Chapter 100 - Protect
Martin sat forward with his head in his hands feeling a little lost and filled with grief. Why did she have to leave him, he needed her. He couldn't change the past and he couldn't bring his wife back, he could only set about changing the future for himself and April.
April was showing him she had grown into a confident and strong woman. He had to also stand strong in order to change the future. He could no longer go home to a greedy wife who took more than she gave which was nothing. He would be far more content living alone and having April visit, maybe she would visit more often if Rachel and Lucy were not there.
It wouldn't be easy, Rachel had got her hands into all aspects of his life and he had over time let her as he wanted an easy life. But who wanted an easy life when it meant not living at all.
He glanced up at the painting in front of him again and made a promise to Kathleen to finally make things right. He knew she wouldn't be proud of his actions up until now. As he made his promise he heard a loud bang coming from just outside the gallery. His head snapped to the left and he noticed some men dressed all in black coming towards him via the garden entrance.
Martin stood and looked around he had nothing to protect himself or his wife's beloved paintings. There seemed to be at least five men approaching. Martin hurriedly put his hand in his pocket taking out his keys and rushing to the door. On reaching the door her held the handle down and locked the door franticly. He blew out a sigh of relief and glanced up but he was met with a tall, broad man smiling back at him.
Martin stood back from the door and saw that there were another four men similarly dressed and with a similar stature just behind the man in front of him. Martin reached for his phone and pulled it out but when he looked at his phone he didn't know who to call so he put his phone back in his pocket and waited for the men in front of him to make the first move.
The bulky man that stood at the door tried the handle a few times, roughly pulling at the glass door. His smirk sent a chill down Martin's spine, he felt useless. He couldn't protect his wife while she was alive and now he couldn't even protect her life's work.
The tall broad man that stood at the door reached into his back pocket and Martin held his breath. The man had a wooden bat in his hand now and he knocked on the window with it.
Martin stepped back again, he couldn't possibly take on five young men. He glanced at his wife's paintings and clenched his fists. He would protect her life's work as much as possible. He had nothing to lose right now. April was grown up and independent now, she also had Dean who he was sure would look after her in every way he had failed to.
Just as he took a step forward to face the men that were about to break in he saw the men drop to the floor. The men now lay on the concrete not moving an inch, behind them stood two men that he hadn't seen before. Martin inched forward to check and they seemed to be unconscious.
The two men were also bulky and dressed in black but they now took off their masks and nodded to Martin. Martin took his keys out of his pocket and opened the door, he hadnt felt any hostility from these two men.
"Evening Sir." A tall blonde man stepped forward.
Martin took a step over the man that had been threatening him to begin with and nodded at the blonde man. He questioned, "Who? How did you...?"
A man with silver hair standing behind the blond bulky man stepped forward and answered Martin's unfinished questions, "We both work for Dean Davis, we are his personal guards. We were asked to stay here and watch over the art gallery. He had suspected people may have a few issues with his mother in laws art exhibit."
Martin laughed and patted the man's arm, he was instantly relieved, "Good job boys I will leave this in your capable hands."
"Yes sir." The blonde replied respectfully. they assumed that this was their boss's father-in-law so they had to be respectful. They didn't know what stage of courting their new lady boss was at so they had to do their utmost to aid their boss.
As Martin walked away from the gallery his steps were lighter as he now realised that Dean had not only his daughter's wellbeing in mind but he also cared about the things that she cared about. He had given her her mothers wish fulfilment and took care of all aspects that he had never thought about.
Martin got in the car and headed for home. Though it was once a home, it didn't feel that way any longer. Rachel and Lucy disturbed his peace and only reminded him of all his mistakes and everything he had lacked as a father and a husband. He needed to get his family back.
Once he got home Tom had met him at the door, "Evening Tom." He greeted Tom and headed for the stairs.
Tom walked beside him, "Did you have a good day sir?"
"Call me Martin from now on, no more sir. We are family. After all these years spent together, you are more like a good friend to me." He stopped at the stair to speak with Tom," Kathleen's exhibit was beyond what I could have ever imagined, she would have loved it" Martin added.
"I'm glad, she would be very happy." Tom nodded, he would go on his day off to the exhibit, he too missed and loved Kathleen.
"Sir." Martin frowned and Tom corrected himself, "Martin, Rachel has been very happy all evening. I'm afraid she is planning something untoward."
Martin nodded and glanced up the stairs at Rachel's bedroom door, "She may be very angry tomorrow morning." he laughed and added, "Our girl has met the one I think."
Tom smiled and nodded. He couldn't agree more, "Good night Martin."
"Good night Tom" Martin then headed upstairs to bed. He walked past Lucy then Rachel's bedroom door and shook his head. He had let two snakes enter his house.
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