Authors: K Carr
“Don’t,” Matt said in a hoarse voice. “Please don’t, I—please, don’t.”
The look on his face, he looked ill.
“There are many people who still believe to this day us being together is wrong. On both sides. And, unfortunately, some people will look at us and see a white man doing as he pleases with a black woman. They won’t see that I know my own mind, that I love you and it doesn’t matter to me if you’re white. Some people will look at us and think we’re wrong together.”
“I know that, Madi,” he said. His voice was gruff with emotion. He obviously didn’t like the thought of someone doing to me what countless numbers of my people had suffered. “But that’s in the past. It was a horrible stain on history, but it’s in the past.”
I gave him a sad smile. “We don’t have the chains and whips anymore, but what was done has left us bruised. Not broken,” I said with fervour. “Never broken because we, as a people, are bloody strong willed.” I rubbed my forehead. “You said you did research about racial tension in the States, but have you looked at British history, also?”
Matt’s mouth tightened at the corners. He did not look happy.
“Britain played a major role in the Atlantic slave trade, Matt. I think the overall profits of the slave trade and of West Indian plantations was worth around five percent of the British economy during the time of the Industrial Revolution.”
“I know that,” he said quietly. “But we were also the first to move towards the abolition of slavery, Madi. Parliament voted on making the slave trade illegal anywhere in the Empire in 1807.”
“I know.” I smiled at him.
He returned my smile. “So we’re both well-read and intelligent.”
“Matt, I don’t want you thinking badly of my family. I need you to understand why they may not be as—” I paused, trying to think of the right word.
“As accepting of me?” Matt suggested. His smile turned bitter and it broke my heart.
I had to look away to compose myself. “Fuck it,” I muttered. “It’s the 21
st
century, and I’m a grown ass woman. It’ll be fine.”
Matt peered at me, then started to write on his pad. After a minute, he took my pad and wrote something on it, too.
“What are you writing?”
He held up one pad. It said in big, bold letters over the list of pros and cons: ‘I love you.’
Then he held up the other one. It said: ‘Everything about you.’
“That trumps any fucking con you might think of, poppet,” he said, with an eyebrow raised in challenge.
“That it does,” I agreed with a massive yawn. Embarrassing.
“Are you tired?” Matt asked, tossing the pads and pens on the table. I nodded and he held his arms open. I crawled over and snuggled in his warm embrace.
“Wake me at least an hour before we land, okay?”
Matt tightened his arms around me. “Of course.”
“I’ll never love someone as much as I love you, Matt, and don’t worry about my family. I’ll protect you,” I murmured as my eyes slipped close. And that was the God honest truth.
“MADI, DARLING, WAKE up.” Matt’s deep voice was calling to me. I groaned, not wanting to wake up.
“Poppet, we’ve landed. It’s time to wake up,” he said.
My eyes popped open. Landed? The hell was going on? I struggled to raise my head, then groaned again.
“Sorry about the drooling,” I muttered, wiping my mouth and squinting sleepily at Matt. There was a damp patch on his sweater. He grinned and helped me sit up straight before plucking at his sweater.
“It’s okay,” he teased. “You only do it when you’re exhausted.”
He was right, but maybe I should start taping my mouth shut before sleeping.
“Why didn’t you wake me like I asked you to?” I grumbled my accusation, still feeling tired.
Matt’s eyebrows jumped up as he stretched his arms over his head with a groan. “I did wake you numerous times and, every time I did, you told me to get lost.”
I wiped my mouth again. “Did I?”
Matt nodded. “Quite aggressively, too.”
I shrugged. Oh, crap. We were on the ground. I was home. “We’re here.”
Matt nodded with an amused smirk on his face. “Yes, we are.”
“Did I sleep on you the whole trip?” I asked.
“Not the whole trip, Madi. I managed to get some work—ah, check emails when you curled up against the interior wall, then you wriggled around some more and ended up with your bum in the air.”
“Shut up,” I said, rubbing a hand over my face. “What time is it, hon?”
Matt checked his watch. It was a new watch. A Chopard watch. “It’s one back home, so that makes it eight am here.”
“Shit,” I muttered. “I won’t make it in time for church.”
“I beg your pardon?” Matt’s face reflected pure astonishment. “Church?”
I nodded, frowning at nothing in particular. If I hadn’t delayed our departure from England with last minute packing, we would’ve left at five am. The flight took six hours. Damn it. We would’ve arrive at six am New York time, loads of time to spare, and I would have been able to go to Sunday service with my family.
“Poppet,” Matt’s shocked voice broke me from my musings. “What do you mean church? You don’t go to church. I’ve never seen you—”
“When I’m home, I go to church, Matt. It’s a requirement that must be adhered to. Aunt Cleo will bust my ass if I don’t.” I sighed and rubbed my face. “It doesn’t matter now—”
Matt’s hand latched on to my shoulder. “Stop for one second, Madison. Church?” The look he gave me was an eloquent one. I had to grin at his disbelief.
“I am a spiritual person,” I said smoothly. “Have you not noticed this about me?”
Matt snorted something under his breath. It sounded similar to heathen and fraud. I chuckled and stretched, noticing that I was unbuckled. Huh?
“Urgh,” I grumbled. “I am not looking forward to rushing through arrivals. JFK is always heaving, and it’s the Sunday before Thanksgiving—”
“Poppet.” Matt arched his eyebrow at me, a condescending expression gracing his face. “We’re not at JFK airport.”
“LaGuardia?” I asked. He shook his head.
“Newark?” I queried. Matt shook his head.
“Matt.” I was unsure now, that condescending look of his made me quite unsure of what was going on. Had he decided against Thanksgiving with my family and kidnapped me? Hiding us out somewhere my aunt couldn’t find us? “We’re in New York, right? In the United States of America, right?”
“Of course we’re in the States,” he confirmed smoothly, running a hand through his hair. “We’re at Teterboro airport. The car is waiting for us.” Matt chuckled under his breath, muttering, “As if I would go through those airports. Absolute mayhem.”
I shook my head. He was filthy rich, and Teterboro airport was known as a transit line for the uber-rich. Matt stood up, holding a hand out to me which I took without hesitation. I noticed the burly man standing a little way off to the side. Oh, my.
“Matt.” I gripped his hand tightly. The stranger looked mean. “Who is that?” I whispered, trying to hide behind Matt’s large frame. If the plane had been hijacked, I doubted Matt would be calm. But the man looked like he was a mercenary, never mind the expensive suit covering his freaking had-to-be-steroid-induced muscular body.
Matt glanced over at the hulk and patted my hand. “That’s Ryan, part of our security detail while we’re here, poppet. Do you want to get something to eat before we arrive at your aunt’s place?”
Wait, what? Security detail?
Part of a security detail?
How many parts were there? Wait a minute…our security detail? I didn’t need to have a security detail. The anxiousness I suddenly felt was overwhelming. Did I really know my Matt? I guess Matt was getting impatient over my lack of response, because he tugged on my hand gently to get my attention. When I turned my gaze away from Hulk to Matt’s face, he immediately stiffened and arched an enquiring eyebrow at me, silently asking what was wrong. I opened my mouth, then closed it.
“Ryan, take the rest of our bags to the car. We’ll be out in a minute,” Matt ordered the man without taking his gaze off my face.
“Yes, sir,” Ryan the Hulk replied immediately. The man easily picked up the waiting cases and headed off the plane.
“What’s wrong?” Matt asked once we were alone.
“A bodyguard? You have a bodyguard, Matt?” I asked. “Since when? It’s New York, Matt, not Afghanistan.”
Matt sighed. “Madison, I always have security at home and abroad.”
My mouth fell open as I digested this news. “At home, too? I mean, England? I’ve never seen bodyguards around you.”
“Because they are good at their jobs and paid to be invisible, poppet. Don’t look like that.” He reached up to run the back of his hand lightly across my cheek. “It’s an unfortunate necessity for someone like myself, Madi. My family’s success and wealth has earned us a lot of enemies, and it is simply a precautionary measure. Please, don’t look like that.”
I swallowed hard. “Are you in danger? Your whole family? Oh, God. The girls? Do people want to hurt them? Hurt you?” I felt sick to my stomach. “I don’t know how to deal with this, Matt. Why haven’t you told me this before? Is someone trying to hurt you?”
Matt smiled at me and I glared at him. This was no smiling matter. This was serious.
“I’ll always have enemies, but don’t overreact. No one’s actively trying to hurt me or my family. Like I said, it’s a precautionary measure. Now, you haven’t answered my question.”
“I’m not hungry,” I replied, averting my eyes.
“Hey,” Matt said in a soft tone, gripping my chin and tilting my head in his direction. “It’s fine, Madi, don’t make an issue out of this.”
“I’m not,” I denied half-heartedly. How could I not make an issue out of this new development? This was another instance where the glaring differences in our respective lives raised its head. “It’s—it’s a worry knowing you need bodyguards all the time.”
“Not all the time,” he clarified. “It’s only half the time when I’m in England, but, when I’m abroad in a different setting, for my personal security it’s something that has to be done.”
“Okay, Matt,” I said. “I understand. Shall we go now?”
Matt regarded me for a tense second before nodding his head. He moved away, shoulders set in a rigid line. I knew it signified his discontent with my unspoken reaction, but I couldn’t change how I felt. I was definitely going to look into acting classes. There was a limo waiting for us, the chauffeur holding the door open from the moment our heads popped out of the plane. There was another vehicle, a black Cadillac Escalade, with two burly men standing outside it. I swallowed hard. This felt surreal. I understood Matt’s explanation, but to find myself in a situation like this? It was unexpected.
When we got in the limo, Matt immediately pressed the button to raise the partition between the driver’s area and the back of the limo. I think he did it not only for privacy, but to hide the fact Hulk was seated in the front. I chewed my lips as we pulled away from the aircraft.
“Matt—”
“Madi—”
We spoke at the same time and shared a smile.
“Ladies first,” Matt said.
I looked out the back before speaking and, sure enough, that Escalade was close behind us. “I think you should stay at your sister’s condo,” I said, preparing myself for his annoyance.
“Why?” he asked without a hint of anger in his voice.
I fiddled with my hands. “For your own safety.”
“Poppet, the only way I’m staying there is if you’re staying with me.” He gave me a stern look. “Since you have to stay at your aunt’s home, I’ll be there with you.”
I clasped my hands over my knees. “Please, Matt. I’d feel a whole lot better—”
Matt sighed in exasperation. The annoyance was seeping in now. “Is this due to our security?”
There it was again. This
our
thing. I couldn’t get my head around having bodyguards to keep me safe. “Yes, but please don’t take it the wrong way, hon. They’re here to protect you, and I’m glad they are. If I had known you would be putting yourself at a higher risk of danger, I wouldn’t have asked you to come with me.”
Matt tried to hide his frown. He did quite well. “I’m not in any danger, Madi. It’s a precaution.”
“I know,” I said quickly. “But, now I’m aware of it, I think it would be better if you stayed somewhere safer, not that my neighbourhood isn’t safe. It is.” I babbled, shaking my head with a deep breath to calm my thoughts. “I think it’s for the best, Matt. Imagine how weird it’ll be at my aunt’s.” I noticed the pensive look on Matt’s face and pressed my advantage. “You don’t want another reason for things to be awkward when you meet her, and having bodyguards hanging around her house will definitely make things awkward.”
Matt scowled as he pondered my words, then he gave me a calculating grey stare. “You’re not trying to get rid of me, are you?”
I huffed. “No, you silly man. I was quite prepared to have you stay at my aunt’s, but now I know you’ve got a security detail of Rambos—”
“They don’t have to stay at my side 24/7, poppet,” he drawled.
“Please, Matt,” I implored, reaching for his hand. “I’m already anxious over the fact you need bodyguards. I want my family to fall in love with you the way I have, and having bodyguards patrolling the streets highlights how different you are. Please?”
Matt sighed. I could see he was considering what I said, and it looked like he saw the merit of my words. Then, a devious spark shone from the depths of his eyes.
“On one condition,” he said, the corners of his mouth curling up.
I did not like the triumphant quirk of his lips. It meant he would ask something of me that he knew I wouldn’t be happy with. “Which is?”
Matt beamed at me. “As we’re on the topic of security, I want you to agree to me hiring someone to protect you when we return to England. The company we use is discreet and their guards the best at what they do. I’ve been thinking about this for some time, but was unsure how to raise the issue with you.”
It was such a ridiculous request that I burst out laughing. “Matt,” I wheezed, “I don’t need a bodyguard. I’m a normal person. No one cares about my life—”
Matt got serious, his smile wiped off in an instant. “They care about my life and you’re a part of it. I won’t risk someone harming you to get to me.”
My laughter died with a croak of apprehension. I peered at Matt. “Excuse me? What are you implying? I thought you said you weren’t in any danger.”
“I’m not,” he said firmly. “But there’s always a chance, a small chance, that someone may wish me bodily harm. Poppet—” He closed his eyes for a moment, then gave me the full weight of his gaze. “I am a Bradley, co-president of a multi-billion pound corporation. My personal net worth is, well, you have an idea of what it is. There are a lot of people who are willing to do anything for money. A lot of people who may feel aggrieved by business deals Adam and I have successfully completed. Hell, my father’s past business dealings can affect us. These people can potentially do things, illegal things, dangerous things. Your picture has been in the news on and off since the media became aware of our relationship. I won’t risk your safety.”
I turned away in my seat, staring out the tinted windows and feeling out of my depths. In all the time we’d been together, I’d never thought about this. Why would I? Matt was in control of everything, giving the impression he could singularly take on the world and win. He was my brave knight. Knights didn’t need bodyguards. But he wasn’t just my knight, he was a powerful man who probably did have just as powerful enemies willing to do anything to see him crumble.
Oh, God.
What had I gotten myself into?
“Madison.” Matt squeezed my hand.
I turned with a bright smile on my face; it was forced, but bright. “I understand, Matt. Are you nervous about meeting my family? Remember how nervous I was when you took me to dinner at your parents’ place? And the pool incident?” I let out a strained chuckle. “I still remember the look on your mother’s face.”
“She was appalled,” Matt confirmed with a tight smile. He allowed the change of topic, but it hung heavily in the air between us like a rancid smell. We held hands as the limo headed toward my hometown. We held hands, yet it felt like I was on my own for the whole ride from New Jersey to Queens.