Page 52 of Clean Slade
He’d changed since I’d last seen him. He might be younger, but he was definitely bigger and more intimidating than me. He also looked older. I guessed it came with the territory of crime and stress. Maybe I’d look like him if I’d stayed.
The little black-and-white dog barked at me, but I ignored it.
“Hi. What the fuck do you want?”
Nino shook his head, tutting.
“Dad asked me to keep an eye on you.”
Of course he had.
“You can tell him to go to hell.”
“Gladly.” He smirked.
“What’s so funny?”
Nino shook his head. “Nothing. I just missed you, big brother.”
I huffed. I’d missed my brother too. Too bad he couldn’t be trusted.
“Too bad I’m a traitor, right? Go away, Nino. I told Father I’d help him, and I will. I don’t need a babysitter.”
The little dog still barked until Nino picked it up and held it in his arms.
“I don’t care about any of that. I just care about you.”
“Sure. The heir to the throne is concerned about the man who used to be the heir. I’ll believe that when I’m dead.”
Judging by who I was working with and what kind of shit I was getting involved in, that would probably be really soon.
“You don’t have to believe it.”
“Just…just stay away from me.”
I knew he couldn’t do that. He had orders to follow. He was Father’s only son after I left. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was already planning our father’s demise. Probably even mine to be on the safe side.
I hated this. I hated that I couldn’t hug my brother or have coffee with him because of who and what we were.
This was no way to live.
“See you soon,” he said, setting his dog down again.
Yeah, I’m sure I will. Over my grave.
Fuck my life.
THIRTEEN
SLADE
The next few days went by like a breeze. I would wake up every day with a smile, ready to face the day ahead and learn more about the little girl I’d been hired to protect.
Not many people went from saving their country to live-in nannies, but after everything I’d gone through, I didn’t mind in the slightest.
If anything, it was good to be back in my element. I’d missed out on some of my younger brothers’ best years because of SEAL Team 13. Not that I regretted it. Serving my country had been one of life’s biggest achievements. But by the time I’d retired, most of them hadn’t needed looking after anymore. They all had their own lives.
Being Mac’s bodyguard was a way to reclaim some of that time.
