Stalker

Chapter 35- Will

Maria

"He's kind of creepy." Lauren said, glancing up at me from her phone. "I thought maybe he would get more comfortable but it's been two weeks."

My new (temporary) bodyguard was more robotic than anything else. He was polite but he liked to stand outside the door of whatever room I was in. Like, right outside the door.

"He's not Aiden." I sighed as I turned off my phone, staring at the ceiling. Lauren and I had been hanging out almost everyday since Thanksgiving break started, she knew how much I missed Aiden.

"Have you heard from him?" Lauren asked, flopping down next to me. "You know, since the last time I asked?"

"Since Yesterday? Nope." I sighed. Aiden had texted me periodically throughout the last two weeks to at least let me know he was still alive. But he kept it brief, saying 'I love you, I'm okay' and not responding to any of my 100 text messages. I was probably being clingy and crazy, but I couldn't help it.

"Well hopefully he'll be back soon." Lauren rubbed my shoulder gently before managing to get closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder. "I know it's hard having such a badass mafia boyfriend."

"He's not in the mafia." I rolled my eyes but I couldnt help the smile that spread across my face.

"Sorry, badass previous gang member boyfriend with huge muscles and tattoos." Lauren laughed as I flicked her forehead gently, rolling my eyes again.

"It's a hard life."

A knock on my bedroom door made me sit up, a small, very evil voice inside my head telling me it could be Aiden.

Marco peeked his head into my room, my heart sinking a little. "Mind if I borrow Maria?"

It was strange of him to be home in the afternoon, so I was immediately worried. What if something had happened to Aiden?

"She's all yours." Lauren said, still laying down on my bed and completely unbothered.

Marco didn't look upset or distressed so I climbed out of bed, walking out of my room and following Marco downstairs. My bodyguard Louis wasn't far behind us, and I could see multiple bodyguards outside through the windows.

"What's going on?" I asked, Marco sitting down on our couch. I sat a few feet away, pulling one knee up to my chest.

Marco sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, the dark circles under his eyes getting darker by the day. "I think you're ready."

"Ready?" I asked, frowning slightly. "Why are there so many bodyguards here?"

"You deserve to know everything, i'm sure you've been told a little bit and you've probably assumed a lot, but any questions you have I'm ready to answer. I'll start from the beggining." Marco adjusted how he was sitting, taking a deep breath before he began to explain everything.

"Mom and Dad started a company dealing in trade, banking, production of goods, etc. It only really took off before they died and were wiped out by a competing company. The car accident wasn't an accident, they were murdered."

My chest ached but I didn't say anything, memories of mom and dad flashing in my head.

"But they didn't want us to grow up rich and spoiled, so they hid it from us. And I knew it was only right to do the same for you. So when I took over the company, I did it undercover. Competitors had no idea I even existed, I was running it completely anonymously. But it continued to grow and now it's a billion dollar company, so obviously people began to get suspicious on who was running it."

"Daniel's company." I said, remembering what Aiden had told me.

"Exactly." Marco nodded. "That's why I've ramped up the security. And also why we can't live here anymore."

"So we're like, really rich then." I already had time to accept this information after Jackson's mom's speech, remembering everything that Aiden told me. "I can't believe you hid this from me."

"I had to respect mom and dad's wishes. This was the best way for you to grow up. Aside from the kidnapping." Marco laughed a little and I couldn't help but smile. "But you should know I can't run this company on my own forever, and I don't plan to. On your 18th birthday you can collect your portion of the will, and that comes with a portion of the company. We'll be partners."

"So what are we going to do? You said we can't live here anymore?"

"I found us a place I think you'll like. I can spend more time there safely and you'll be safer. You can still go to the same school as long as Aiden is with you, but we'll be a lot more protected there." Marco pulled out his phone, showing me a picture of a giant mansion with a heavy duty iron gate.

"That's insane." I couldn't help but smile. As much as I liked our cozy apartment, I was excited to embrace my new lifestyle. I had been waiting for Marco to tell me everything, and now I was less angry with him for hiding everything. "You don't think it's a little big?"

"Trust me, it's just big enough for me to have my meetings and throw my fancy business events." Marco smiled too, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

"So you'll be around more then?" I asked. "I'll get to spend time with my brother again?"

"Yes you will, you'll be so sick of seeing me." Marco chuckled. "But I don't want you to get weird about all of this. You can't tell people anything."

"Can I tell Lauren?" I asked, frowning. I didn't like hiding things from her, I was so used to telling her everything.

"Yes you can tell Lauren, I've already been keeping an eye on her and her family because of how often you guys are seen together."

I immediately felt relieved, just wishing that Aiden was here. I wish I could share this excitement with him. "Have you uh, heard from Aiden?"

"No but i'm sure he's doing fine." Marco said, voice gentle. "Aiden's a big guy."

"It's been two weeks Marco." I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "How long does a small job take?"

"I think it's good that you miss him, especially in high school, it's not normal to be together all the time." Marco was clearly in his big brother mode. "It's healthy to be apart sometimes."

"Nothing about my life is healthy."

"You'll get there." Marco stood, holding out his hand. "You wanna tour the new house before we make it official?"

"Lauren!"