Starstruck (Fusion #1) by Adalynn Quinn

uncomfortable. “You mean you don’t already know?”
    “How could I know if you never told me before?”
    “It was all over the papers for months, so I just presumed
you already knew since you had never mentioned it.”
    Xander grimaced, wondering if his instinct about that day
had been right after all. “I haven’t been in the country for months to read any
papers.” He pushed his plate to the side and reached for her hand across the
table as he looked into her eyes, trying his damnedest to reassure her that it
was safe to tell him.
    “My grandfather is an Marquis. He didn’t approve of my
mother’s social-climbing ways, so he cut off my father when he married her
against his wishes,” Indi began. “Despite that, my grandparents still
maintained a relationship with me and my sisters. Trusts were set up to pay for
our education and other things as we grew. Our parents couldn’t access any of
the monies, so they relinquished custody before we were ten. When not away at
school, we lived with either our grandparents or our uncle and aunt. Last year,
after my eighteenth birthday, I gained access to more of my trust, so my parents
hired some lowlife to harass me until I gave into their demands.”
    Xander could feel his eyes growing larger as Indi progressed
with the narrative of her past.
    She continued, “Then everything started to spiral; the
police became involved, endless CPS paperwork and a court case. They found the
lowlife guilty of harassment, but they couldn’t prove my parents had hired him.
Yet they managed to charge them both with lesser offences. He got a suspended
sentence, but she was put in prison with an additional non-contact order in
place.”
    “So, they are still roaming free, and all that is protecting
you from them giving it another try is some flimsy court order?” Xander
remarked. “People break them every day. I should know as I’ve had to bring
enough of them against crazy fans over the years. Please let me give you the
name of someone who can make sure you’re safe.”
    Indi gave him a look of horror. “You mean like a bodyguard? I
seriously don’t need one of those. I can go back to leading a perfectly quiet
life once the dust settles.”
    Xander sighed. He knew that he did not have any right to
push his wishes on her, but seeing how traumatised Freya had been from her own
case of harassment, he wanted to protect Indi. Standing up, he pulled one of
the chairs on her side of the table closer to where she was seated. Clutching
at her hand again, he gave her a begging look, which he hoped would work.
“Please, Indi, just talk to him. There are plenty of less invasive options than
a constant bodyguard, but I seriously want to stress how much I would feel more
at ease if you had some layer of protection.”
    Indi pouted. As her eyes stared back at him, Xander could
see a varying flicker of emotions flash through the greenness.
    “Okay, I’m willing to talk to the guy once,” she gave in.
    “Thank you.” Xander blew out a breath of relief.
    After this holiday was over, he knew he would not be able to
see Indi again until he and his siblings had sorted the trust board mess. Until
then he needed to know she would be safe.
    ***
    With only a week remaining until Indi flew back to England,
Xander decided to surprise her by arranging a first-class cabin on a night
train to Florence, leaving that evening.  He thought she would enjoy
viewing the sculptures and paintings in the Accademia and Uffizi Gallery, given
her interest in art, as well as the summer music festival in Scandicci. His
bodyguards would accompany them and take a nearby cabin.
    Xander had simply told Indi to pack a bag with enough items
to clothe her for the next five days, and some comfortable shoes, but nothing
more than.  The two of them were being picked up in an hour’s time by a
taxi that would drop them at Siracusa train station.
    He was just leaving the villa to collect Indi when the face
of David, his head of