Page 16 of She's Mine

All of Alyssa’s cases were loaded into the trunk of the Range Rover. I don’t know how long she thought we’d be hiding away from the Bloodline, but she’d packedsevencases full of clothes, toiletries, makeup and othernecessities.

I had no need to pack a case at all, knowing anything and everything I’d need was already waiting for me at the compound. I always made sure to keep it fully stocked with clothes and toiletries, as well as video games, movies and other things to keep me occupied. Additionally, I’d already spoken to my chef, Lawrence, and my housekeeper, Mavis, and arranged for them to order groceries and get the compound ready as Alyssa and I drove to Blue Jay.

My main concern now was making sure Alyssa and I weren’t followed. After what had happened at Rodeo Drive earlier in the day, I wasn’t taking any chances. I’d already made sure we weren’t followed when we left the Blythe Estate, but I couldn’t be certain that the Bloodline didn’t already know what car I drove, and the license plates for it. Erring on the side of caution, I had agreed with Jeffrey to replace my Range Rover for one of the vehicles J&J Security kept in a secure parking lot for situations just like this.

“We’re going to have to change cars before we leave LA,” I told Alyssa as we drove out of Beverly Hills.

“That’s fine,” Alyssa said, her voice low and devoid of any emotion.

She was taking this whole thing harder than I’d expected. I knew she felt bad about sneaking away from the boutique, and I’d seen how hard it had been for her to leave her parents.

“They’ll be okay, I promise,” I said. “Pedro and Scott are both excellent at their jobs, and well, your dad isn’t chief of police for nothing.”

Her gaze never leaving the road outside the car, Alyssa said, “I keep remembering the feel of that guy’s knife against my throat. This is all my fault. If I hadn't been such a brat--”

“This isn’t your fault,” I insisted firmly. I couldn’t stand hearing the pain in Alyssa’s voice, and I was very tempted to pull over so I could comfort her properly. “Even if you hadn’t snuck out of the boutique, it would still be unsafe for you and your parents to remain in your home. This is the safest option for everyone.”

Alyssa nodded and glanced towards me. I saw the tears glittering on her cheeks as she asked, “What if I never see them again?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t letanythinghappen to you. And I know Scott and Pedro will protect your parents with their lives. Between your father and Jeffrey, the Bloodline will be caught.”

She offered me a small, sad smile. “I wish I had your faith, David.”

This time, I couldn’t help myself, and drove the car down a quiet side street and then stopped the engine. Before Alyssa even had a chance to ask what was going on, I’d unfastened my seatbelt, and wrapped my arms around her.

“Everything will be okay, I promise,” I said, stroking her hair gently.

I felt the air crackle between Alyssa and I, but pushed anything I was feeling aside. This young woman had just walked away from her family, after being held at knife point earlier on in the day, I wasn’t about to say or doanythingto make this situation even more complicated for her.

Alyssa cried into my shoulder for a few moments, before straightening up again. When she gazed at me, her eyes were bloodshot and glassy with tears.

“Thanks for all this, David,” she said weakly.

“All part of the service,” I replied, fastening my seatbelt again and starting the ignition.

What I wasn’t about to admit was that I’d protect Alyssa with my life, even if I wasn’t being paid to do so.

When we came to the J&J Security parking lot, we changed cars, and then after making sure we still weren’t being followed, we started the journey out of Los Angeles.

It took less than three hours to drive to Blue Jay, CA, where my holiday home-come-secure compound was hidden away in the forest by Lake Arrowhead.

I smiled to myself hearing Alyssa’s little gasp of delight, as we drove through the forest, and approached the A-frame wooden ‘cabin’. Cabin was a bit of an understatement, as my holiday home had four bedrooms, each with their own ensuite, but it was smaller compared to some of the luxury homes in the area -- including an actual castle!

Leading up to the compound was a long driveway, which ended in a barbed wire topped security fence that surrounded the ten acres of forestland that the cabin was situated within. While we didn’t have direct access to Lake Arrowhead, my compound had plenty of room so that Alyssa and I wouldn’t get under each other’s feet, and we might even be able to go out for some simple hikes.

I input the security code as we reached the gate, and then drove up to the garage, where Lawrence and Mavis’ car was already parked. When I’d first hired the chef and housekeeper, I’d specifically searched for a husband-and-wife team, meaning that they had company as they worked for me, and someone to enjoy their downtime with. As long as Lawrence and Mavis kept everything running smoothly, they could use my facilities as they wished.

“Welcome to my holiday home,” I said, as I parked my borrowed car next to Lawrence and Mavis’ Chevrolet.

When I didn’t require their service, Lawrence and Mavis lived together in a large townhouse in Blue Jay. They had two adult children who had moved away a few months before I’d hired Lawrence and Mavis four years ago.

Grinning, Alyssa unfastened her seatbelt, and opened the passenger side door. “I can’t wait for you to give me the tour.”

Glad to see her mood had improved, I smiled and said, “Well, do you want the tour first or something to eat? I told Lawrence to expect us, so he should already be preparing dinner.”

Even as I spoke, I caught the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen, and felt my stomach rumble. It felt like a lifetime ago that Alyssa had made lunch for both of us.

Alyssa must have smelled the scent of food too, because she started making her way to the door that led from the garage to the kitchen. “Let’s eat!”

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