Half A Heartbeat Away

11

•Milena Blackford•

"Where're you going Miss?" The guard at the gate asks me impatiently, eyeing up a tucked-in Soir in my arms, and a grinning Lily whom was holding my hand with hers tightly.

I look up at the guard in agitation, he looked no older than twenty five years of age, fresh out of the navy or something. His hair was dark brown in a buzzcut. His stance was fine - not as Beckham's though. He wouldn't compare.

I was hoping he wouldn't toughen up at my sight and start an endless inquiry akin to an interrogation. Guess I was wrong. What did I expect anyways? Beckham was a mafia boss, obviously, no one could get in or out of the house -or even near it, I doubted- without his knowledge and consent.

I bounce Soir to my other hand "I'm going to visit my parents' house" I let out in boredom. My legs hurt from the high heels digging through the cobblestoned road. He eyes me warily, like given the first chance of an open gate, I'll take off running and never come back. I wasn't a prisoner here, why would I run away?

"Alright Miss, just a second" He mutters before turning away from me and picking up the phone, to call Beckham I bet, after all he was his boss and needed his approval before letting me out. Too bad I was his boss' wife. That also means I had similar privileges.

I switched between legs as I got tired from standing in one position for too long, the baby in my arms weighing me down. I see the guard's eyebrows furrow into an unresolvable knot while he's on the call.

I look down sweetly at Lily "Just a little bit more, I promise". She nods her head at my reassurance and busies herself with looking at the different types of flowers in the garden. She looked magnificent dressed in a light blue dress, plus, I had her hair lifted up in pigtails, finishing the look with a silk ribbon on each one.

"Hmm, yes, boss" He mutters obediently before a look of horror flashes through, only it lasted for a mere moment before he passed me the phone almost in a hesitant stance. Looks like my husband would like to speak to me personally.

"Hello" I took the phone to my ear, trapping it between my shoulder and ear, seeing as my hands were occupied with holding the kids. I just hope Soir wouldn't wake up from his nap right now and be cranky the whole afternoon.

"Milena, where're you going" Comes out Beckham's deep voice, in the background was a shuffling sound of papers, he was probably in his office going through files and stuff. A chill runs through my back at his deep voice. I clear my throat "I'm visiting my parents's house" I answer him frankly.

"Hmm, you got the kids with you?" He asks and I nod affirmatively "Yes. Is there a problem with that?" I bite off defensively. What did he want me to do? Leave the kids by themselves all alone in the house with no one but passing maids to look after them? I urged my nerves to ease. I was PMSing hard. I took a breath trying to remain calm and collected. I didn't want to end up with a bullet in my forehead. Not that he dared.

"No. How're you going?" He inquires and I chew on my bottom lip, I shouldn't have snapped at him like that when he's only asking monotonous questions. Damn you PMS.

"Umm, I was planning on hailing or ordering a taxi" I say. After we get out, there's this new app for taxis, just like uber, that I thought I could give it a try.

"Don't. Go to the garage, Hans should be waiting for you there, he'll drive you there, wait for you, and then drive you back when you need" He says and I can't help but feel a little annoyed by the gesture. Hans was a bodyguard that I often saw around the estate during my short stay thus far, I never had a direct interaction with him, so I was less familiar with him personally. In general, he seemed like a good guy.

I can't help but cringe at his sentence. Did he think anyone at my parents' house would dare even think about hurting the kids? Not that I'd let anyone. I'd throw myself in front of them as a human shield before anyone can hurt a hair on their heads. I was getting all feisty and riled up for nothing. I forced another breath in.

I knew way too better than to argue with him "Ok, anything else?" I say expectantly. Few seconds later a 'no' sounds out. I huff and pass the phone to the guard without another thought.

He takes it from me, putting it to his ear. A few moments pass of him just hearing intently and taking orders while muttering "got it, boss' and 'yes sir' in mortification.

When he ends the phone call, I was standing there with an annoyed look on my face. "Sorry Mrs. Blackford for the inquiry. If you could please head to the garage, Hans will be waiting to take you to your parents' house" He offers respectfully and I smile at the change in his tone and demeanor. Poor guy was only doing his job.

"Thank you" I say and tug Lily along with me backwards.

We get to the garage, and true to his words, a sleek black shiny car was parked on the pavement. A smirking ginger dressed in a black tuxedo was leaning on the hood awaiting us while taking long whiffs of smoke from his lit up cigarette. I eyed it with disgust. I wasn't the biggest fan of smoking, besides it's harmful for the kids' health. He seemed to get the hint, since he immediately threw it under the heel of his shoe and crushed it to bits.

I smiled at the kindness of the gesture, I didn't have to utter a word for him to understand and put it out. I opened the car door and settled the kids and myself in.