Chapter 3

　　　STRIKER

　　　 I woke up earlier as I tossed and turned in bed, probably the first night effect of being in a new place. Although this had been Dad’s home for decades, and I was here on his birthday and Christmas Eve.

　　　I’d been staring in the mirror. My hands were still in my tie. 

　　　“Hey. You’re safe now.” The asset, London, was still hiccuping. Her fingers were digging into my gear, gripping me tightly, and I had no choice but to carry her. Despite my exhaustion, somehow, she eased it away.

　　　Linden gave me a nod as he tried to contact someone on the phone, probably our client. While Kye was in the driver’s seat, Sax checked their ammo, and the others watched our six.

　　　“Thank fuck,” Sax muttered as the hele came to view.

　　　We reached the extraction point with a hammer.

　　　“It’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay,” I whispered to London. “You will be with your father in no time.”

　　　“D-don’t leave me. I don’t wanna be alone.” That was the first time I heard her talk. Her voice was shaky and laced with fear but soft like butter. 

　　　I didn’t get too emotional while I was in the service. It was part of the training to be focused and leave the baggage behind, but I couldn’t help myself this time. 

　　　My heart warmed. 

　　　“I won’t. That’s a promise,” I said as I ran my fingers through her hair. 

　　　I ran my fingers through my hair again before leaving the walk-in closet. I grabbed my handgun from the drawer and slid it into the holster. Then I suddenly felt nervous, which never happened. 

　　　Drawing a deep breath, I climbed downstairs. Dad had an impressive 12-bedroom home on his 3-acre property.

　　　“Look at my handsome boy!” he yelled from the main entrance.

　　　I laughed. Tate Cade wasn’t just a fantastic dad—he was my best friend and was full of positivity in his fit body. He adopted me when he was just twenty-three. He said he knew I would be his son the moment he laid his eye on me.

　　　“Dad.” I smiled as I wrapped my arms around him. Even though I was here on his birthday six months ago, I missed him, despite the fact that we constantly talked over the phone. It still felt different seeing him face to face.

　　　“You’re really grown man now, son.”

　　　I laughed again as we pulled away. “Seriously?”

　　　His smile never faded. “You know what I mean.”

　　　“What do you mean exactly?” I couldn’t help but smile.

　　　“I’m glad you’re home.” He propped his hands on his waist and inspected me from head to toe.

　　　“Did my suit meet your standard?”

　　　“You look handsome even in your one-sie, son.”

　　　“You’re my dad. You’ve been doing that to boost my confidence. Anyway, I’m moving to my house tomorrow.”

　　　“Why?” His brows creased. “This house isn’t big enough for the two of us?”

　　　“Dad, I’m twenty-seven. And I’d lived in my house for years before leaving Winterbourn.”

　　　“Stay. This is your home, too, Striker. I don’t come home often, anyway, and if it makes you comfortable, I’ll stay at the penthouse.”

　　　I shook my head. “No, Dad. I won’t let you do that.”

　　　“You don’t have to, but I already made my decision.”

　　　“This house is too big for me. Mine is okay.”

　　　“Then go out on a date, fall in love, make babies, and settle down.” 

　　　I chuckled as I shook my head. “That’s a lot of pressure for someone not looking for a date. Let’s take it easy, okay?”

　　　“I wanna take care of my grandchildren before I die.”

　　　I raised my hand to surrender. “Okay. Don’t go there. How about you take care of your own.”

　　　“I do take care of you.”

　　　“I mean your boyfriend.” I shrugged off.

　　　“I’ve been single for months.”

　　　“What? I thought—”

　　　“I’m single at this moment. End of the story.”

　　　“I’m sorry to hear that. I thought you and Tony were doing great. Why didn’t you tell me?”

　　　“I’m not sorry. Now let’s talk about you.” We walked out of the house. His driveway was massive. “Did you accept the offer?”

　　　“I know you don’t want me to work in the firm again, but this is just temporary, Dad.”

　　　“I know, Striker. Linus told me about the offer and asked me to convince you to help him.”

　　　“So you and he also exchange recipes?” I lifted a brow.

　　　“Your sarcasm doesn’t work on me. You need to get laid.”

　　　“That’s riveting.” I went to my car, the Mercedes I would use for a few weeks. “Great advice.”

　　　“Take care, and use your charm.”

　　　“I love you, Dad. And It’s good to be back.” I paused and smiled before I entered the driver’s seat.

　　　My phone rang before I drove off. It was Linden.

　　　“Yeah?”

　　　“Did you get the details?”

　　　“Do I have to reply to your email, too?”

　　　“You’re enjoying this too much, Cade.” Linden was the boss everyone could ask for. He was the coolest. Also the best friends anyone wanted.

　　　“I love you, too, buddy.”

　　　“Just take it easy.”

　　　“Am I missing something here? Dad told me to use my charm, and now you just told me to take it easy.”

　　　“Nothing like that.”

　　　“I can do my job better if you just spill it on me. I can handle pressure, Linden.”

　　　“You did great with Rome and Princess Royal, but this one is different.”

　　　“Jeez. Thanks for the heads up, but I can take care of a little brat just right, brother.”

　　　“Good. Good luck.”

　　　Forty minutes later, I entered the gate to the house of my new employee. Technically, Linus was my employee, and she was just the subject that I would drive and protect and maybe ogle a little because she was just gorgeous and hot.

　　　I exited the driver’s seat, and there you go—the Vanderford princess. I had to control my urge not to look like a dork teenager having a crush on the cheerleader and to keep my hands to myself.

　　　London was just stunning. She wore a white corporate dress with a dark green coat over her shoulders and her black fuck-me-high-heels. Her full lips were the color of blood red, dug at my resolve. Wow. A part of me snapped.

　　　“Ma’am.” I rushed to the backseat door.

　　　“What the hell are you doing here?” Okay, I would pretend she didn’t know I would be her temporary driver because I could be working behind the desk while my five senses were dormant, and I still got paid without any risk.

　　　A heartbeat passed between us before I spoke. “You’re gonna be late, ma’am.” I was still holding the door for her while her face contorted, her eyes glaring at me, filled with anger it was hard to draw.

　　　“I’m calling Linden to assign a new driver for me.” She stomped her heels before she got in the backseat.

　　　“Good idea,” I muttered just enough for her to hear before I shut the door close.

　　　I went to the driver’s seat, latched my seatbelt, and drove off in a rush before she could change her mind climbing out of the car. 

　　　I stole a glance through the rearview. London was on her phone, probably going to call Linden. Her feminine, sweet, and alluring smell walloped me. 

　　　I stayed focused on the road and ignored my racing heartbeat. 

　　　“Why did you agree?”

　　　“Ma’am?”

　　　“Stop calling me ma’am.” She snapped.

　　　“Miss Vanderford.”

　　　“God, I hate you.” I’m still wondering why.

　　　“How do you want me to call you then?”

　　　“Just shut up.” I could feel she was vibrating with anger, flames reflecting in her eyes, but who cared? A part of occupational hazards.

　　　“Why did you take the job?”

　　　“I’m not as privileged as you, Miss Vanderford. When your father offered me a temporary job, I grabbed it. Nothing personal, ma’am.”

　　　“Privilege, my ass. Of course, nothing personal. Why would it be?”

　　　“What’s that—” I stopped. Don’t go there, Striker. “Your seatbelt, please?”

　　　“I wish,” she muttered under her breath and went back to typing on her phone. 

　　　I drew a deep breath and focused on the task at hand—to drive her safely to work. But it was hard to concentrate when I could feel her gaze blazing with fire at me, and the space between us didn’t do much of a help. 

　　　There was a time I wished the situation was different about two years ago, but nothing had changed. She was still the moon and the stars. 

　　　“Why did you take the job? I need an honest answer, Cade?” So, she even knew my name.

　　　“I answered that already, ma’am.”

　　　“Fine. You’re fired.”

　　　“Really?” I chuckled and looked at her through the rearview. And she was still glaring daggers at the back of my head and still looked hot as fuck. Jesus, how could she be so fucking breathtaking even when she was mad? “Your seatbelt, please?”

　　　“Do you think you’re funny?”

　　　“I’m not trying, but your father is writing my paycheck. He hired me, so you can’t fire me, princess.”

　　　“Don’t call me that!” She just exploded. Her voice pierced my ears.

　　　I hit the brake and stopped the car to a halt. I unlatched the seatbelt and turned to her. “I apologize if I triggered something, Miss Vanderford. It was not my intention. My mistake, okay? But bear with me. I will request my replacement if you can’t stand me until your work ends today.” It was a bluff. I took this job not only for her but for her father. “Just let me send you to your office. Would that be okay?”

　　　“And leave again,” she answered me with what still puzzled me as she looked outside the window. ”That’s what you are good at.”

　　　“What do you mean?”

　　　“Nothing.”