Chapter 5

Present...  

"So, you're her bodyguard?" Angela heard Daphne's voice as she was walking down the stairs.  

"Sort of. I'd rather not call myself her bodyguard but unfortunately, I am for now." His deep voice sounded gruff and thick as if he had just woken up.  

Angela slowed down her flight down the stairs so she could eavesdrop more on the conversation.  

"Are you, her family?" Daphne asked.  

It wasn't Daphne's fault that she was asking so many questions. That woman has an inquisitive nature and she always interviewed all of Angela's friends to make sure the girl was surrounded by good people. And Daphne has excellent observing skills. She often reads people like an open book. 

"Not blood related but we grew up together at the same place." 

"How old are you, young man?" 

"I'll be turning 30 in about two months." 

"Oh, you must think of Angela like your little sister." Daphne smiled.  

Angela poked her head inside and watched how Luca frowned. Even Angela was scowling. From where do they look like siblings? She didn't think of him as her brother. 

Ewww.

"I think of her more like an annoying brat," Luca said plainly and Daphne gasped, staring at him with wide eyes.  

"Angela is not a brat. She's the sweetest soul that I've ever met." Daphne retorted and Luca's brow shot up.  

"Sweetest? From where? Since I've known her, she loves to make faces and give me her death glares. She didn't even know all that glaring made her look like a little bunny huffing and puffing in rage but can't do anything about it." He smirked. His eyes shone, recalling how she glared at him all the time.  

Angela blinked; lip tied. She was at a safe distance, and he couldn't scent her, so he wouldn't know she was standing there.  

"Are you bullying her, Mr. Perez?" 

"Please, just call me Luca. And I'm not bullying her. I'm just here to protect her on her brother's command."  

"I think you have a misconception about Angela," Daphne said while kneading the dough. Luca was sitting on the stool at the island counter.  

"And why do you think that? Because I said she's a brat?" 

"Yes, that child is not a brat. She's the kindest soul I've ever met. She had helped with my son's medical b-" 

"I can smell something delicious. What are you making?" Angela cut her off by stepping into the kitchen. Daphne's eyes snapped to Angela, and she passed her a gentle smile.  

"Come have a seat, I'm making your favorite garlic bread. The breakfast will be ready in 15-20 minutes." Daphne said.  

Luca, who hadn't looked at her once, felt her sitting opposite him. He raised his eyes and their gaze locked.  

Angela narrowed her eyes at him hoping he'd look away but that was impossible. In the end, she was the one who broke eye contact because it was getting too intense.  

"Daphne, weren't you scared seeing such a scary man in my house?" Angela asked, smirking down at her phone.  

She didn't like how he casually talked with Daphne when Angela wasn't there and now, he was as silent as the night.  

"Oh, I was. But he explained to me who he was. He even showed a picture of you with him when you were younger, so I believed him. And Mr. Perez is rather handsome. I didn't find him scary." Daphne said.  

Angela's eyes widened. "Show me that picture? I don't recall having any pictures with you." 

"It's a family picture." He said dispassionately, looking away.  

She frowned at him. What was this rotten mood? He was just fine when he was talking to Daphne.  

"Show me." 

"No." 

"Why not?" 

"It wasn't a family picture. You both were alone in the picture and Angela you were glaring at him while he wasn't looking." Daphne filled in.  

Angela was even more curious now.  

"Lennox took it and sent it to me five years ago." He said in a dismissing tone, but Angela wasn't having it. She wanted to see that picture.  

"Daphne? If anyone else showed up and showed you a picture of me glaring at someone, would you believe that person is allowed in my house?" Angela asked, facing Daphne who stiffened. Her eyes went wide.  

"I... I..." She looked shell-shocked.  

Angela chuckled. "You know there are people who change. Some dearest people have hurt you the most. Next time don't believe any pictures. Maybe I didn't want to be anywhere near the person in the picture." She said and Daphne watched her dead silently.  

Angela could feel Luca's gaze drilling holes in the back of her head.  

"Angela-" Daphne started.  

"I'm just kidding. Look at your face." Angela laughed and Daphne took a breath of relief.  

"I'll be in the lounge. Call me when breakfast is ready." Angela said and stepped out of there.  

She skipped channels and barely watched anything when Daphne called her.  

Angela took her seat beside Luca leaving one stool between them for space as Daphne sat opposite them. They had their breakfast and Angela was ready to leave when Luca stopped her.  

"What's your schedule? I think you should stay at home for a couple of days-" He was still saying when she got to her feet and went to her room. As if she would listen to him.  

Angela wore her gym attire, grabbed her bag and headed out of her room only to find him standing in the corridor blocking her way with his hands tucked in his pockets. She was in no mood to fight with him. Angela wanted to start her day off as good.  

"It was disrespectful what you did at the table. I was still talking-" 

"But I'm a brat. So, I must behave like one." 

"Angela-" 

"Step aside. I'm going to the gym." 

"You can exercise at home for a couple of days." He spoke. Luca hates to be disrespected the most. No one has ever cut him mid-sentence, but Angela seemed to be in love with doing that.  

"Step aside. You're welcome to be my bodyguard and tag along. I'm not sitting at home because some as*hole was sending threats to Hunter," she said sharply and stepped closer.  

Luca summoned patience and silently stepped aside while gritting his molars to suppress the anger that she dug out of him.  

Angela jogged to the gym with Luca right behind her. His focus was sharp, and he made sure to watch her surroundings like a hawk.  

The gym wasn't fully packed as he watched her begin with the warm-up. He noticed her telling the manager that Luca was her bodyguard. They allowed him to be near her. Though he didn't like to be referred to as a bodyguard, he didn't want to start a fight with that little hothead.  

Though she was a small little thing, she could chew him up and spit the remains out in a verbal fight. He would never tell her that she already had the sharpest tongue in the world.  

He watched how she wiggled out of her oversized hoodie after the warm-up. She was wearing a compressed shirt and leggings.  

Luca blinked as she tied her shoulder-length hair up in a ponytail and wore her AirPods Max.  

His eyes lingered down her body which was gorgeous. Her posture was excellent and when she turned his eyes zoomed on her glutes which were to die for.  

Noticing a gaze at her she looked up and Luca abruptly looked away. The tip of his ears turned a bright shade of red as he glared at the floor. Thankfully he was bronze-skinned. It wouldn't be that visible and it was just shame and nothing else.  

What the f*ck was wrong with him? He didn't mean to check her out. It happened unintentionally. It wasn't anything intimate though. He was just appreciating the work she had done on her body.  

After a couple of minutes, he watched as she wore her gloves and began punching the punching bag. He narrowed his eyes; her punches were slightly off. It was because of her legs.  

"You need to put your right leg a few inches ahead." He spoke.  

She looked down and did as he said but it wasn't right, so Luca stepped closer, and just like that she stopped breathing, feeling the tip of his fingers and thumb pressing firmly on her lower back. Grabbing her thigh with the tip of his fingers he guided it into the right position and stood up straight right behind her so that she could feel his hot breath on her ear.  

It was like a deja vu.

Angela stepped away from him and he quietly stepped aside. She took a sharp breath to calm her nerves and took the position he demonstrated to her and punched the bag with all her might so that it crashed back into the wall with a bang, and everyone looked at her. Though the bag didn't rip because of the gloves she was wearing, she successfully showed him that she was trained and good at it. After all, he was the one who taught her.  

Luca arched a brow but said nothing. She was showing off her moves and reminding him she wasn't weak.  

Angela then lifted some weights, and he watched her dumbfounded. She wasn't on the same level when he used to train her. Angela had reached the next level. She was strong, there was no doubt about it.  

He liked how she focused on her core strength and still looked like a fragile girl.  

After the gym, she got back home, changed her clothes, and drove to uni. She didn't even wait for him, so he had to follow behind in his car.  

These small things were ticking him off, but he remained patient.  

At university, Luca wasn't let inside, and she was so thankful about it. She attended her classes and was heading out when Milo showed up. "How's your wound?" he asked looking at the bandaid. Her wound had healed thanks to her werewolf powers, but she had to pretend that it was healing.  

"It's healing rather quickly." 

"What about that guy? Did he bother you?" 

"He's now my bodyguard. Currently waiting outside the gate," She grumbled.  

"Who is this person we are talking about?" Maeve asked.  

"Luca," Angela muttered and Milo filled Maeve in on what happened yesterday. Angela told them that her brother was worried about her, and that was why he sent a bodyguard for her protection. 

"If he annoys you then just use one of your tricks and teach him a lesson for hitting you yesterday," Milo said wiggling his brows and Angela grinned.  

"Why not? Let's go for drinks. Let's have a party tonight. He can wait here for all I care. This will be my revenge," She thought, smirking. This will be her mini revenge for making her wait every day for an hour during her training days. She left her car behind, this way it would take him longer to realize she was gone. 

"Let's go," she said, and they went to the backside and jumped down the wall. Milo helped Maeve. Angela switched off her phone and they left from there.  

They went to the club which was fully packed. Milo dropped them at Maeve's place where both the girls got ready for the night. Angela borrowed one of Maeve's dresses. Maeve was thin so her dress was tight on Angela showcasing all her curves. It was dark red. She did her light makeup and made a bun out of her hair.  

Milo picked them up and they headed to the club. Julian was also there along with other members of the bikers' club.  

Angela had a few drinks until she felt a little light and free. She danced with Maeve on the dance floor. Milo was there to protect them from the idiots who tried to approach them.  

Angela looked bombshell hot, and Maeve looked so cute. He was protecting his little beans when all of a sudden, a hand clasped his shoulder, and he was shoved away with such force that he crashed into a guy. 

Angela watched Milo stunned when a strong hand seized her wrist in a brutish hold. Her eyes faintly noticed the fuming steel grey hues and the next thing he was roughly dragging her out of there.