Chapter 299: Claimed By My Stepbrother (Cadell Security Series)

Seona’s POV

I’m sitting at the kitchen table, fidgeting with the hem of my t-shirt as Mark walks back and forth across the room in front of me. It’s already Monday and the soldier is beyond agitated about leaving me with someone else. Our time together since we slept together has been a little awkward, neither of us really knowing how to act around the other.

I can’t believe he’s actually leaving, that I’m going to be without him, I’m trying to put a brave front on, smiling brightly and nodding when Mark asks me yet again if I’m sure I’ll be OK. Inside, I’m screaming no, wanting to beg him to stay, not leave me with these other people who I’m sure are amazing at their job, but they aren’t Mark.

I glance toward the hallway, wondering where his bag is, the soldier has slept in his own room since that night and I was too cowardly to ask him to stay with me, instead smiling and wishing him goodnight as he trudged to the small room that still has decorations for its previous owner on the walls.

Mark glances at his watch again, growling, ‘he should be here by now’ he mutters in annoyance.

‘He’ll be here soon’ I comment, trying to divert his attention, ‘did you manage to get packed?’ I add, forcing out the words around the lump in my throat.

Mark stills, halfway across the kitchen as he turns toward me, frowning, ‘packed?’ he repeats.

I nod, blinking back tears that try to burn my eyes, I will not cry! ‘You’re leaving’ I remind him with a strained laugh, ‘you need to take your things, where will your replacements sleep if you’re stuff is still here?’

The movement is so swift that I barely have time to open my mouth when the soldier is in front of me, hands leaning on either side of my thighs, gripping the chair I’m seated on.

‘You want me to leave?’ he demands, staring at me.

I swallow, not sure why he’s angry, ‘y . . you said you had to leave’ I mutter, ‘you’re leaving today.’

Mark’s face darkens slightly, his gaze drilling into me before he barks out a laugh, the sound so unexpected that I jump.

‘I’m only going to work Love’ he tells me, shaking his head as he chuckles, crouching down so we are at eye level. ‘The guys are watching you in the day, I’ll still be f.ucking living here with you at night . . well unless you want someone else’ he adds gruffly.

I shake my head quickly, ‘NO!’ I shout, before lowering my voice sheepishly, ‘I mean, if you’re OK with it, I would be happy to have you stay with me a little longer.’

The soldier studies me, a twitch to the corner of his lips the only indication that he likes what I said. I swallow thickly, Mark’s gaze falling to my lips, making me lick them nervously. Leaning into me, my eyes start to close when a loud bang on the door startles us both.

‘Ow!’ I mumble, rubbing my forehead.

‘Son of a b.itch’ Mark growls at the same time, grabbing my face and tilting it as he inspects the area that he just headbutted. ‘Are you OK Love?’ he asks me worriedly, as the fist hits our front door again. ‘Mother F.ucker! I’m going to kill him’ he adds, glaring at the hallway as though he can somehow see through it and burn the visitor with his gaze.

‘I’m fine, go and answer the door’ I giggle, shaking my head in amusement as the soldier pushes to his feet and stomps out of the room, muttering under his breath.

Moments later I hear a deep Texan drawl, seconds before a well built man in combat trousers and a green shirt walks in. His feet are encased in the same type of boots that Mark wears, and his blonde hair is shaved close to his head around the sides, grown slightly longer on top.

‘What the f.uck were you hammering for?’ Mark is snarling at him as he shoulders his way past to stand nearer to me. ‘A standard knock was enough to tell me that you arrived.’

The stranger shrugs, his grin unbothered as he winks at me, ‘just making sure you are on your game old man’ he replies.

Growling loudly, Mark turns to me, waving his hand at the newcomer, ‘Se, this is Benjamin Lomcroft, ex special forces, one of the best we’ve got on the team. He’s highly trained and doesn’t take any bulls.hit, he’s going to be watching you today.’

The man steps forward, hand extended, taking mine when I hold it out nervously, and shaking it as his smile widens.

‘Hello sweetness, pleasure, you can call me Benny’ he tells me in that rich drawl that I’m sure means he has rarely heard the word no in his life.

‘Umm, OK, Benny’ I murmur, staring up at him, a little intimidated. Confidence oozes off the man, I can see he has a fun side, but underneath there is also a danger, a darkness that matches the rest of the Cadell team.

I stare up at the soldier who still has a hold of me, feeling exposed as he studies me with a deep penetrating intrigue that strips me bare.

‘OK, maybe let her f.ucking hand go’ Mark snaps, stepping even closer to me as Benny releases me, raising an eyebrow to his colleague.

‘Just being friendly Hallick, you know me’ he drawls easily.

Mark snorts, ‘yeah, I do know you, that’s the point, keep your mind on the job and your hands to yourself’ he orders.

‘Maybe the lady likes the attention mate’ Benny offers, giving me a cheeky smile that I’m sure has had many a woman falling at his feet.

‘Not from you’ my soldier replies curtly, inching further in front of me, blocking me from the other man’s view.

I feel a warmth in my chest as I peek up at the broody soldier, who has his arms crossed over his chest, staring the other man down as his gaze ping pongs between us, studying us both before he nods slowly, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

‘Fine, aren’t you going to be late for work?’ Benny asks, hand in his pocket as he gives the soldier an easy smile.

Mark checks his watch, cursing before turning to me, looking like he is about to bend down to me before he checks himself, glancing at the other man who is watching us both closely. Clearing his throat, he nods curtly. ‘I gotta go Lo . . Seona, I’ll be back at six, you got my number . .’

He raises and eyebrow at me, wanting confirmation even though he put it in my phone himself. I nod immediately, picking up the phone and waving it at him with a small laugh.

‘Anything happens, you ring me’ Mark huffs, ‘if anything goes down, get back to the apartment and lock the door, don’t concern yourself with anyone else, Benny will handle it, you just get to safety and ring me, got it?’

My lips part but no sound comes out as Mark’s deep brown eyes pin me in place.

‘Seona? You got me?’ the man repeats.

‘Yeah . . um yes, yes I understand’ I managed to reply faintly.

Nodding, Mark stares at me for a long moment, his gaze falling to my lips again, eyes darkening before he abruptly turns on his heel and marches out of the room, Benny right behind him.

I hear them walk the few steps to the door before Mark speaks again, ‘watch her.’

Benny chuckles as the clap of his hand hitting Mark’s shoulder rings out, ‘she’s in good hands mate, I got her, I can more than keep her entertained whilst you are gone.’

A warning growl sounds before a bang which makes me jump, but I can’t see what happened and know better than to get up and look.

‘Don’t f.ucking touch her’ Mark’s low voice hisses, muted but still carrying through the small apartment, ‘not if you want to stay on my good side.’

‘Like that is it man?’ Benny asks Mark, his playful tone turning serious.

‘Yeah, it’s like that’ Mark retorts, ‘she’s off f.ucking limits, got it? She just got out of a bad situation, she doesn’t need you making her uncomfortable by being an asshole.’

Benny chuckles, obviously amused by something, ‘yeah, I’m sure her situation is the reason’ he murmurs, ‘this is totally about her situation . . ‘

‘Just look after her, got me? One hair on her head gets hurt and I’ll be after you AND the f.ucker who hurt her’ Mark warns angrily.

‘I know the job man’ Benny retorts, ‘she’ll be fine, I got her six.’

Mark huffs out a breath, and I imagine him dragging his fingers through his hair, ‘yeah I know, it’s why I chose you as part of her detail’ he admits grudgingly.

The two men drop their voices further for a few minutes before the door opens and closes, the familiar click of the lock sounding before Benny swaggers back into the room.

‘OK sweetness, what’s on the agenda today?’ he asks me, no sign showing at all that Mark just threatened him. ‘We got to go down to the bakery now or have I got time for a coffee?’

I nod awkwardly as I push up from my chair, ‘we have time’ I murmur, ‘I’ll make you a cup, please, take a seat.’

Benny raises an eyebrow slightly, ‘you want to make me a coffee?’ he asks, as though I’m crazy.

I nod, ‘I always make Mar . . umm Hallick a coffee in the morning, well actually we both make it, whoever wants one makes for the other.’ I’m rambling, nervous about the presence of this new person in my space, though he seems nice enough, and Mark obviously trusts him.

I take a deep breath, calming myself before smiling softly, ‘It would be my pleasure to make you a hot drink’ I tell the soldier, ‘Please, take a seat.’

Benny tilts his head, scrutinising me once again as a grin tilts up his lips, ‘well now, if it isn’t just a live action beauty and the beast’ he murmurs to himself as I frown in confusion.