The Disowned Heiress And Her Billionaire Protector

The morning sun hit the smart glass of the windows. The glass automatically dimmed, casting a soft light across the room. Tina slowly opened her eyes. She stared at the high ceiling. The fabric of the blanket felt too soft. She realized she was not in the rain. Panic hit her instantly. She pushed herself up. A sharp, burning pain shot through her ribs. She gasped and grabbed her side. Mrs. Wallace heard the noise. She hurried into the room holding a silver tray with a glass of warm water and two white pills. She smiled warmly at Tina. Tina pushed herself backward until her back hit the headboard. She pulled the blanket up to her chin. Her throat was completely dry. She forced out a raspy whisper, asking where she was and where Aidan was. Mrs. Wallace stopped smiling. Her eyes filled with pity. She set the tray down. She spoke softly, telling Tina that the old man did not make it. She said Mr. Santiago brought her here to save her. The words hit Tina like a physical blow. Aidan was dead. The tears came instantly. They spilled over her eyelashes and ran down her cheeks. She bit down hard on the edge of the blanket to stop herself from screaming. Her shoulders shook violently. Heavy, measured footsteps sounded in the hallway. The door opened wider. Ingram walked in. He was wearing dark blue loungewear. Tina looked up through her tears. She saw a tall, broad-shouldered man. His face was sharp and handsome, but his presence filled the entire room, making it hard to breathe. Ingram walked to the side of the bed. He looked down at her. His face was completely blank, but a muscle in his jaw twitched. Tina swallowed the lump in her throat. Her voice shook as she forced the words out. She told him thank you for saving her life. Ingram pulled a chair out and sat down. He crossed his legs. He looked at her and said the Valenzuela family had already released a public statement. They told the press she ran away from home. Tina let out a dry, bitter laugh. The sadness in her eyes was quickly swallowed by pure hatred. She gripped the blanket tighter. She said they were just covering up the murder. Ingram watched her. He liked the fire in her eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the clean dolphin charm. He placed it on the wooden nightstand next to her. Tina gasped. She lunged forward, ignoring the pain in her chest. She grabbed the plastic charm and closed her fist around it tightly. She pressed her hand against her heart. Ingram leaned back in his chair. He kept his voice flat. He asked her if that cheap piece of plastic was really that important. Tina looked down at her hand. She said it was a protection charm from someone very important to her. She said she would die before she lost it. Ingram heard those words. The corner of his mouth lifted. It was a tiny movement, barely there, but his eyes darkened with satisfaction. He stood up. He looked down at her and stated a fact. He told her she was staying in this apartment until her bones healed. He said it was not a request. Tina opened her mouth to argue. She did not want charity. But she looked into his eyes. They were cold and hard. She closed her mouth and nodded once. Ingram turned and left the room. An hour later, Ingram walked into the private lounge of the most exclusive country club in Manhattan. Montgomery Astor was sitting on a velvet sofa, swirling a glass of red wine. He was grinning. Sterling Thorne sat across from him, staring at his phone with a raised eyebrow. Montgomery laughed loudly. He said he heard a rumor that the ice-cold CEO of Santiago Corp actually carried a bleeding woman into his building last night. Sterling looked up. He warned Montgomery to shut up. He said Ingram's building required a background check just to deliver groceries. If a woman was inside, it was serious. Montgomery took a sip of wine. He joked that she must be a corporate spy who pulled off a great stunt to get into his bed. The heavy mahogany doors of the lounge swung open. Ingram walked in. His face was expressionless. He buttoned his suit jacket with long fingers. He looked at the men in the room. The temperature in the lounge dropped instantly. Montgomery stopped laughing. The silence was heavy and uncomfortable. Montgomery cleared his throat. He tried to smile. He asked Ingram if the rumors about the girl were true. Ingram walked over to the bar. He poured two fingers of whiskey into a glass. He turned around and stared directly at Montgomery. His eyes were dead. He spoke in a low, dangerous voice. He told them to keep their mouths shut. He said if anyone in this city tried to look into her background, he would personally destroy their family business. The men in the room stopped breathing. They stared at Ingram in shock. They realized instantly that this girl was completely off-limits. Ingram raised the glass and drank the whiskey in one swallow. The alcohol burned his throat, but all he could think about was the way Tina had clutched that charm to her chest. He set the glass down hard on the wooden counter. He was going to build a wall around her, and no one was going to touch her.