Tender Hearts: In Love's gentle Hands

Chapter 10

Mateo's POV

My sister Freya was the kind of girl who wore her toughness like armor. But beneath that exterior, she was just a soft, delicate soul. She didn't know it, but I had hired a secret bodyguard to watch over her from a distance.

That morning, my phone buzzed with an early call from Eric, the bodyguard. His voice was tense, urgency laced through every word.

"Mateo, Freya was harassed yesterday by a guy. He had a weapon," he informed.

The news hit me like a punch to the gut. I gripped the phone tighter, my voice sharp. "And where the hell were you when it happened? Why didn't you tell me immediately?"

His silence stung more than his words. "She slipped out of my sight. She was...clubbing."

I frowned, a mixture of confusion and anger brewing inside me. "Clubbing? Freya doesn't club. Who was she with?"

"Kai. That best friend of hers," he admitted, sighing.

I clenched my jaw. Damn it, Kai. Of course, it was him. Freya never did things like this on her own. That guy had always been a bad influence, dragging her into trouble she didn't deserve. Our parents had always been wary of their friendship, and now I was seeing why.

"How's my sister? Tell me she doesn't have so much as a scratch," I demanded, my voice lowering but losing none of its edge.

"She's fine," he muttered. "When I got to her, another man had already stepped in to help."

The relief that washed over me was brief, quickly overtaken by curiosity. "Who was it?"

"The guy she's been meeting with recently- Your business associate," he explained.

Luke Bentley. That name lingered in my mind, raising more questions than answers. I shook my head, pushing it aside for now. "I'm adding more men to her detail," I declared firmly. "From now on, she's not to be left unprotected. You'll oversee everything, and you're to report to me directly. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," he replied, but his tone betrayed his unease.

I hung up without another word, my mind already racing. I couldn't afford to lose Freya. I'd failed her once before, and the cost had been unbearable.

Two years ago, Freya and our little brother Andrew had gone on a road trip. It was supposed to be a simple, carefree journey. But it turned into a nightmare. They were ambushed by gunmen whose identities we still didn't know. Four bullets tore into Freya's chest, and though she survived, she was never the same.

Andrew wasn't as lucky. He was just eighteen. One bullet, perfectly aimed at his skull, took him from us in an instant. The memory of that day haunted me still-the sound of my mother's cries, the hollow look in my father's eyes, and the unbearable weight of guilt that fell squarely on my shoulders.

Freya blamed herself, but it was my fault. I was supposed to protect them. I had vowed never to make the same mistake again.

"Mateo?" Kayla's soft voice pulled me back to the present. I turned to find her standing in the doorway, her delicate features etched with concern. She looked so small, so fragile, and yet there was always a quiet strength about her that I couldn't help but admire.

"What happened to Freya?" she asked, stepping into the room.

"Someone tried to hurt her yesterday," I replied, exhaling heavily.

Her brow furrowed in sympathy. "I'm so sorry."

"She's fine now, but..." I paused, the words caught up in my throat. "I'm going to call Mom. Freya needs someone watching her constantly. She's not okay mentally."