Page 6 of Billionaire Bodyguard

I owned the company. Through wise decisions and good connections, I’d accrued enormous wealth through my business and investments, making me a billionaire who could live a life of luxury and leisure. With a single phone call, I could entrustLinzey’s care to one of the men I employed and walk away from the day to day.

Theoretically.

In reality, Linzey bound me to her the moment I’d seen her chained to that wall in the abandoned building where she’d been kept. I freed her, but I would never be free. I just couldn’t bring myself to leave her. I couldn’t assign her care to anyone else. Linzey was mine.

So I spent my days with my obsession and my nights with my hand.

Until I could claim her.

If I ever could.

If she was ever ready.

If I was sure she was safe from the dangers of my past. With the information from this morning, that hope faded. I could take care of Coval and his men, but how many might come behind this threat.

I huffed a humorless laugh. That was the catch wasn’t it. If she knew about my past in the SEALs, the morally gray things I’d done for our country, she’d never want me. Even if I could fully assure her safety.

Knowing she wouldn’t emerge from her room without my notice, nor would she escape through a window since we were twelve floors up, I returned to my office.

Almost immediately, as if sensing me, my computer trilled with a facetime request from Booker. I settled back in my chair and accepted the call from my closest friend.

“Your Highness, how can I help you today?” I said, teasing him with the title he rarely used. My lips quirked as I bit back a grin.

“Oh fuck off with that,” he grumbled, also trying not to smile.

I chuckled. “What’s up?”

“Checking in. How are things over there on the other side of Central Park?”

“Same as usual.”

“Which means Linz is going toe-to-toe with you again, yes?”

I’d never spoken to my friend about my attraction to his sister-in-law, but I was sure he suspected. Though she was twelve years younger than me, she gave me a run for my money and then some. The woman was smart as a whip with an equally sharp tongue.

And that was without mentioning I wanted to pin her to a wall. With my dick.

“We’re having a small difference of opinion about the level of protection she needs,” I hedged.

“Oh. Is that all?”

Yeah, my friend knew exactly how it was. He was nearly feral when it came to his wife.

“Everything okay with your personal protection detail?” I asked, changing the subject. “Do I need to speak to anyone?”

I’d been the head of his protection until I’d rescued Linzey from the asshole who’d grabbed her. That day had changed everything for me. For all of us.

“Oh, please. You know they’re fine. You and your ex-special forces crew wouldn’t let a mosquito bite my ass. The only one better than my team is you—or maybe Connor.” Connor being my second in command and the only person I let cover me when I couldn’t be with Linzey.

“Good. So…”

“I’m calling to see if you want to grab a couple beers.”

“I—”

“You never take a break, Adler. It’s not good for you. Trust me. I’m a doctor. I know these things.”

“You’re a pediatrician.” Yeah…could the guy be more perfect? He was a doctor, a billionaireanda prince. Me, I’d joined the military my senior year of high school, just to get away from the inner city slum where I’d grown up. Worked my ass off to get a degree so I could qualify to be an officer. Then worked even harder to become a SEAL with a specialization in tech. I’d still be there if not for my last op.

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