Page 22 of Abigail's King
Chapter Nine
Kye
Seeing Abigail’s sister and her fiancé standing on the steps to their house unnerved me. Don’t get me wrong, they looked like a perfectly normal couple and I could immediately tell that Christine was Abigail’s sister. Lucas also looked like a normal guy. He wasn’t exactly well-built, but I guessed he could probably hold his own. So why was I now worried about meeting them and what they would think of me?
I had been ready for this, right up until that point, but seeing them, I was worried they would judge who I was, or at least who I used to be. Abigail and Chrissy had both put me at ease, but when I saw Lucas smirking when I called Abigail “Bonita,” I realised I might be in trouble. So far, Abigail hadn’t asked me what it meant, and I was glad of that because if she knew, it might change her feelings about me in an instant. I had a suspicion that Lucas knew exactly what it meant, and when he suggested we head into the lounge for a beer, I knew the lecture was about to come.
“So, Kye, Abi tells us you work for a private investigation company. Do you usually provide protection to high-profile clients?”
I hadn’t even placed my arse down on the seat before the questions started. I knew this would be a mistake. I just had to remember I was doing this for Abigail, and no matter what they thought of me, I was good at my job and would protect her with my life if I had to.
“You’re right. It’s not our usual line of work. But we have provided that service in the past for other clients. And before you ask the next question, I am more than capable of protecting Abigail and would risk my own life to protect her. I have taken a bullet for a client before, and I would do it again for Abigail if it meant saving her life.”
I wasn’t about to say that the reason Sienna was put in that danger was partly down to me, and I hoped that Abigail hadn’t mentioned anything about it to them, or that could end up with a new line of questioning. I saw his demeanour change at my answer and a smile come across his face.
“I’m sorry if I came across as abrupt, Kye. You have to understand Chrissy and I are really worried about Abi, and we needed to know she was in good hands. I can see she is now.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding. “I can understand your concern, Lucas. But believe me, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for Bonita.”
I saw the smile from earlier come back on his face, and I realised my mistake in not using Abigail’s name. He was quick to pick me up on it.
“Which part of Portugal are you from?”
Not the question I’d been expecting, but still a valid one.
“What makes you think I’m from Portugal? I could just as easily be from Brazil?”
He smirked again, but didn’t answer.
“I’m actually from Madeira. My brother works on the mainland as a superintendent in the police force. My parents and sister still live on the island, but I haven’t spoken to them in years.”
I paused for a second.
“Please don’t ask me why.”
I saw him ponder my answer for a minute.
“I have so many questions I want to ask after that statement, but I’m guessing you probably won’t want to answer them. I get the impression you are a very private person, and I will respect that. All I will ask is two things. One, is there anything I need to know about you that could put Abi at risk? And two, promise me you won’t ever hurt her. I know you have feelings for her. That much is clear by you calling her Bonita, though I suspect she still doesn’t know what it means. But I can also tell you have a past, one that is holding you back for whatever reason. Don’t let her think she has a chance if you have no wish to continue anything after this lunatic is found. She has been hurt too many times, and I don’t want to have to pick her up again.”
His honesty shocked me. I knew he could never hurt me. I could probably have taken him down with one hand tied behind my back. But the way he looked out for Abigail was admirable, and one I respected him for.
“To answer your questions, I would never knowingly put Abigail at risk, and there is no reason why she would be because of me. As to your second question, I wouldn’t hurt Abigail. Not unless I needed to. What I may or may not feel for her doesn’t matter. She is a famous model and far too good for the likes of me. She will see that in the end.”
He laughed at my answer. “That’s what I was afraid of. You’re already in love with her. You won’t admit it, but I can tell you are. Just don’t mess with her, please.”
I stopped for a minute. Was I in love with Abigail? I knew I had feelings for her, but was it love?
“I care for Abigail deeply, but I’m not sure I’m in love with her. I would never physically hurt her, and I can tell you this. If I hurt her emotionally it would only be to protect her.”
“Protect her from who?”
I knew the answer to that immediately, but I didn’t want to say it out loud. I knew I was being tested here, and I didn’t want to jeopardise anything that came to Abigail’s safety by Lucas suggesting she should find someone else, because I knew I was the best person to protect her. I knew how a criminal’s mind worked. I used to be one. But I had to be honest with this man who sat in front of me. It was the only way I would get him to trust me.
“If you want me to be honest with you, then it would be to protect her from me. You’ve already guessed I have a past. That past still haunts me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t protect her from the lunatic trying to get her. I would give my life to save her, and that includes saving her from myself.”
He gave me a knowing nod. “That’s all I needed to know. But I will say one more thing and then will leave it be. Whatever happened in the past doesn’t have to affect your future. I can already see how much Abi cares for you. I know you are here to protect her, but she has never once brought one of her boyfriends to meet us. That tells me a lot, and it should you as well. Don’t throw away a chance at love just because of the past. Living life alone is something I wouldn’t want anyone to go through. But what I said earlier still stands. Try not to hurt her.”
I sat there thinking about what he had said. I knew he was right. So many people had told me the same thing. Mason, Jayden, Sienna, Nathan, and Kelsey. All of them had tried to convince me that there was a life after Sofia. Even though Jayden and Sienna didn’t know Sofia existed, they knew something had happened in my past. I just wasn’t sure I could convince myself and let the pain go. But if there was one woman I would try to do it for, it would be my Bonita.
