Without waiting for a response, she turned to leave.
I wasn’t about to let her go. I sprang out of my chair and rushed over to her, grabbing Victoria by the upper arm. Her reaction was instant. She whipped around, fire flashing in her eyes, the surprise of a royal who’d realized that she’d just been touched by some dirty peasant.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asked. “Unhand me!”
“I’ll unhand you,” I said. “But let’s get one thing straight—you’re under our protection. That means, for the time being, you’re going to be doing as we say. Andthatmeans you don’t just get to come and go as you damn well please, lass. How many more times do I need to explain this to you?”
Narrowing her eyes, she yanked her arm free.
She closed her eyes and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she composed herself. “Am I not allowed to go for a walk?”
“You can walk,” Ajax said. “Just as long as one of us is with you. Kids on patrol now—he’ll stay with you.”
“But I want to be alone with my thoughts. I have to be with one of you just to step outside?”
I chuckled, more amused than anything at her battiness. “Really, lass, we should be locking you up in the house and keeping you away from any windows.”
She rolled her eyes, not moved by my words. “How kind of you to allow me sunlight.”
“Just saying,” I went on. “We’re doing you a favor by letting you out. It’s our job to keep you safe, and I think it’s a damn fair compromise that we have someone along to keep a close eye on you.”
She pressed her mouth into a flat line.
“Fine. Take me to him.” She raised a finger. “And I don’t want to talk. Tell him that I want him to act like he’s not there.”
“You can tell him that yourself, kiddo,” Pyke said. “You’re not going to break our hearts if you don’t want to engage in scintillating conversation.”
“My, that’s certainly a big word,” she said.
That got a laugh out of us.
“Girl’s got fire,” Ajax said. “Got to give her that.”
I watched her leave, looking through the big kitchen windows as she made her way across the lawn toward Kid.
What a shitshow.
“Boys, can we all be in agreement that we make this thelast‘babysit a bratty VIP’ operation we ever take?”
“I second that,” Ajax said.
Pyke rubbed his chin. “Normally, I’d say we don’t have the luxury of saying no to missions like this. But after the payday we’re looking at…”
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Ajax added. “But we’re not beggars anymore—far from it. We’re the best in the business, and we don’t need to put up with clients like her any longer.”
I turned my attention back to the window.
The money. Victoria was as close to a royal pain in the ass as they came, but God, just thinking about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was more than enough to put my mind at ease.
I had plans for myself with the cash—some new gear, an upgrade for my motorcycle or two, hell, maybe even a trip somewhere for fun, and not with these three lads tagging along.
However, those plans were far from my mind. All I really wanted was to get back to Aberdeen and see me ma, to share with her some of my good fortune, maybe put her up in a nicer place. I’d been saving for a good long while to get her taken care of, and the money I’d earn from this job would put me over the top.
A smile spread across my face as I imagined showing up, of giving the woman a big hug and slipping into her hands a check that would change her life forever, enough money to where she didn’t have to work another shift at that damn pub if she didn’t want to.
Focus. Do the job and get it done like you always do.
I calmed. As I watched Victoria stride across the lawn, apple in her hand as she approached Kid, I had a damn good feeling that I’d be working like a dog for my pay.