Page 10 of Stryker's Ruin
“Any street kid could break into that dump. One kick to the apartment door and it would shatter. My job is to protect her until your deal is sealed. I’ve moved her to a safer upscale location.”
“Where is she?”
“Resting.”
“Did you get her some clothes? The O’Kelley’s want to meet with her tomorrow.”
Hell no. Tomorrow, I’m giving her some of her dreams. “No. She’s exhausted flying across time zones and relocating for a second time within a day. We’ll shop tomorrow and they can wait until the next day. You don’t want to seem too eager. They’ll expect you to want private time with family. She needs time to get her bearings, so she can represent the family the way you expect.”
I hear someone talking quietly in the background. As I suspected, we’re on a speaker phone. “Was it your men or O’Kelley’s staking out the parking lot?”
A chair creaks. “I’ll make dinner reservations for the day after tomorrow and let you know where so you can have her dressed appropriately.”
His non-answer lets me know it was his men following us. The question is why? It’s unlikely he knows who I really am. Is he making sure I’m protecting his property? Or is there another game at play? Does he want to have something happen to her sohecan start the war?
“Remind her what’s expected of her. She has a job to do,” he snaps before disconnecting the call.
Ruin flinches, lowering her gaze.
Pocketing my phone, I give her a minute as I toss the food containers back in the bag. “Let’s get settled in the new place then we’ll get dinner and I’ll show you a little of the town.”
Her eyes light up. “Can we do that?”
“Yes, there are some interesting things near where we’re staying. We’ll take it easy, since you do have jet lag. Tomorrow is going to be all about you. We’ll get the shopping out of the way, then check some things off your list. Tonight is a simple introduction to the town.”
After parking in the secure garage under the building, we take the elevator to the apartment. The team has used it as a safe house in the past and tracing it back to any of us would be damn difficult. There’s one minor issue. It only has one, very comfortable bed.
I follow her inside. My pleasure at her gasp of delight surprises me as she walks to the floor to ceiling wall of windows looking out over the city. “It’s so beautiful.”
I don’t do relationships. I treat women right, with respect and gentleness and hard loving, but never have I been one to get involved. We date, we fuck, we both walk away.
So why do I suddenly want to wrap Ruin in silks and satins? Adorn her with jewels to accent her natural beauty. Shower her with all the things she went without in her isolated life.
I want to be the one to tick off every item on her wish list. Be the one to see her eyes light up with joy. To show her the beauty of Chicago and protect her from the underbelly I know all too well exists. When did she go from being a job to…so much more.
Her innocence is the polar opposite of my tarnished legacy, not to mention my years in the military as a scout and sniper. I’ve lived hard, feeding and taming the beast within. Through it all I’ve developed my own code of honor. I protect those who are mine. What remains of my family. My brothers in the field. Those under my protection. If you dare cross my line, be aware all hell will rain down on you.
Fuck man. I run a hand through my hair. What am I thinking? She’s an innocent flower. She won’t even be eighteen for a few more days. That alone is a great big red flag. At twenty years her senior, that puts me in the dirty old man category.
Yet, she’s an old soul in a young body. She is so fucking precious in her innocence. Smart, beautiful, thoughtful, kind. Everything I don’t deserve.
I put my hands on my hips. Everything we’ve found on her suitor tells me he’s a piece of shit. Garvey O’Kelley owns and operates a bar and underground sex club from which he runs prostitution. He’s not the kind of man who deserves her. What the fuck is her grandfather thinking?
“Who named you?”
She turns from the window, clasps her hands in front of herself and meets my gaze. “My mother was alone when I was born. She filled out the birth certificate and snuck out of the hospital with me. A week later, Vince’s housekeeper found me on the back patio in a laundry basket. My mother left a note and a copy of the birth form which was filled out with only her first name Vittoria and my father’s whole name. Moe Vincenzo Camassa. She gave me the name Ruin Vita Camassa. If you don’t speak Italian, vita means life. In her note she said that my father ruined her life and she hoped I’d ruin his.”
“Who told you that?”
“Vince showed me the note many years ago when…when I asked why I couldn’t live with the family. My father was married at the time of my birth, and had legitimate children. He’s still with the same wife. It’s why I’m not allowed to call Vince grandfather or acknowledge the man who is my father.”
“Do you have a copy of your birth certificate?”
“No.”
“How about a passport?”
“Yes. When I moved from country to country in Europe, he didn’t like sending a private jet so he would have the caregiver put me on the plane and the next one would pick me up.