Claimed by My Broken Bodyguard

Chapter Three

Hallick’s POV

I tug at the neck of my hoodie uncomfortably as I shift in the seat I’m currently perched on. For a f.ucking wedding of the century they sure skimped on the comfort of the damn chairs.

I f.ucking hate weddings! I hate dressing up in these penguin suits that don’t give me the movement I need, not like my combats.

I take a look at the makeshift alter where two of my men and my boss are standing, waiting as the bride approaches them.

I still can’t believe that the groom is Ratchet, there was a man I never thought would settle down, but he meets the right woman and bam, he’s on the road to happily ever after.

I used to believe in that, once upon a time, I believed it so much, I devoted my life to protecting it. Just like every other kid, I thought I’d get there, I’d have the two point four kids, the wife who I thought the world of. We would have a house with enough land for a couple of hounds that were more pet than protection and maybe some chickens. I don’t know why, but f.uck I always thought it would be cool for my kids to collect fresh eggs or something.

When I joined the Army, it was because I wanted everyone to have that dream no matter their beliefs, colour or where they lived. Learning about how some people were treated, how they were brought up to believe that they weren’t as worthy of happiness as others, I had to help. Unfortunately, that desperate need to help the weak, led to the worst eight months of my life . .

‘Jesus, stop fidgeting’ my friend and colleague Lincoln mutters from beside me in annoyance, his eyes still pinned on the couple in front of us who are exchanging their vows.

‘I hate this f.ucking suit’ I growl back, shifting again and tugging at the fabric that is tight around my bulging, muscular legs.

‘I can’t believe you wore a damn hoodie to a wedding’ Lincoln huffs, side eyeing me, ‘could you not have left it home just for one day?’

No, is the honest answer, I couldn’t. This hoodie is as much a part of my identity as my name now. When you see the horror in people’s faces when they catch a glimpse of you, watch small kids hide behind their parents’ legs, or witness the slightly more brave ones ask their Mom’s loudly if the big man is bad because his face looks bad, you learn to keep yourself covered up.

I force myself to stop shifting around, watch Ratchet and his woman become man and wife, both smiling brightly as he kisses her like she’s air he needs to breathe.

I swallow down the lump that forms in my throat, the one built of a pang of jealousy and longing over someone else getting what was once my own dream. I shake my head, batting away the self-pity, reminding myself that not everyone gets the white picket fence in this life. F.uck, if we all got it, it wouldn’t be sought after would it, it would just be life. One thing war taught me is that not everyone gets what they deserve in life, the good guys and the bad guys. Kids get killed in the street, mother’s get r***d and the bad people causing all the s.hit? Well sometimes they get away with it scot free and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

I push myself to my feet, clapping with everyone else as the bride and groom walk past us, smiling at each other and heading out of the door.

A shove in my shoulder gets me moving, and I join the crowd heading toward the room across the way where the reception is being held.

Walking in, my eyes widen slightly, holy s.hit! How much money did Ratchet’s asshole father drop on this party? Every table has elaborate flower arrangements, the plates look like they might be China and each seat has a gift waiting for the guest. There must be over three hundred people here today, and I doubt those boxes contain a couple of chocolates and a thank you note.

‘We’re sitting with the gang’ Lincoln mutters behind me, jerking his head toward a table to the right of the main table where Ratchet, Mackenzie, and their families will be seated.

I nod, following his indication and head toward the linin covered table, pulling out the chair behind my name that has some pristine, white covering and fancy bow on it.

Lincoln in two seats away from me, and glancing at the names between us, I see that Abbey and her daughter are between us. I relax slightly for the first time today, I like Abbey, she doesn’t avoid me like other people, even when we first met, she didn’t shy away from me. She came over, looked me up and down, raised an eyebrow and stated that it must suck to have to wear a hoodie in the summer time. No beating around the elephant in the room, just came out an acknowledged that my face and body are a mess. The best part was that she didn’t pity me either, the other emotion people like to throw my way.

Robyn was the same, no fear in the kid at all, she approached me at the first barbeque I attended at Avalanche’s house, the one he forced me to attend after four previous refusals to invites. The red head sat down next to me, perused me just like her mother had before smiling.

‘Your face looks like a road map’ she told me firmly, ‘each of the lines is like a road, I like it.’

I’ll be honest with you, that kid made my day, she’s the reason I agree to come to these things, put up with the stares and whispers. To know that at least one kid doesn’t see me as a monster makes everyone else thinking it bearable.

‘Uncle Hall!’ the sweet voice of the red headed little girl breaks my thoughts as the chair next to me scrapes the floor and she jumps into the seat excitedly.

‘Hey strawberry’ I grunt back, making her giggle.

‘I’m not a strawberry, I’m a girl’ she tells me, just like she always does when I call her it.

‘You sure?’ I ask her, pretending to look her over, ‘you sure do have a lot of red for a little girl.’

Robyn giggles again, tugging at one of the curls falling around her face, ‘that’s my hair silly’ she replies happily, ‘it’s red like mommy’s.’

We soon get pulled outside for photographs, ones that I refuse to take part in, no way is this mug is ruining anyone’s wedding pictures!

Mackenzie tries to convince me but eventually gives up, the rest of them lining up to pose for the camera.

‘Has anyone seen Noah?’ Eden suddenly asks, looking concerned as everyone looks at each other in confusion.

Ratchet frowns as he glances toward the reception room, ‘I wasn’t really paying attention, was he in the room for the ceremony?’ he asks.

‘He wasn’t sitting with us’ Lincoln tells everyone, glancing toward me for agreement which I give, ‘I don’t remember seeing him at all before the ceremony come to think of it.’

They hurriedly let the photographer take a few photos before we split up, searching the guests that are still milling around waiting for food to be announced, but find no sign of the athlete.

I give myself a silent ass kicking over not noticing the kid was missing, I’m a damn soldier, my whole life was about details, and I missed a whole ass person was missing! He was seated at our table for f.ucks sake and I still didn’t spot that he wasn’t here.

I catch back up with everyone to find Eden on the phone, she’s talking hurriedly and quickly relays that the kid is OK, he’ll be along later.

We all take our seats again, eating the fancy ass food that I don’t know the name of and I’m pretty sure cost more than my paycheck per head. Then were finally free, the music starts and the bride and groom take to the floor, quickly followed by other couples. I watch as my friends spin their partners around the dance floor, keeping myself out of the spotlight as I sit by the table, a scotch in hand, using the shadows of the room to my advantage.

Ratchet and Mackenzie move away from the dance floor, still absorbed in each other as they head toward the drink table just as a ruckus breaks out in the hallway. The couple change course as my head spins toward the commotion, and I’m out of my chair, heading toward the congregating group. I walk up just as the blood splattered form of Eden’s best friend breaks through the wall made up of the two goons that are part of the Hownell security team.

The women bombard the kid with questions and I listen as he explains how he found his sister, beaten up by her lowlife husband. Now if there is one thing, I hate more than an enemy of my country, it’s cowards who only have the balls to fight against their women. You want to get into a fight, show people what a man you are? Get on the front line with the rest of us. I put my life on the line for everyone to be free and protected and then needle d**k little b.itches with no spine use that freedom that cost my men everything to f.uck up the people they are supposed to love.

‘Even if you can just give me someone to guard her tonight at the hospital, someone the asshole will think twice about messing with, it gives my some time to come up with something, a way to keep her safe.’ Noah is practically begging Harrison for his help, something that must be costing the kid dearly because those two have always been like oil and water. Respect to the kid, he must be worried if he’s come to the surly owner of Cadell Security, and he’s holding the man’s eye as he asks.

I can see Harrison’s mind at work, no doubt sifting through his mental database of all our assets, trying to find the right fit.

‘I’ll do it’ I suddenly blurt out, lifting my chin defiantly to the boss when he raises an eyebrow at me in surprise. I silently challenge him to ask me why, I have my f.ucking reasons why and I’m taking this job. ‘I’ll go watch the woman at least for tonight, until you can all figure something out’ I add stubbornly.

‘Are you sure?’ Eden asks, gas she takes hold of my hand, her

soft skin feeling wrong against my skin, ‘Harry and I can go . . ‘

I shake my head, forcing a smile to my lips as I shrug, ‘nah,

I’m good, stay here, enjoy yourselves.’ I give a self-depreciating laugh as I

continue, ‘I hate parties anyway, might as well go do something useful rather

than sit here and bring the mood down.’

Harrison gives me a small nod, giving me the go ahead to take the lead and I quickly wish the wedding couple congratulations before following the college kid out of the room and through the front doors into the darkness.

Heading to my car, Noah stops me, turning me toward him as I wait. Licking his lips, he coughs slightly before meeting my gaze, ‘thank you’ he tells me gruffly, ‘for helping, I appreciate it.’

I nod, jerking my chin toward my truck, ‘I’ll follow you’ I reply before heading to the vehicle and climbing inside.