Page 47 of Treasured Secrets
"I'm definitely wearing him down." I giggled to myself as I stepped into the shower.
Chapter 11
Bodyguards and Trade Secrets
Sometimes it's hard to see what is right in front of you, until it's too late.
School ended and Tallis walked me out with his arm around my shoulders. I was quick to remind him of his promise from the previous night.
"You owe me a story."
His pretended to be oblivious to what I was referring to. "A story about what?" He tried to sound sincere as he played dumb.
"About the bodyguards. You promised if I went to sleep, that you would answer any question I had today." I put my hand on his stomach as I turned to walk backwards, staring him in the eyes.
"Okay okay." He chuckled lightly at my childlike enthusiasm. Then he looked around as he spoke quietly. "But not here. Let's go to my house. I think it's the best place for private conversation."
He had such a wary tone that I felt almost worried he thought someone was listening in.
He opened my door. As I sat down, I saw McKee leaned against the school, glaring at us. I was flooded with unwelcome chills.
Tallis jumped in and threw his arm around my shoulders again. The looks I got from other girls all the time were so harsh. It was hard to make friends because they all hated me. They knew that McKee was jealous, and Tallis, the hottest guy in school, was mine. Well, sort of mine. I was the first exception to his nodating in high school rulethat he'd made. Needless to say, not everyone was pleased with his decision.
Tallis leaned over and kissed me on my cheek. He was so close to my mouth that his breath touched the corners of my lips. That got me some more icy looks from the hyenas. I certainly wouldn't be getting class favorite any time soon.
We pulled up at his house. He took me inside and led me to his room. The tropical smell flowed through the house, just like my old home.
His house was so much quieter than mine. There were so many people living at my house, or staying there all the time. Seven or eight bodyguards at all times, and there was always a family from somewhere different everyday. There were always heads of covens there, and there was always something going on.
Tallis's house was peaceful. He always teased that a Verdan was less maintenance than a Bradbury. I had found it odd that my last name was Weislen, but to everyone from this supernatural world, I was a Bradbury. I guess that was okay. It just took some time to get used to.
We sat on his window seat as he pulled out a photo album. "Awesome! Baby pictures."
I may have squealed a little as I clapped my hands in excitement. Then I realized that my excitement may have been premature.
He smirked and rolled his eyes. "Not exactly. Just some history to help answer your question."
He flipped to a page with some black and white photos of his mom and dad standing next to an unknown man. He looked like a bodybuilder with a thick mustache. I just stared at him, confused.
"He's a friend?" I wasn't sure what he was showing me this for. I had never noticed the guy around.
"He used to be." His voice was muffled.
"What happened?"
He released a harsh breath, and then he answered.
"He was killed." His voice was quiet. but it sounded like a touch of anger may have lingered in the background.
"Oh. I'm sorry." I was a little startled by the sudden and unexpected revelation. I was also confused by it.
"Don't be. I killed him."
His eyes deepened with pain and bottled rage. I just sat very still, waiting on him to continue. I had no clue what to say or where he was going with this conversation. I could feel my eyes wild with surprise. It all seemed so out of leftfield.
Finally, he took a breath and continued in his hushed, anger-laced, painful telling. "We once had a family of bodyguards that lived with us. The Brussels were our best friends. I grew up with Jameson, the oldest son. We did everything together. Thomas, his father, was my dad's best friend. His wife, Adella, was like a sister to my mother.
"Alice was their daughter. She stayed quiet and never really socialized with us. The rest of us were all like a big family.
