with his child and she died on the table giving birth a day before you were born.” I titled my head, “What happened to that baby?” He sighed, “She is her sister.” I held her closer as she said, “Wait, Kara is Nicholas' sister, too?” 

He nodded, “Your father buried the pregnancy and had the birth certificate to look like she was a couple years older than you.” She got up and paced the floor, “Why didn’t my father, I mean Mark just give me to Steve.” He sighed, “To torture your mother in the afterlife. He is a sick man. His sick ways had made Nicholas go on a war path since he was ten years old.” I looked up at her, “Kitten, This information will help us. I know Steve Carter. He is a decent man. But his son is crazy.” Timothy nodded his head, “I wanted to make sure I had the right evidence to show Steven that you are who we say you are. I had a DNA test run last week.” She narrowed her eyes, “You what?” 

Timothy placed his hands up, “Just covering all our tracks before we came up with a game plan.” I sat back, “What is our game plan?” Timothy smirked, “We are meeting Steve in three days at his office.” I nodded my head, “We will leave tonight.” Timothy smiled, “Take back roads. And if you run into Carl…” I held up my hand, “My boys will take care of them.” She shook her head as she went to the kitchen. 

I got up and followed her, “Kitten, I know this is a lot.” She snapped around, “You think. I just found out my sister is not my true sister, My father isn’t my real father and my real brother wants to f**k me.” I placed my hands on her arm, “I know. I am sorry.” She shook her head, “This makes sense. Why, he treated me differently from Kara.” I pulled her into me as I placed my lips on her forehead, “I was thinking the same thing. I am sorry.” She looked at me, “Why are you sorry?” 

I sighed as I kissed her lips, “Because I didn’t tell you our theories.” She shook her head, “It is okay. I wouldn’t have believed you unless I saw that video.” I tilted my head, “You wouldn’t?” She lifted her face as she kissed me, “I would need the proof. I am a person that needs to see it in black and white.” 

Couple hours later Slate had parked the SUVS and was on the phone with a couple of hotels on the way. He wants us to be able to relax on our way there with a real bed to sleep on instead of the SUVS. I leaned up against the SUV as I watched him, “What is Steven like?” He looked up at me as he lifted a bag, “Like I said he is a decent man. It was his wife that turned Nicholas the way he is.” I sighed as he chuckled, “He got a heart like yours. Wanting to help those in need. Like you like to help animals.” 

I smiled at him, “Do I look like him?” He titled his head, “Now that you say something you do look like him.” He smirked as he reached to my hips as he pulled me over, “Steven is our best option to keep you safe from your brother and Mark. He will protect you from both of them.” I looked down, “Do you think I exist?” He sighed as he ran his fingers through my hair, “I don’t think so. If he did, I believe that he would have saved you from the years of abuse.” I looked up into his beautiful golden eyes, “He must have known about Kara.” He shrugged his shoulders, “Those are all questions you can ask him when you meet him.” 

Three days later Slate, Timothy and I sat in the lobby of Carter’s Enterprise as a young woman came walking down the hallway, “Timothy, Mr. Carter will see you now.” We all got up as the woman looked at me funny then showed us down to Mr. Carter’s office. She knocked on the door as she opened it when I heard his voice, “Thank you Stacy, You can let them in.” Slate grabbed my hand as I was trembling. 

I shook my head at Slate as Timothy walked into the office. He leaned over, “I am right here. You will be fine.” I whispered to him, “What if he doesn’t like me.” 

He laughed as he kissed my temple, “Then he will be a damn fool, Kitten.” Slate guided me into the office holding my hand tight as a man that was fit with red hair just like mine lifted his head as he tilted his head at me, “Timothy.. Slate.. It is nice to see you, two.” Timothy nodded at him, “It is nice to see you, too.” 

Mr. Carter stood up from his chair as he walked over, “And this is?” Slate looked at me and smirked, “This is Ariel.” Timothy looked at him and smirked, “Elizabeth Kingsley’s daughter.” His eyes widened as he held out his hand, “Please take a seat.” We sat down in front of Mr. Carter, “I was told Elizabeth lost the baby after she died on the table giving labor.” Slate shook his head, “Nope, We have the DNA confirming it.” Mr. Carter sat back as his hand went over his face, “How?” 

Slate leaned forward, “Mark kept her from you. He also killed Elizabeth.” Mr. Carter shook his head, “How do you know this?” Timothy look out a piece a paper out of a file that he been holding tight to his chest, “Her report of death. She didn’t die from giving birth. She died by his hands on her neck.” Mr. Carter’s eyes swelled up, “You got to be f*****g me. That asshole killed the love of my life.” I tilted my head at him, “She was the love of your life?” He nodded his head, “She was. She was so happy that she was pregnant but scared of Mark. She was supposed to bring the baby to me so we could keep her safe.” He cleared his throat as Timothy handed him the DNA test, “To keep you safe.” 

I sighed as I was about to lay another bomb on his lap, “We have a big problem.” Steven looked at me, “What is it?” I sighed, “Nicholas.” His eyes widened, “What does he have to do with any of this?” I gave him the reports that we found on his son, “He was blackmailing companies to sell their companies to him. That is how he is making his money, you money.” He shook his head as I tilted my head, “It gets worse.” He sighed, “Lay it on me.” 

I looked up at him, “He hired us to kidnap Ariel so he can use her to get back at Mark for his mother’s death.” He shook his head as tears started down his face, “How?” I sighed, “He hired us over a month ago. I was stalking her for a few weeks before we moved in. When we had all the information to decide how to move forward.” I looked at Ariel, “We kidnapped her and brought her to a remote place to keep her safe from Mark and Nicholas.”

I sighed, “We wanted to make sure we had enough to come to you.” Mr. Carter looked at her, “I am sorry for my son’s actions. Please don’t think I approved for them. I don’t. He will be stopped by using my name for his gain as well as hurting you.” I smiled as I held her close to me as Mr. Carter laughed, “Slate, I know I just met her but if you hurt my daughter, you will have answer to me.” She smiled as I chuckled, “I promise that there will be no harm will come to her.” He smiled as he looked back at Ariel, “I am sorry for all that you've been through. If I would have known that you lived then I would have come for you.” She smiled and nodded, “It is not your fault.” 

He stood up, “I would like for the three of you to stay at my estate as I deal with my son’s s**t and make things right in my business.” He sighed, “I love the asshole but he has no right running a business the way he is.” I stood when he walked up at Ariel as she stood up, “Ariel, I know you don’t know me. I trust these guys. I do trust all they are saying. I am going to make sure you are protected.” 

She nodded at him as he walked us to the door when he asked, “Does Nickie know that you were meeting me.” Timothy shook his head, “I wanted to talk to you before we talked to him.” He shook his head as I opened the door, “Mr. Carter, Can I get a few moments with you?” He nodded, “Yes, of course.” Timothy took Ariel’s arm, “I will take her to the car just in case Nicolas makes a stop by.” 

Mr. Carter walked to the wide window and looked down, “I have a f*****g daughter.” I nodded as I sat at a chair in front of the desk, “I think you should know what Ariel has been through.” He nodded his head without looking back at me, “You had your run in with Walter Jones.” He snapped his head back, “What does he have to do with my Ariel?” I shook my head as I placed it in my hand, “He r***d her.” I looked up as his eyes were wide, “What are you talking about, Slate?” I sighed, “She was sixteen and he r***d her for six months then Mark was going to sell her to him but she ran away the day before the wedding.” His hands turned into a fist as he walked over to his chair, “How was it that I never knew about her? She was right under my f*****g nose.” 

I tilted my head, “Mark kept her out of the spotlight and beat her to keep her in his line.” He snorted, “You know me, Slate. I am going to kill both of them.” I nodded at him, “I do know you and you are not a killing man. You do things by the book.” He nodded as he teared up, “We talked about you getting out of your line of work.” I nodded, “I remember.” He sighed, “What would you think if I hire you to protect Ariel?” He sighed, “Seems like you two are already f*****g so it seems to me, you are the best person to protect her with your life.” 

I nodded, “I will talk to Timothy.” He nodded as his jawline tightened, “Protect her with your life.” I smirked, “I am already.” He nodded as he sighed, “Do you love her?” I nodded as my hands gripped around the arms of the chair, “I do, sir.” He chuckled, “Good. That tells me that you will be her protector.” He got up and walked over to me with his hand out to me, “For someone to fall in love with my daughter I am happy that it was you.” I shook his hand, “Thank you, sir. That means a lot for you to say.” 

He nodded, “My son is going to be away for a business trip for the week. I am traveling out to him by the end of the night. I will put him in his place.” I nodded as he sighed, “I will stop by the estate before leaving to have dinner with my daughter.” I nodded at him, “Of course. I swill have Derek and Ted looking in Walter also.” He smirked, “Good, Tell me when it is done.” We walked to the door, “By the end of the week.” 

He opened the door, “Welcome to Carter Enterprise, Slate. When my daughter doesn’t need to be protected anymore; I have a job for you here. Something to be honest and be able to provide for her and your future family.” I tilted my head as I went to open my mouth when he laughed, “Oh you will find out soon. She got a glow to her that I have seen with her mother.” My mind went into deep thoughts as he placed his hand on my shoulders and walked me out of the office. What does he mean that I will find out soon? What does he know that I don’t? He just met her and they were never alone so she couldn’t have told him anything.

I walked down the halls of Carter’s Enterprise to the car while deep in my thoughts when I got into the elevators with a crowd of people. I pressed the button for the basement when it B lite up; there was a light bulb that went off in my head as I yelled out loud, “Oh My God. She is pregnant.” 

Everyone on the elevator thought I was nuts but I can’t help to think that is what Steven met. I walked up to the SUV with little hop to my step as Timothy raised his eyebrow, “I am guessing that was a good meeting.” I nodded my head, “He wants to hire me to protect her.” He laughed, “Isn’t that what we are doing?” I shook my head as I looked through the driver side window at her. I started at her noticing the glow. My god Steven was right. She was glowing. 

Timothy looked back at her, “What is up, man?” I looked at him and smirked, “How early is too early to take a pregnancy test?” His eyes widened, “You think she might be.” I shrugged my shoulders, “It was something that Mr. Carter said to me.” He shook his head, “What the hell did he say for you to want her to take a test?” I tilted my head as my eyes were glued to her as her hand went up to her face to move a piece of her red hair out of her eyes as she looked out the window, “She said that she has a glow to her.” 

He smiled at me, “I will make an appointment for her with Dr. Finn.” I nodded as I got into the car. She looked at me, “What happened?” I smirked at her as I placed my hands on hers and pulled her to me, “Mr. Carter wants me to keep on as your protector. We will be getting paid by him and not from Nicholas which means we don’t have to turn you over to him.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, “Does that mean that we can stay locked up all day?” I chuckled, “Whatever your little heart desire, kitten.”