Page 15 of Protecting his Secrets

Nick chuckled at how well his mother knew him. “I told him, but he said he had faith in me.” He rubbed his lips, reluctantly smiling. “He said I knew Malachi better than anyone and I wouldn’t take any shit he doled out.”

“That’s true.”

“But I am likely to kill him before the time is through.”

Rebecca sipped her tea and chuckled softly. “Think of it as a chance to find outwhyhe’s writing what he is. Something must’ve happened for him to be so antagonistic towards them.”

Nick’s stomach soured. “What if it’s a ruse to get close to them?” He voiced his worst fear.

“Then you will be there to stop whatever he has planned.” He focused on his coffee, his stomach churning, but his mother continued. “No one made a mistake that day, Nick. No one did. That man decided to do that, and no one did anything wrong. People still got hurt, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault but that man’s. The king survived. Others didn’t, but as much as I hate to think about it, that’s the job you’ve signed up for. Bodyguards can do everything right and still bad things happen. If you continue to second-guess yourself, Nick, you won’t be able to do your job.”

Nick’s throat closed up, and his chest ached, a physical pressure that made it hard to breathe. So many people had lost their lives, both that day and other days, and it was heartbreaking. He would happily give his life to save someone else’s, but it sucked all the same. His mother had been there through his physiotherapy and helped him to get around whilehe was healing, and she knew how he felt because he spent many hours talking about it.

“Mum! Dad! I’m here!”

Nick cleared his throat and chuckled, grateful for the interruption, and his mother sighed and shouted back to Jonah, “We guessed that, sweetheart.” The standard response to their children’s standard greeting. A greeting he had no idea when it started.

His brother strode in, his suit still in pristine condition despite spending the day at work. Nick had never kept his suit that clean. Jonah worked in an office, using his financial genius to make investments for people. He was the image of their father with lighter hair and blue eyes, whereas Nick, Eliza and Rye took after their mother more with dark hair and eyes.

Rebecca rose and hugged Jonah before heading to the oven. “We have half an hour before the lasagne is ready, so go talk to your dad, both of you.”

“I’ve just got comfortable!” Nick said, though he didn’t mean a word of it.

“Then get uncomfortable,” Rebecca replied, a twinkle in her eyes.

Nick groaned halfheartedly and grabbed his drink, following his brother into the living room.

“I wondered when someone was going to visit with me,” his dad, Don, said, his tablet held tightly in his hand as his fingers worked the screen, undoubtedly setting more people working on the game he was obsessed with.

“You’re busy working, Dad. I thought I’d give you some peace,” Nick teased. He dropped onto a cushion on the sofa, Jonah settling at the other end.

“What’s new?” Don asked, his eyes still on the screen.

Jonah crossed his legs. “Absolutely nothing.”

Nick snorted. “How much money did you make people today?”

Jonah’s cheeks flushed. “Enough.” He loved his job, but he openly admitted he hated making certain people money. People he said didn’t deserve it. He happily did it for others, including his family. “How many assholes did you beat up today?” Jonah returned the teasing.

“Not one, unfortunately.” Nick sighed as if he was disappointed.

“Mum! Dad! I’m here!” Eliza’s voice called through the house, and Rebecca sighed her usual greeting. His sister poked her head into the room.

“Where’s Rye?” Nick asked.

Eliza shrugged. “He told me he was making his own way here tonight.” She disappeared again.

Nick and Jonah shared a look. It wasn’t often Rye arrived home by himself. Eliza and he lived close to each other, and she always picked him up along the way.

“Wonder what he’s been doing,” Jonah murmured.

“Leave him alone when he gets here,” Don said. “You don’t have to know everything about his life or anyone’s lives.”

“But it’s so much fun teasing them,” Jonah said. “You taught us that.”

Don sighed and shook his head, glancing at them over the top of his glasses. “I taught you to be nice, too, and look where that got us.”

Nick snorted, and Jonah pointed a finger at their dad. “See! You’re just as bad.”

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