BLOOD IN HIS DREAM

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

“Yes, who is it?” Derek called out.

“Sir, your dinner is ready,” a voice announced from the other side.

“Alright, I’ll be down shortly. Double the dinner, we have someone with us, and assemble everyone. I have an announcement to make,” Derek instructed.

“Yes, sir,” the voice said, then faded.

“Let’s go have dinner,” Derek said to Rafe, who forced a smile to ease the tension.

They stepped out together and headed downstairs toward the dining hall.

As they entered, all five house staff stood lined neatly by the wall, their heads slightly bowed, hands clasped in front of them.

Derek stopped at the head of the table.

“Everyone,” he began calmly, “this is Rafe. From today onward, he is my personal bodyguard. You are to treat him with the same respect you give me. If he gives instructions regarding my safety, you are to comply immediately. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” they chorused in unison.

Derek gave a slight nod. “That will be all. You may return to your duties.”

The staff dispersed quietly.

Dinner was served in silence as they began eating. Rafe tried to appear composed, but Derek noticed how his gaze occasionally drifted toward the entrance, alert… wary.

After the meal, they returned to Derek’s room.

Rafe took his position near the door, standing guard as instructed.

“I’ve told you before, you don’t have to stand all night, we’re safe here,” Derek said, loosening his cufflinks. “There’s enough space, you can sleep on the bed.”

“I’m fine here, sir.”

“That’s an order, Rafe.”

A brief hesitation passed between them before Rafe finally nodded. He removed his jacket and lay stiffly on the far edge of the bed, leaving a respectful distance between them.

Derek lay down as well, turning to face the ceiling while Rafe waited, his eyes still darting around; he would only close his eyes when he was sure Derek was asleep.

Derek drifted off as Rafe waited a while and then joined him as they both slept off.

***

Derek found himself in a room with six men dressed in the same costume as the men who attacked them. They moved around him, holding guns and knives.

His hands were bound as a long blade pressed coldly against his neck.

“P-please…” Derek’s voice trembled as tears streamed down his face. “I’ll give you any amount. Name your price, just spare me.”

The men burst into cruel laughter.

“Did you hear him?” one mocked. “The mighty Derek is begging like a dog.”

Derek’s stomach twitched; he could remember hearing that line before.

“Money?” another scoffed. “You think this is about money?”

The blade pressed harder on his neck as Derek shivered.

“Please…” Before he could finish, the door burst open as another figure walked in.

Instantly, the laughter died.

The men stepped aside in silence, though the blade remained at Derek’s throat.

Derek’s eyes widened with desperation. “Please… I can fix whatever this is, I can double it, triple it.”

The figure said nothing as a smirk curled on his lips.

Slowly, he pulled out a pistol.

Derek’s breathing grew frantic. “No… no, please…”

The gunshot exploded in the room as pain tore through Derek’s leg and blood began gushing.

“Ahh!! Please!!” he screamed, but another shot came to his other leg as he collapsed fully to the floor, writhing.

Two more shots rang through his hands.

“Ahhh!!!” His voice echoed as blood pooled beneath him.

The figure let out a cold, wicked laugh, then stepped forward, taking the blade from the man holding it.

He crouched down, gripping Derek’s jaw firmly.

“You should have seen this coming,” the man whispered. “Say hello to your fu**cking father in hell,” he added.

The blade pressed to Derek’s neck once more and then… it sliced.

***

“Nooo!!” Derek screamed, jolting up from sleep.

“Derek!” Rafe was instantly awake, grabbing his shoulders. “You’re safe. You’re safe.”

Derek’s chest heaved violently. His hands flew to his neck, checking for blood that wasn’t there.

“It was… they shot me… they slit my throat…” His voice shook uncontrollably as he explained the dream in broken sentences.

Rafe listened carefully.

“It was a nightmare,” Rafe said gently. “Your mind reacting to everything that’s happened. Try to sleep.”

“I can’t,” Derek whispered.

Rafe remained sitting upright beside him.

“You need rest.”

“So do you,” Derek replied weakly. “Sleep.”

“I’ll stay awake.”

“That’s an order,” Derek insisted.

Reluctantly, Rafe lay back down.

This time, Derek didn’t close his eyes.

He turned slightly and watched Rafe instead.

In the faint glow of the bedside lamp, Rafe’s face looked softer; his features were sharp, a strong jawline, dark lashes resting against his skin.

Derek swallowed. For the first time that night… he felt safe because Rafe was there.

His gaze drifted to Rafe’s tempting lips.

“They look so good,” he muttered just as realization struck him.

What am I thinking?

He was shaken from a nightmare of death, and here he was noticing how handsome his bodyguard was.

He quickly looked away, heart racing for an entirely different reason now.

This wasn’t the time. He shouldn’t be thinking like that… but still, his eyes found their way back to Rafe as he remained that way until morning.

When dawn finally broke, Derek forced himself out of bed.

He took a long shower and dressed sharply in a tailored suit. Rafe was ready as well, already alert.

They left together for the office. As the car pulled into the premises, Derek’s gaze lifted toward the building.

The damaged entrance was nearly fully repaired.

Workers were putting finishing touches on the glass panels. The structure looked stable again.

Derek exhaled slowly. “I need to get back to Steve.”

He took out his phone and dialed his number. After a few rings, he finally picked up.

“Hello, sir,” Steve greeted.

“Hey Steve, how’s it going? Has anyone accepted my offer?” Derek asked.

“Sir, there is bad news,” Steve said as he sighed, making Derek’s heart beat faster.

“What is it?” he asked quickly, bracing himself for the worst news.