Page 6 of The Virgin and Her Bodyguard

This place is slowly draining the life out of him, and it will do the same to me.

If I let it.

ChapterFive

LUCA

The sunlight streams across the grounds of the estate, and I have to admit they are magnificent.I’ve missed being outdoors like this, and I didn’t realize it until now.Working for Vitaly is something I’m proud of, and he’s always been good to me.I can’t say the same about other bosses to their employees, but my time with Vitaly has given me a sense of purpose.

But now that I’m away from the city and breathing in the fresh air, it’s like a cloud has been lifted.It’s as if I was in fog before now, and the morning light is allowing me to see clearly.

I’m starting to see why Nolia has stayed here for so long.It’s truly a wonderland if you don’t think about the horrors that go on inside the estate walls.She should be proud of what she and her father have done here.

Images of Nolia working in a garden I’ve built for her flash through my mind.My chest tightens, and I rub at the place over my heart.It’s never done this before.Am I having a heart attack?

I turn the corner up ahead, and there’s a little gazebo surrounded by flowers.There’s someone kneeling in the dirt pulling weeds, and I stop.They have a hat pulled down low, but I would know it was her with my eyes closed.

“Nolia,” I whisper.I’m too far away for her to hear me, and I barely breathe her name, but her head snaps up like I’ve shouted it.

“Luca.”I see her lips move, but I don’t hear her say it.

I clench my fists at my sides because I need to go to her.Maybe I’ve been walking out here in hopes of finding her.My subconscious could have led me around thinking she’d be nearby.But I couldn’t have predicted my body’s reaction to being separated from her.Now that I’m seeing her again, I can’t control the pull to her.

She looks around like she’s making sure no one else is with me before she tosses her gloves in the bucket beside her and gets to her feet.Instead of coming straight to me, she goes to the gazebo and grabs her bottle of water and takes a long drink.She watches me while she does it, and I don’t hide my own perusal.

She’s got on baggy overalls that hide every bit of her curves, but it would be impossible for me to forget her silhouette.Without thinking it through, I walk toward the gazebo, my purpose intent.She doesn’t tell me to stop but instead backs farther into the shelter.

“It’s safe here,” she says when I step inside.“Pru and I would spend our afternoons here talking about ways to escape.If there was some kind of camera or listening device, we would have known by now.”

“Are you okay?”It’s the first thing that comes out of my mouth as I move closer.“I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

The admission might scare her off, but I don’t seem to have control over myself.Even now, my hand lifts, and I trace the softness of her cheek.

“I’m okay.”Her lips part, and I see tears form in her eyes.

“What’s happened?”The tone of my voice changes in an instant, and I need to know who’s hurt her.

“It’s nothing, I’m okay.”She waves me off, but I don’t budge.Her shoulders sag, and to my delight, she falls against my chest.“I’m just worried.That’s all.”

I wrap my arms around her and wish that I could snap my fingers and fix everything for her.Part of me wants to storm Marco’s office and take him out so we can leave and be done with this place.But I know it wouldn’t be that easy.It never is.

“I know.”I rub my hands slowly up and down her back and then I bend down and kiss the top of her head.I feel her arms come around to hold me, and she relaxes further against my body.“I’m here, and I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“I don’t think I’m going to convince my father to leave.”She looks up at me, and I nod.

“It’s almost impossible to walk away from this life.”I touch her cheek again because I can’t help myself.

We might have embraced in a hug that someone could take for friendly, even comforting.Two people in a stressful situation relying on one another.But when I look at her, I don’t feel anything friendly.I feel possessive.

“Do you have the pen I gave you?”She nods and reaches in the front of her overalls.“Good girl.”Her cheeks flush at the endearment, and I like her reaction.I’m going to remember that.“If you need to talk to me, click the top, and I’ll come here.Okay?”

“Okay.”She bites her bottom lip, and I feel like there’s something she’s not saying.

“What is it?”I ask, my fingers stilling on her cheek.“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“That I’m scared but I’ve never felt more safe.”The edges of her lips turn up in a smile, and my heart beats faster.

“I feel that way too,” I say softly.“But I’m not afraid of the men around us.My fear is that I could lose something that I wasn’t sure I could have.”My thumb brushes over her bottom lip, and I bend down.“Something that I didn’t think was possible.”