Page 113 of I Don't Need Your Protection
“Thank you, sir.” Caleb dips his head. “That means a lot to me. I will protect and care for Addie with my life. I’ll cherish her.”
“I know you will. Now, I think we need to discuss the events that led up to this moment. You’ll be pleased to know that my enemy and all those associated with him have been arrested. Your life is no longer in danger, Addilyn. You’re free to go to school here with no worries.”
I sigh in relief. “Okay, that’s good. So am I staying at this school?”
“Yes.”
I glance at Caleb. “But what about…?”
Grandfather nods in understanding. “Caleb will need to move on, I’m afraid. Your father wishes to speak to you after we’re done here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Caleb takes my hand, understanding just how I feel. I’ll miss him so much. He gives my hand a squeeze, letting me know he’ll miss me, too.
“Now you probably have many questions regarding what happened last night. How did the enemy manage to infiltrate the school when it was secured? What we discovered was that my enemy searched and searched until they suspected Addilyn was staying here. But they needed more information. They recruited a student who goes here and bribed him to spy for them.”
“Hudson,” I say.
He nods. “Hudson was tasked with discovering if my granddaughter attended this school. He was nearly certain you were Addilyn, but he still had some doubts. When Caleb went to Clarissa’s house that Saturday night and demanded to know where Addilyn was, Hudson concluded that you were my granddaughter.”
“But how did he find out what Clarissa and the others did to me at the sleepover?”
Grandfather shrugs. “The girls most likely bragged about what they did or he must have overheard. As soon as he was sure you were Addilyn and Caleb was your bodyguard, he told those who hired him and they bribed a few of the school guards—who should have been protecting the students—to goafter you, Addilyn. They knew they had to get rid of Caleb before they could reach you. When Caleb was guarding outside your friends’ room, a few school guards grabbed him and locked him in a supply closet. Then Hudson fabricated a story that Caleb and the other boy, Warner, were fighting so that you would leave your dorm. The usual guard stationed outside the building was one I hired, but they ambushed him as well and replaced him with one of their own.” He reaches to pat my arm. “I had the top security team watching over you, but unfortunately, they weren’t perfect. The enemy did a good job of infiltrating the school. I’m really sorry, Addilyn. I did my best.”
Caleb nods, looking very guilty.
I shake my head. “I appreciate everything you and those working for you did for me. You, too, Caleb. But things went wrong. That’s life, right?”
“For people to be so cunning,” Grandfather says. “To manipulate and harm children? How depraved can you be?” He pats my arm again. “But they’re no longer a threat to you, Addilyn. You have my word. And there will always be security around. You don’t have to live in fear. I hope you’ll enjoy the rest of your time here.”
I smile. “I’m looking forward to staying at this school, too, and being with my friends. But Caleb…”
Caleb squeezes my hand again. “It’ll be okay,” he whispers, pressing his lips to my temple.
I guess there’s video chat and texting, but it won’t be the same.
Grandfather answers any more questions we have and then invites me to take a walk around campus. There are some things he wants to talk to me in private. I wave to Caleb, telling him I’ll see him later.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Addie
“You never saw the school before today?” I ask Grandfather after giving him a quick tour of campus. We’re walking through the courtyard now, with the beautiful autumn trees surrounding us. Some kids are milling about, too, a few staring at us in shock and awe. I guess some still can’t believe that I’m actually the granddaughter of Nathaniel Bradshaw.
Grandfather shakes his head. “I regret that I have not. I sent your father overseas to Europe for his schooling. But I found out from acquaintances that this is the safest school in this part of the country, particularly because it’s hidden behind the forest. I thought you would be safest here. Again, I apologize that you were not.”
“That’s okay, Grandfather.” I reach for his hand and smile when he slides his inside. “The important thing is that it’s over and we can put this behind us.”
“Speaking of which. There’s something I want to tell you, Addilyn. I owe it to you.”
“Grandfather, can you please call me Addie?”
He smiles. “Addie. I like that.”
He gestures to a bench and we sit side by side. In all my interactions with my grandfather, he always wore a serious expression, except for when he and I spoke at the hospital. While he still seems serious now, I also see pain as well. And maybe concern for how I will react.
“It’s okay, Grandfather. You can tell me.”
