Page 74 of The Forbidden Billionaire
Bemused, I watch as the police officers approach and Ella starts talking to them. Luke’s listening, although he’s watching me. My gaze creeps up to his. He doesn’t smile.
I can’t believe he’s known since the moment I met him. Christ, I’ve been such an idiot. It all makes sense. Marcus’s insistence that I have a CPO. The odd feeling I’ve had that conversations stopped whenever I walked into a room.
I understand now why Luke was so serious when he showed me the self-defense moves. Why he’s been so strict with me. Crossing the pavement to make sure he walks on the roadside. The way he checks every building before I go in. He’s been trying to keep me safe.
Ella says his name, and he turns to look at her. Feeling a sudden wave of panic, I reach out and take his hand. “Don’t go.”
He looks back at me, and I wait for him to object and remove his hand from mine. But instead he says firmly, “I’m not leaving you,” and he closes his fingers around mine, bringing me with him as he crosses over to them.
“This is Constable James Parish,” Ella says, “and this is Constable Sarah Wilson.” She looks at me. “This is Aurelia Ashford, and this is Luke Grayson, her close protection officer.”
“Hello, ma’am,” Sarah says with a comforting smile. “I understand you’ve had a break-in.”
I nod and swallow hard.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. How are you? Are you okay?” She glances at where I’m holding Luke’s hand, but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m… ah… a little shaken up, that’s all,” I admit.
“You rang the police?” Sarah asks Luke.
“Yes,” he says. “Once I realized someone had been in the apartment, I removed the principal. We didn’t touch anything.” He looks at Ella. “Have you explained the history?”
“I was just about to.”
“I was placed with Aurelia after she started receiving suspicious messages,” Luke says.
“What kind of messages?” Sarah asks.
Ella explains that her security team has intercepted hundreds of social media messages, texts, and emails, as well as flowers and gifts. To my horror, she explains that he’s sent a dozen photos of me over the past few months, taken at my parents’ house, at work, while I’ve been lunching with friends. Then she explains about the photograph that was taken from Dominic’s phone.
That makes tears prick my eyes. I’m annoyed, but not shocked that he didn’t get rid of them. I still have a couple of photos of him on my phone, although they’re not intimate ones. I am upset though that Luke has seen them. He’ll have suspected that Dom took them during one of the sessions I told him about—when I was restrained against my will. He must have been furious. No wonder he went to Dom’s office and threatened to take him apart.
I hate that everyone knew about this and chose to keep it from me. I’m so angry, it’s making me shake. The only thing that comforts me is that I know Luke has regretted not being able to tell me. Several times, he’s been on the verge of confessing; I realize it now.I had to do what your parents wanted.I believe him when he said it nearly killed him.
He’s my close protection officer; he was told not to tell me. My familychosenot to. It’s a very different thing, in my mind.
“Just quickly,” Luke says, “before everyone turns up… I’d appreciate it if you could keep attendance to the minimum necessary because of the nature of the items he left on the bed.”
Sarah frowns.
“Underwear,” Ella clarifies.
“And a very personal item,” Luke adds, exchanging a glance with her.
Ella’s eyes widen, and pity lights Sarah’s eyes as understanding obviously sinks in.
“I don’t want my father seeing it,” I blurt out.
“It’s a crime scene now,” Sarah says softly. “We have to avoid contamination, so only the police will go into the room, okay?”
I nod. Relief sweeps through me. I can’t explain how awful I’d have felt if my family went in there and saw everything—my father, Marcus, Caesar. God, I’d have died.
Sarah murmurs to James, and he nods and pulls out his phone. She turns back to us. “Given the history you’ve described, I’m referring this to the Criminal Investigation Branch. They’ll probably want to speak to you tomorrow, and they’ll also want to examine the scene themselves. Constable Parish and I will go up and secure the room now and make sure the perpetrator has left. I’ve requested a female scenes-of-crime examiner. Once she’s arrived, she and I will photograph the apartment and thenbag the items while Constable Parish takes statements from you both. Is that okay?”
My eyes sting. I’m so relieved that she understands why I’m so horrified.
Roy at reception hands the officers a spare key card. They walk over to the elevator, and soon they’re going into the carriage, and the doors close.
