Chapter 5
1823 Words
Princeton has been fussing over me ever since he picked me up from the hospital. It was quite the fight getting him to agree to take me home and not to his apartment.
I know he only wants to protect me, but I still need my privacy.
I’m a lot more comfortable with my own things.
Everything that’s happened has exhausted me, I fell asleep almost as soon as I lay down on my bed.
I felt someone placing a blanket over me; it must have been Gregory.
True to his words, he came back the next evening, taking over for Bash for a while. Bash seemed nice and attentive. A little quiet and blushed easily. For what reason, God only knows.
He’s still cute though. Blond, blue eyes, and not too tall. If I had to guess, I’d say about 5’9.
He did take great care of me throughout the day, making sure I didn’t hurt too much, and that I ate most of my meals.
Gregory was quite pleased to see me a little more alert when he arrived. His broody features aren’t fooling me one bit. He’s a gentle and caring sweetheart.
I wake up slightly disoriented. My head is still throbbing. Massaging my temple, I decided to get some medication from the bathroom to help with the pain.
Opening the light, I look up, yawning widely.
The shock of what the reflection in the mirror shows, has me frozen by the door.
What the hell!?
Princeton had warned me about seeing myself, but I still wasn’t prepared for this!
Walking slowly toward the counter, I lift my hand, gently grazing the purple and black bruises on my neck, lifting them to the one on my cheek.
Wow… I really do look like s**t…
With a sigh, I fill the cup I keep in the bathroom with cold water and take two tablets from the pharmacy.
Loud voices coming from my kitchen grab my attention.
Who’s in my house?!
Making my way out of the bathroom, I cautiously open my bedroom door. I let out a relieved sigh when I see Princeton and someone I don’t know arguing.
The bedroom door creaks as I open it wider, grabbing both men’s attention.
“Snow… s**t. Did we wake you?” Princeton says, rubbing a hand over his face, looking exasperated.
“No, not really. My head was hurting. I got up to take something to help soothe the pain.” I say, making my way to the kitchen breakfast bar, sitting down on one of the stools, placing my elbow on the counter and my head on my hands.
The tension between both men is almost palpable.
“So, what's going on between you two?” I ask, lifting my head up from my hands.
“And, not to be rude or anything, but who are you?” I ask, turning my attention to the very fit, bald man standing opposite Princeton.
“Sloan, Miss White.” He says, posturing himself almost in a military position. Feet slightly apart, hands behind his back, shoulders straight.
Humm… Now that’s hot…
What am I even thinking!?
I brush away my wandering thoughts.
“You must be the one that brought…him…to the police station then?” I ask.
“No, M’am. That would be Soren”
“Snow”
“I beg your pardon?” He asks with furrowed brows.
“You can call me Snow”
“If that’s alright with you ma'am...I mean, Miss White, I mean Miss Snow!” He blurts out, the tips of his ears turning bright red.
Kind of a cute reaction.
“Ok. So, let me get this straight. Gregory has been following me, I mean, protecting me for the past three, now four days, Soren brought that man to the police station, and what would your job be?” I ask, looking at him quizzically.
“That would be relieving Gregory every forty-eight hours, Ma’am. We take shifts between the seven of us.”
Seven of them, hmmm, interesting.
I give him a slight scolding look for him not calling me by my name, even after asking him to.
I only get a shrug out of him.
I supposed it’s embedded in him to be this way. He does give off a military vibe.
Not being able to abide my curiosity, I ask;
“Are you ex-military by any chance?”
“Yes, I am.”
“That explains it.”
“Pardon?”
“That explains your posture and the way you address me. It’s OK, I’ll get you to call me by my name eventually.” I say with a smirk.
Maybe while I’m sprawled beneath him…
Shaking my head, trying not to imagine all the dirty little things I wish he’d do to me.
What the hell?! Since when do I have pervy thoughts like this?
“What’s going to happen now?” I ask, turning my attention towards Princeton.
“Well, that’s where it gets complicated.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sloan just got a call from Soren.”
“And?”
With a heavy sigh, I notice him closing his hands in a hard fist.
“The man that attacked you…”
“W-What about him?”
“He committed suicide inside his cell in the early hours of the morning.” He says through gritted teeth.
“A knock at the door pulls our attention before I can ask anything else.
Getting up from the bar stool, I take a peek in the peephole of my door and see Gregory standing outside.
For whatever reason, my heart skips a beat at the sight of him on the other side of the door.
Opening it, I greet him with a big smile.
“Snow, you’re up already? I thought you’d still be sleeping.” He says, stepping forward while I back up, letting him in.
“I had a headache. Needed to take something to help soothe the pain.”
“That’s understandable. You must have met Sloan?”
“I have. He and Princeton were just explaining to me what happened to… to him.”
“I know that him, taking his own life stops us from seeking justice for you, but keep your mind at ease that we still will keep an eye out for you and protect you from any more danger that might come your way. Especially from the information I just received.”
“What are you talking about?” Sloan asks, stepping closer to us.
“The coroner made a preliminary examination. Turn out he had a tattoo on his left shoulder blade. That Tattoo.” Gregory says, giving Sloan a pointed look.
“s**t!” Sloan spits out angrily.
“What does that mean? What kind of tattoo.”
Looking from Sloan to Princeton and finally to me, he says;
“The Huntsman tattoo”
“You have got to be f*****g kidding me?! The Huntsmen tattoo!?” Princeton yells, making me flinch.
I only ever heard him swear a handful of times in my entire life. Every time with something serious going on.
“What does the Huntsman tattoo mean?” I ask, clueless.
“Why don’t we sit down for that conversation?” He says, gesturing to the couch behind me.
Settling down, I tuck my feet underneath myself. Pulling a throw blanket over my knees, I give Gregory my full attention.
Well, 90% of it since my head is still throbbing.
“The Huntsmen are an organization. There’s no easy way in saying this, but they are a killing organization. They are very highly-priced and usually go unnoticed. Only fewer of their member has ever been caught. The one that attacked you included.” He says, looking at me intensely.
“They are usually supposed to kill their target, and nothing else. I will sound horrible for saying this, but it’s almost a blessing that he tried to assault you. If not, I might not have gotten to you in time to stop him from killing you.”
Breathing heavily, I try to grasp everything he’s just told me.
“So, you’re telling me, that if he didn’t try to assault me, I would already be dead?”
“Unfortunately, yes. That is what I’m saying.”
My eyes are unfocused for a moment, but suddenly, everything becomes clear.
“Princeton, if I died, who would get possession of my father’s company?” I ask, looking at him with furious eyes.
“I can give you two guesses, but you only need one.” He answers, making my anger burst out.
“I knew it! I f*****g knew it!” I scream, jumping up from the couch, only to fall backward with dizziness.
“Wow, slow down, Snow! It’s only been a day since you’ve gotten hurt. Don’t go hurting yourself further in anger.” Gregory says, a deep frown masking his worry.
“Who are you talking about, Mr.Evans?” Sloan asks curiously.
“Unfortunately, I’m talking about Snow’s stepmother, Ingrid. She’s had her eyes on this company for quite some time now”
Greedy woman, he mumbled before speaking again.
“As I said the first time we spoke, I suspect her being the culprit behind Mr.White’s untimely death. It wouldn’t be very surprising if she were the one to hire killers to finish the job in taking Snow out of the picture as well.”
Anger beyond anything I’ve felt before engulfed all my senses.
“I swear I’ll make her pay for everything she’s put me through!” I say with gritted teeth, rubbing the pounding head hack on the side of my head that doesn’t have stitches.
“I will be here for you no matter what happens. But, we will have to set up a meeting with the other board member and solidify your standing in the company. I will help you every step of the way and teach you whatever I can. I have a strong foothold in the company and my word will get through most of them.” Princeton says, taking my hand tightly in his, squeezing it, giving me comfort.
“We will also make a promise to you. Regardless that we were hired by Princeton, we will protect you know matter what. In the little time, I’ve gotten to know you, I’ve seen what kind of person you are, and I” Gregory says, eyeing Sloan, “We, will protect you no matter what and until the very day all of your foes are out of your sight.”
The joy and warmth my heart feels at his words, keep me silent. I would never expect a stranger, because, that's what he still is to me, to say something so comforting and so heartwarming.
I just hope Ingrid won’t be too much to handle.
- Writer
