The Assassin’s Billionaire Bodyguard – Chapter 42
Isabella ended the class with a call out to the ladies to give a round of appreciative applause for the volunteers. As everyone filed out, she started cleaning up the mats. Cam, Portia, and Gideon all stayed to help and as they stacked the mats, Portia was talking a mile a minute, but Cam was silent and standoffish.
“That was so cool. It wasn’t like when Dad’s team tried to teach me to box. It was things geared just for me. I didn’t get hurt once.”
“Good, from now on Isabella can take over your self-defense training.” Cam commented dryly.
him to see the expression on her face at his comment. He apparently didn’t min
held out hope
s we all teach a bit different. I can also teach you independently if you want. I’m still learning myself.”
’re not a no
nt, “agreed. We’re settled up.”
bbed her bag and threw it on her shoulder. “Thanks again guys, I really appreciate your help. I think the ladies learned a lot this morning. Sometimes a demo is good.”
e class caught her eyes and she smiled brightly
e establishment on a Saturday morning.”
rm and familiar. Isabella always said they reminded her of a bear’s eyes, big, brown, lethal but thoughtful. She leaned up and looked at hi
d in to see Clara.”
mes they didn’t but at least he got them there. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “Whoever she is, is lucky to have you.”
ace as a resource.” He shook his head. “Thought I’d check in and see if you and Casper were free for coffee?”
blocking the exit from the gym and pulled him into the corridor. “Yes, for sur
”
risingly warm considering it’s November.”
et you outside.”
ia called out, eying Dylan’s departing back.
grateful it wasn’t as cold as other years had been but still pulled her coat tighter around her. She grimaced when she saw Cam
bella laughed as he squatted down and accepted the exuberant kisses of the tiny dog. “I swear you’re trying to steal my dog.”
sessions and a misguided sword,” Gideon teased, his raspy voice happy as
,” Dylan said with a tw
d at him. “Dylan, these are friends of mine, Portia, Gideon and Cam.” She jerked her thumb at Dylan, “remember when I told you a friend had taught me how
her curiously, “or do I want to know?”
now.” Isabella noted Cam still hadn’t said a word. She faced Dylan, ignoring the trio behind her. “We should get a move on before your phone star
ded
”
id someone die?”
a domestic violence has occurred, and I do my best to convince a victim to come here and get the help they provided my mom.” Dylan spoke seriously.
barrassed at her words. “I’m sorry,
ry,” Dylan said with a shrug, “you ready Bella?”
iliar.”
dated your dad doesn’t give you the right to question my activities.”
omen’s center is the worst place to do it. You and I need to chat so let’s go.”
Fine,” she cast an angry glance over her shoulder as she picked Casper up and held him to
in the a*s.”
idea. I like her though. She’s feisty.”
an who could give you a migraine a
s and they walked to the coffee shop on the corner.
filled her lungs with the crisp November air and exhaled a plume of steam into the space surrounding her head as she approached the front entrance.
ur date?” Cam called out as she ignored him and took the steps to the front entrance.
her door.
r, “so we dated huh?”
up today and tell me the only reason you are there is to pay a debt. It’s not exactly instilling confidence for me there is anything more.”
”
for me.”
kind of project.”
nbiased analysis of the difference a center like Clara’s makes in a high-risk community. How does the availability of resources, education, safety and medical services impact the rate of violence in a community?”
and Isabella noted it was getting longer and a curl fell toward his forehead. Her hands itched to push it back and she clenched her fists reactively.
walked inside the house. She knew he was following her, and she was torn between telling him to leave and flinging herself into his arms.
Casper jumped up and curled under the blanket on her lap.
re you ill?”
you ask?”
a. This is far messier than I ever would have thought.”
ning and I’m supposed to be having dinner with my parents tonight. I would like to get a few hours sleep before I do. I know you feel you have all kinds of things you want to say or not
go to bed.”
I tried already. Can’t sleep there.”
this.”
ally? I hadn
e guy’s apartment. What were you protecting her from?”
e was there.”
tion it.”
im all the details. “There was a bad odor in the apartment and our cleanup crew found he’d obviously abused the woman in every room of the house. He’d had her there about a month.”
rist.”
es the anonymity from it.”
do?” his comment was clearly designed to start an argument as he sneered at her.
ella took a deep breath and prepared herself to do battle with the very real possibi