Chapter 307 Protection
Ella
“Yes, Logan,” I said with a heavy sigh, “it’s the same guy. The man from the park.” Logan’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. “This isn’t good, Ella.”
Logan’s response left me somewhat taken aback. “What do you mean?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “He helped me, maybe even saved my life, twice. Shouldn’t that be a good thing?”
However, Logan was silent for a moment, shaking his head. I watched as he sank down onto the edge of the bed, holding his head in his hands for a few moments.
“What is it, Logan?” I asked, taking a tentative step forward. Logan finally looked up at me. When he did, his face was serious. “Ella… It’s one thing for a stranger to step in and help you once, but twice? Especially in these circumstances?”
“So?” I asked. “I mean, sure, I’m also a bit wary of his connections here… but it does feel like it’s just a coincidence. And a beneficial one, at that. Surely not everyone at this party was part of the mafia-”
“No, they’re not,” he said, passing a hand over his weary face. “But for him to be lurking around the boat at night”
“So, maybe he was getting some fresh air like I was,” I said. Logan sounded exasperated. “Ella, be reasonable about this. It’s… it’s a warning sign. What if this ‘Devon’ guy is following you?”
I shivered at the thought, my skin crawling at the prospect of someone watching my every move. But a stubborn part of me resisted the idea.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t believe he’s out to harm me, Logan,” I said quietly. “Why would he save me twice just to hurt me later?”
“Maybe he’s playing a longer game,” Logan muttered, frustration evident in his tone. “Maybe he’s waiting for the right opportunity or information.”
I scoffed, feeling the need to defend the mysterious stranger, even though I wasn’t entirely sure why. “Or maybe, he’s just been in the right place at the right time. Maybe he genuinely wants to help.”
“Or maybe your father sent him,” Ema chimed in, nearly causing me to shiver again at the idea. How could my father know where I was at all times? “No,” I replied in my mind, swallowing subtly. “I won’t believe that. My dad wouldn’t do something like that. He’s always respected my boundaries.”
Logan’s gaze softened, seeing the determination in my eyes. “Look, Ella, I’m just worried about you. With the situation as it is, I think it’s not safe for you to be alone anymore.”
I raised a brow, my pulse quickening. “What are you suggesting?”
Logan took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about this since you had the incident in the park; you should move in with me. Just for this year, until things cool down and it’s safe for you to live on your own again.”
“Move in with you?” I asked with a disbelieving laugh. “You’re joking, right?”
Logan sighed. “No, Ella, I’m not joking. I’m serious.”
Another wry laugh escaped my lips. “What, and next you’ll suggest we share a bedroom, too?”
For a moment, Logan was silent. But then, he shook his head. “Of course not, Ella. I live in a huge mansion, mostly by myself aside from my employees; you could have your own room, your own bathroom, and even your own office. You wouldn’t even need to go to the law firm anymore. You could work from home.”
“So you’re suggesting that I just stay in your mansion all day?” I asked, scoffing.
Logan shook his head, shooting me an almost desperate look. “Not at all,” he said. “I’ve got plenty of nice cars. Drivers to take you anywhere you want, bodyguards to keep you safe. You’d be living in the lap of luxury, and you would have just as much freedom as you have now.”
My heart raced as Logan spoke, a flurry of emotions bubbling inside me. A part of me yearned for the safety and warmth that Logan’s offer promised. Another part of me, the part that was used to a pampered lifestyle growing up, also craved a return to that lifestyle.
But the more dominant part of me, the fiercely independent side of me, recoiled at the idea. “Logan, I appreciate the sentiment. But I won’t let you take away my independence. It’s all I have left.”
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture. “Ella, it’s not about taking away anything. It’s about ensuring you’re safe!”
“We’ve been over this,” I retorted, feeling a mix of anger and desperation. “I can take care of myself!”
Logan’s eyes searched mine, a desperate plea evident in them. “Ella, please. If not for you, then for my peace of mind.”
I took a moment, trying to calm my racing heart. Finally, I said, “If it makes you feel better, hire one of your men to watch over me. But I don’t want to see or hear from him. I want my life to be as normal as possible.”
Logan looked taken aback, but then slowly nodded. “Alright. I’ll make sure the bodyguard is always undercover. You won’t even know he’s there.”
“Good,” I said, feeling drained from the conversation. The weight of the evening’s events was beginning to press down on me, exhaustion nipping at my heels. “I’m tired. I need to sleep.”
Logan hesitated for a moment, then quietly stood and walked around to the side of the bed. “Come on then,” he said, pulling the blankets back. “Let’s get back to bed.”
I stood there for a moment, almost wondering if I wanted to crawl back into bed with Logan. But I was too exhausted, my body aching from the release of adrenaline when I saw Harry and his goons earlier.
Finally, with a soft nod, I climbed into bed alongside Logan.
The night wrapped around the boat in a cloak of eerie silence, punctuated only by the gentle sway of water and the occasional distant noise. We lay side by side on the plush bed, an unspoken tension filling the space between us.
However, as the minutes turned to hours, soft bumps and creaks echoed throughout the boat. Every sound made my heart race, my mind conjuring images of shadowy figures lurking in corners.
In my anxiety, I found myself instinctively moving closer to Logan. His presence was reassuring, a bastion of safety amidst the unknown. Feeling my restlessness, Logan pulled me closer, wrapping his arm around me.
The warmth of his body was both shocking and comforting, grounding me amidst my growing fear. I felt his heartbeat, strong and steady, offering a rhythmic lullaby that gradually soothed my frazzled nerves.
By the time I drifted into the realm of dreams, we were entwined, seeking solace in each other’s embrace. The world outside, with its perils and uncertainties, faded away, leaving just the two of us holding onto each other in the sanctuary of the night.
When morning light seeped into the room, I awoke to find Logan’s arms still wrapped tightly around me, our bodies nestled close.
The lingering traces of fear from the night before had melted away in the warmth of the new day, replaced by an eagerness to get home. Outside the little porthole window, I could hear the sounds of seagulls, the lapping of the waves, and most importantly the sounds of people outside.
We had arrived back at the docks, unscathed.
