Chapter 283: Claimed By My Stepbrother (Cadell Security Series)

Hallick’s POV

‘Come on Seona, you can do it’ I tell the smaller woman who is currently in a hold. My arms are lightly wrapped around her body, pinning her arms to her sides as she wriggles frantically, trying to do the move I’ve been teaching her for the last few hours.

When I first thought to bring Seona here, I was just wanting to give her some confidence and help build up her strength a little as she seems to have such a low opinion of herself all the time. Something that grates on my nerves constantly because she’s f.ucking amazing and the fact she can’t see it makes me want to break Davis’ neck into a thousand pieces.

Now she’s actively working in Mackenzie’s store, something that I still want to put a stop to desperately as it’s a completely unprotected situation, one I can’t control like I want too, her ability to protect herself is even more important. I also know that I have no right to tell the younger woman what to do, she is her own person and makes her own decisions. She’s also not my woman so her life choices are none of my business, a fact that I need to remind myself of more and more as the days turn into weeks and we’re still together in the apartment.

Grudgingly accepting that I can’t do anything about Seona’s decision, instead, I’ve realised that my plan needs to expand. Now it’s not just about her confidence, it’s also about her being able to defend herself from an attacker . . or an abusive b.astard that should be put down if he turns up unexpectedly.

As I had expected, the blonde is a quick learner, and just a few days after I brought her into the ring for the first time, she has already learned to avoid basic attack moves, using her arms and body to protect herself. It’s not an in-depth course like I want to give her, but it’s hopefully enough to give her a fighting chance if she needs it. I need to give Seona as much knowledge as I can in the limited time we have. This isn’t about winning a fight, it’s about the slender woman knowing enough so that she can get herself out of a bad situation and carve out the time needed for her to able to run if necessary.

With the urgency of her new working environment weighing over me, and the fact that today will be her very first afternoon working alone after shadowing the baker for a few days, I’m pushing Seona harder than ever. Seona has surprised me, after her initial reluctance, she has eagerly embraced the lessons, soaking up my words as she watches me intently show her over and over again what I want her to know.

‘I . .can’t . . do it’ she growls in frustration, her body falling limp as she drops her head to her chin in defeat. Her exasperated words snap me back to the present where my chest is pressed to her back and I try not to focus on just how well she fits against me, instead summoning every ounce of willpower to stay on task.

‘You can’ I argue back firmly, ‘you need to use what you have free love, use your hands, your feet, stomp on my toes!’

Seona grumbles loudly as I reluctantly let her go, aware she’s done and can probably use a break, we have been working for over two hours now on this new move.

Walking to the edge of the mat I bend down to grab our drinks, straightening up and handing one to her before popping the cap on my own bottle.

‘I’m never going to get this’ she mutters angrily, ‘I’m too weak Mark, you are wasting your time.’

I take a gulp of my own drink as I shake my head, ‘nope’ I reply mullishly, ‘you can get this love, I know you can.’

The blonde sighs, sitting down on the mat and taking a sip of her drink as I glance at my watch. We’ve been at the gym for over two hours today and I can see that the slender woman is beyond exhausted, it’s time to call it a day.

‘We’ll try again next time’ I try to soothe her, reaching out a hand to pull her to her feet, figuring we may as well call it a day. Seona looks exhausted and with her shoulders dropped in defeat, I don’t want to push her more and drive her into a feeling of hopelessness that will block her completely from getting it right.

Seona nods, but there is no belief behind it as she picks up her towel that we discarded at the edge of the mat when we arrived and wipes over her face.

I grab my own towel, wiping the sweat from my own brow, before taking hers from her hand, and throwing them both over my shoulder, and taking her hand in mine. Leading her around the edge of the boxing ring and toward the front door, I feel the tug of Seona’s hand on mine as she halts her steps, just as the door to the gym swings open, the brash lights from outside blocking my view for a second as a silhouette stalks inside.

‘Well, this looks cozy’ the familiar, yet unwanted voice of Seona’s husband rings out, his face coming into focus as the door shuts behind him and a couple of broadly built guys, who flank either side of him.

His gaze drops to our hands, and I feel Seona pull away sharply, tension radiating from her as I instinctively step forward to shield her from the guests.

‘What are you doing here’ I snap loudly, glaring at the three men in turn, the black haired one on Davis’ right sneering at me as he cracks his knuckles.

‘Just checking out the place’ Davis replies, waving a hand, ‘one of my buddies on the force mentioned that it’s a good place to work out.’

‘Not for the likes of you’ I retort, my shoulders bunching as the other one of Davis’ guard dogs, with tattoos across his knuckles and a shaved head, takes a step toward me.

‘What is going on here’ the grouchy voice of the gym owner demands just before the gnarled older man appears in my peripheral vision, eyeing the three men with obvious dislike.

‘None of your business’ the sidekick snaps back, turning his attention onto AL who crosses his arms over his chest and stares the younger man down.

‘Well, as this here is MY gym, and you seem to be bothering my clients, I’d say that it IS my business’ he replies firmly.

Davis throws out a hand, holding it up as his friend starts to spit out a reply.

‘Hey now, we aren’t looking for any trouble’ he states, giving a s.hit eating grin that I’m sure he thinks makes him look approachable or some s.hit. I’m not buying the fake ass friendliness and from the looks of it, neither is Al as he doesn’t so much as twitch a lip at the man.

‘Well then, what do you want?’ Al asks bluntly.

A flash of irritation flickers through the other man’s eyes before his mask falls back into place and he smiles wider.

‘My friends and I are just looking for somewhere to work out’ he replies smoothly.

‘This here place is for veterans’ Al tells him firmly, raising an eyebrow slightly, ‘and from them soft hands you be showing, I’m gonna guess that you are your boys here ain’t part of that crowd.’

The owner’s words hit there mark, and Seona’s husband is unable to cover the shiver of anger as he glares at Al.

‘We’re police officers . . ‘ he starts hotly.

Al nods, ‘so, what you’re saying is, you hand out parking tickets whilst the big boys play with real guns and defend your right to live like a f.ucking asshole?’ he cuts the man off.

The black haired man on his right, takes a step forward, knuckles cracking as I prepare to defend the owner, no f.ucker is laying hands on Al, not on my watch.

‘There a problem here?’ the deep voice of Xavier, a Marine with an amputated leg rolls around the large space, and I turn slightly to find the huge black man standing just behind us, hands on his hips, his friend and fellow Marine, Javed beside him, eyeing the strangers with dislike.

Davis sizes the two men up, taking in their huge muscular frames, and I see the moment he deduces that, even with a prosthetic leg, they are more than he can handle.

‘Nope, no problem’ the douche replies, smiling tightly, ‘obviously, this isn’t the place for us.’

‘You got that right’ I growl, glaring at the man as he meets my gaze, deep unbridled loathing swimming in his eyes as he glares at me.

Shifting his gaze from me to my left slightly, he tilts his head slightly, a sinister smirk sliding across his face.

‘Missing you Babe’ he calls out to Seona, ‘you need to hurry on back home, you know how . . . accident prone you can get when you’re on your own . . ‘

Giving me, one last look of contempt, the asshole signals his goons and they stalk back out of the building, the door slamming shut behind them.

Turning around, I grab Seona’s shoulders, holding her steady as she shivers in my grip.

‘Seona?’ I call out worriedly, ‘are you OK? Love? Talk to me.’

The blonde nods slowly, her eyes unfocused as she sways slightly, ‘he found me’ she mumbles, ‘he said he’d always find me . . ‘

‘I snarl angrily, as I tug her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her, ‘he can’t touch you Se’ I mutter darkly, ‘not here, not at the bakery, nowhere.’

She pulls away from my chest, sighing deeply, ‘I guess we’ll have to find somewhere else to train’ she mumbles, looking around us sadly.

Al clears his throat beside me, stepping closer as my woman turns toward him.

‘You ain’t going anywhere my dear’ the old man rasps. ‘Them goons, they ain’t stepping foot in here again, I can promise you that, and when you here, you under my protection. I don’t know your story, or who that guy is to you, and honestly, I don’t need to know, that’s your story to tell. But one thing I do know is that you ain’t just got Hallick here watching out for you. When you’re on my property, you are one of my guys, I’d jump into a fight for any of these guys and you can be sure as s.hit that I’d do it for you.

That asshole tries to come back again, he’s gonna find out just what a p.issed off Marine looks like.’

The two other men nod at Al’s words sternly, Jarod glancing at my woman, his features softening.

‘We got your back lady’ he grumbles roughly.

Seona’s eyes start to water as she stares at the three men, ‘but . . you don’t even know me’ she whispers, ‘I’m not a veteran, I’ve never served or anything . . ‘

Jarod shrugs, unconcerned, ‘you’re with Hallick’ he replies, ‘well that is all that I need to know, plus’ he adds with a sneer toward the door, ‘I didn’t like that dick, coming in here like Billy Big B.ollocks with his two puppy dogs yapping at his ankles. I’d happily take him down just for being such an asshole, doing it to protect you would just be a bonus.’

Seona’s lips twitch as she looks around the four of us, ‘thank you’ she murmurs sweetly, ‘I’ve . . I’ve never had anyone do this before . . ‘

‘Do what? Back you up against a pansy assed asshole who thinks he can win a p.issing contest by bringing two dicks on steroids with him?’ Xavier asks in concern.

‘Back me up over anything’ Seona admits, her voice barely audible, the sadness in her eyes making my chest hurt. ‘Other than my parents and my brother, no one has ever really cared about me . . ‘