Our Bodyguard|18+

Twenty-two

"You promised no police! Do you know a cop was just here?" It's Cora's voice, I suppose.

A frown deepens on Red's face as we exchange a fleeting glance, but our collective curiosity makes us patient enough to listen more attentively.

"What cop? And what the hell did he want?" Now it's clearly Derek.

"What else? It's about Anne! Apparently the case is still on, since clearly your crazy plan to frame your stepmom didn't work! I'm warming you, Derek, if this—"

"Alright, alright, can you just shut up for a minute, woman? First, you don't get to threaten me for anything, are we clear? I'm holding your damn career so just shut the fuck up! I'm already having a handful right now to bear with hysteric women! And second, if the cops find out about anything, it's you who's going to sleep in the gutters. I didn't forge the evidence—you and your pals did."

"It was your orders! You put me into this and don't think I'll let you go loose, Derek! I'm not a pawn to be played around and you should know that better by now! If they find out that your dear mother was at Anne's house the day she died, who do you think they'll go after, huh?"

What the fuck! Elena was there? My eyes broaden in shock and I blink several times at Red.

"Don't you dare mention her name!" Derek thunders.

"And don't you dare threaten me, Derek! Just a basic reminder—I work for your father, not for you. I don't know why you're so obsessed with everything he possesses, but I refuse to be any part of your family war!"

Obsession? Family war? What is she talking about? I gulp.

"Fine! I get it. And fuck, Cora, I'm not obsessed with anyone! Be very careful of what you say."

"Ugh, please, Derek. Do you think I give a damn about your emotional drama or your personal desires? I just want to focus on this project and nothing else!"

"Okay! I said I got it!" Derek recoils, but he doesn't seem to press further on his objections regarding Cora's innuendo. "So, what did that cop ask you exactly? I fucking hope you didn't mention—"

"I'm not stupid to mention anything. However, I can't promise how long that will stay," Cora answers. "Keep the police out of my way because it won't be good for you if they keep poking their noses."

"For both of us, Cora. Don't be oblivious that you can't escape me." Derek sighs heavily. "Did you get the cop's name? I'll look into it."

"Someone named Richard Mathews? I'm not so sure, but he's some hunky blonde with blue eyes and . . ."

"That's me, ladies and gentlemen," Luca brags.

"We know!" Red and I snap, unready to shred our focus.

"What? I'm just saying that the freaky scientist has a great taste, c'mon," Luca replies but none of us pay attention to him.

The rest of the recording turns out to be nothing of much interest, except the fact that Derek is controlling Cora as though he's got some leverage on her. But she's not a pushover either, which makes their relationship very interesting, despite the odds.

Luca clicks a button. "Now that's it. Juicy, wasn't it?"

Thoughtful, I cross my arms on my chest and recline back.

"So Elena was there. Does that mean the person Derek has been trying to protect was his mother and not himself?" Red stands up slowly, seemingly engrossed in the assumption game. "Could it be that Elena is the one who—"