Bodyguard |Michael Gray|

Soot

(Scarlett's pov)

I woke with a start as I jolted up from my bed. My room was swimming with sunlight and it lightly warmed my face. I grabbed a hand mirror on my dresser and inspected the damage I'd done to myself. "Fuck", I fumbled for a tissue to remove my makeup. I slipped out of my covers and breathed in slowly as my head ached.

"You're up late", a deep voice piped from across the room. My head shot up as I gasped and reached for a knife that was no where to be found. "Scarlett it's fine it's me", the suited man stepped out into the sunlight and I squinted to see Michael looming in my room. "Oh sorry" I sensed the awkwardness as I struggled to fix my knotted hair.

"I have to pop by the shop so if you could just stay here for a while that'd be great". He paced to the door and quickly opened it. "Oh and I think you should put on some clothes" I looked down slowly and as the duvet that covered me slipped further away my slip shone in the sunlight. "MICHAEL!", he chuckled and closed the door as I struggled to cover myself. Thoughts clouded my mind as my assumptions over what happened last night sprang to life. "Oh no oh god no please tell me he didn't sleep with me" I ran downstairs to the front door and heard a car drive away.

Throughout the remainder of the day I managed to get dressed, cook lunch and go shopping, my favourite hobby. I picked out a delicate white blouse and a green suede skirt to wear and re-curled my hair. As I confidently paced through the streets of Birmingham I felt invincible, but there was something off. I occasionally whipped my head around to check if I was being followed.

"Oi give us a smile there lass!" Turning briskly around I scoffed at the call. I continued my march and tried to brush the encounter off. Knowing what to do next in this situation I made my way into a more crowded street. The wind whipped my hair and I clung tightly to my bag. Dressing the way I did and generally appearing like an outsider had its downsides, but that didn't mean I wasn't prepared.

"Hey! You there! Quit ignoring me!" I turned around sharply and gave my coldest stare then continued walking, this time much faster. "Oh why today", I thought. I'd been shopping for so long I'd lost track of time and they were already lighting the street lamps. Footsteps behind me grew louder as a man or multiple men followed. Luckily for me I was always armed.

As I turned a familiar street I knew I was almost home , but the men continued to follow suit. I turned around one last time and felt my blouse being snatched. I yelped and reached for my knife holding it out with my free hand. "Back the fuck away from me or else!" The street we were on was now almost deserted.

"Oh come on dearie why don't you just drop that little knife and we can have some fun aye ?" The man that stood before me was dressed in a black button up coat and black trousers, he was short and his face was covered in soot. The young man that grabbed me was dressed similar, but he was slender and tall. "Absolutely not! Leave me alone right now." My voice shook on the word 'now' and they took that weakness as a chance to lunge forward towards me. I dodged quickly and bolted.

My dainty heels clicked on the cobblestones as I struggled to keep my balance. I ran as fast as I could but I wasn't fast enough. It was completely dark when they grabbed me by the waist covering my mouth. I shrieked and stabbed at the tall man who grabbed me. "Ah fuck you! look what you've done!" He pushed me into an alley harshly and seethed in pain. The other man loomed behind him. "Now you're going to get it"

They both lunged at me and I stabbed with all I could into the air, I caught coat tails and scraped flesh. Yelps arose from both men as I screamed for help. A car drove past in that moment and I ceased the opportunity. I got low and rammed between the men out into the street again. The car stopped with a screech and someone got out of the drivers side.

A man in a long coat, suit and dress shoes stepped out of the car. I cocked my head at his hat, I knew that hat. The men in the alley stopped behind me when they caught sight of the mans face but my vision was obstructed by a street light. " well well what's going on ere aye ?" The man slammed the car door and walked right past me, I turned my stiff body to see him approach the two men, their faces white as snow, terrified.

"Mr Shelby, w-we were j-just helping this young lady out with her shopping, I swear on me life!" , the tall man fumbled with his hands and shook with fear. " Y-yeah I swear w-we didn't mean no harm" the two men backed away slowly and the well dressed man turned back to me, his face came back into view. Those blue eyes burned though my frail figure. "Tommy..", I breathed, my voice shaking. He stood over me and wiped a tear from my face. "Are they telling the truth lass?" His voice turned soft and his eyes poured into mine.

"No." I looked down at my ripped blouse sleeve, the delicate fabric wilting before me, the end smudged in soot. Then it happened, so suddenly in two sweeps. The blade whipped through the air. Tommy took off his hat and sliced the throats of the men. As I looked down I could hear struggle and gasps then bodies hitting the stones.

////// hi I know this went from 0-100 real quick but this is just to describe why she needed protection. I hope you're all liking the book so far and I'd appreciate if you leave a vote for it thanks x