Page 1 of Watcher

ChapterOne

Ethan

I don’t belong here.The leather crinkles beneath my weight as I shift in my chair. Across from the gargantuan oak desk, my newest employer, Huston Riley, steeples his fingers and rests his chin against his hands. As much as I want to tell him no, to hightail it away from the Riley family estate and never look back, it’s not in the cards. I need this job too badly.

“As stated before, Ethan, the job is simple. Protect my daughter at all costs.” I work hard not to roll my eyes. Protecting someone’s life isanythingbut simple. But I’m sure when you’re used to paying people to do everything for you; you lose track of how difficult any task can be. Not that I’m making excuses for the man.

“I’ll guard her with my life.” I crack my knuckles, a habit I picked up in the Marines to ease my nerves. Along with other adverse side effects, I haven’t been able to kick it now that I’m retired.

A smile spreads across the old man’s lips. “Avery is a lovely girl but a difficult one. You’ll definitely have your work cut out for you.”

I glance at the photo on the wall. A gorgeous redhead stares back at me, cuddling a little white dog in her lap. Her smile gives off a bubbly vibe, happy-go-lucky. How difficult could she possibly be?

“What’s the situation again?” I bring my attention back to Huston. “I like to know what I’m walking into, what to look out for.”

“The truth is, I’ve pissed off the wrong person, and he’s out for me. He’s threatened to take out my entire family.”

“How dangerous is he?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Huston lets out a sigh. “But I’m not taking any chances when it comes to the safety of my only daughter. My onlychild.”

“I understand, sir.”

“And you’ve familiarized yourself with the plan?”

The file he sent me was massive. I did my best. “Of course.”

“Excellent. The house is secluded. Recently purchased in someone else’s name, so it can’t be traced. You are not to leave the premises no matter what. I’ve hired an entire team of people to bring you food, drinks, and whatever my daughter desires. Understood?”

I hate being talked down to, and I should fucking get up and walk the hell out of here. But I can’t. I need the money. The astronomical rate Huston Riley is paying me could finally get me out of the paycheck-to-paycheck life. I could finally start my own company. Quit being the watcher and start working for myself.

“Yes, sir.”

“What the hell?” A high-pitched voice rings out from behind the door. “Daddy?” Before I have time to register what’s happening, the door flies open, and a tall, curvy redhead bursts through. Avery Riley, the woman I’m hired to protect.

“You hired someone to babysit me?” She storms into the office, a whiff of lavender perfume trailing in her wake. She’s even more beautiful in person than she is in her photo. Her t-shirt and jeans do little to hide her voluptuous curves. I try to tear my eyes away, but she spins on her heel and meets my eyes.

“You can go home now. I don’t need you. Thanks, bye.” Her full lips are moving, but I can barely register the words; she’s so stunningly gorgeous. With her high cheekbones and amber eyes with the tiniest speck of green dancing inside, her beauty renders me speechless.

“Avery, relax.” Her father’s placating tone sends her over the edge.

“Relax?” She turns on him. “I refuse to take part in this. You know I have a life. I can’t just up and go into hiding because you snap your fingers and say so.”

Her father rises, rounds the desk to meet her. “You can, and you will.” His hands grip her shoulders lightly, but she pulls away from his grasp.

“You can’t make me.” She crosses her arms over her full chest, pressing against her cleavage until it pokes out from the top of her t-shirt. For the second time in less than a minute, I have to avert my eyes.

“Ethan will take care of you. Make sure that you’re safe.”

“This buffoon?” She scoffs, unwilling to meet my eye. “You don’t even know him. He could be a fucking ex-convict or something.”

“Actually, I’m a former Marine.” I interrupt, but it doesn’t phase her.

“What about what I want?” She scoffs. “You do this all the time. Take charge of everything and leave me no choice but to go along with whatever plan you’ve contrived. Well, I’m not doing it this time.”

Avery stands there, waiting for either one of us to object. Her father seems like the kind of man who always gets his way. Just being around the two of them for this short amount of time, it’s clear that this is a losing battle for the feisty redhead.

Huston breaks the silence. He meets my eye and nods. “Ethan.”

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