Chapter Four – The Runaway Heiress 

Killian Barlowe 

A glance in her direction was enough to know how stressed she was. The way she chewed her luscious cherry-tinted lips, something stirred in the pit of my stomach. It was the same feeling I had experienced the first time I saw her in front of my nightclub, arguing with one of my employees. With zero makeup and a radiant, ethereal aura about her, she looked innocently seductive. It was a lethal combination indeed. 

She differed from the women I usually hooked up with. Yet I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt towards her at first sight. Therefore, I made it my mission of the night to look out for her. It was good that I did. The girl stirred up a hornet’s nest wherever she went. 

How she attracted my attention among the sea of club goers was still a mystery! Maybe the way her innocent emerald green eyes swept up my body made me give in to the urge to know her better. 

My mind was bubbling with curiosity. How did she end up at my nightclub all alone in the middle of the night? It didn’t look like a planned outing as her clothes were unfit for the setup. They were branded clothes straight out of a fashion magazine. 

Her luxurious, golden waist-length hair was tied up in a messy bun, with careless tendrils flying about her shoulders. Yet she looked mesmerizing! And I couldn’t resist her! Wasn’t it shocking? Being an adventure travel enthusiast and the owner of the world-famous travel venture, Cosmos Adventures, I was married to my work with zero time for women. 

Of course, I wasn’t immune to them. There was a time when I lived a reckless life, but at twenty-nine, I matured and changed my ways. With no wish to get involved in a relationship, I was living my dream life, shuttling around the world. Every day was a new adventure for me, a new place and new experiences. It was what I loved doing. Although I had many capable employees to take care of the tours on offer, I accompanied the premium groups only. 

Therefore, I looked forward to the South Africa tour coming up next week. 

“Why are we going to Mission Bay?” Her melodious voice brought me out of my reverie. I glanced at the gorgeous creature beside me. She was too young for me. Was she over eighteen? I doubted it. 

Well, I was just protecting her. I had no idea what had induced her to run away from her house. Teenagers reacted strongly to everything. Maybe she had a verbal spat with her rich dad! I refrained from probing further. What if she reacted to my probing and escaped? I wanted her safe. Although I was dying of curiosity, I curbed the urge to prod her. It was just for the night. Once she cooled down, she would return home, and I would forget this entire episode and get going my way, right? 

“I’m staying there.” The sun would be up in another four hours, and I needed to get some sleep before starting another hectic day. 

“Oh, you’re taking me to your house. But why? I don’t want to impose, please.” She gave me a panicked look as if I were some mafia don, eager to kill her. Well, my name was a misnomer. I was anything but that. Maybe she was too young to sense the se*ual pull between us. 

“Believe me, you won’t impose.” I steered the car towards the quiet De Anza Cove Drive, straight into the Mission Bay Resort. It was a popular waterside RV park, where I had almost fifteen vehicles stationed, fully booked, with guests ready to explore all San Diego offered.  

“Oh, do you live in a vehicle?” She sounded excited instead of judgmental. It wasn’t a reaction I had expected from a rich, spoiled runaway heiress. 

“Yes. Come on, princess. Let’s get some sleep.” I unlocked the car, and she got out, yawning at the mention of sleeping. 

“Umm, you’re right. I’m so sleepy, but how will I sleep on an empty stomach?” She looked worked up as if reminded of something. “I had ordered my food at the nightclub, but it shut down without delivering my order.” She pouted, drawing my attention to her kissable lips. 

‘Don’t even look at them, Kill. She’s too young for you,’ reminded my inner mind. 

“It wasn’t the right place for you.” I locked my car and sauntered towards my RV pad with her hot on my heels. 

“Why not? I’m twenty-one. Why can’t I go to a nightclub? Anyway, it was the only place open at that odd hour.” 

My c*ck throbbed at her announcement. Why did I feel relieved to know she wasn’t underage? Still, she was eight years younger! She was definitely off limits for me. 

“At that odd hour, you’ll only find a rough crowd in such places, Princess.” I knew her name, but somehow Sierra didn’t fit in. I was sure it wasn’t her actual name. But I didn’t prod, giving her the privacy she needed.  

Unlocking the door to my sleek vehicle, I turned to smile at her. “You can go in and freshen up. I’ll get your luggage. There’s pizza in the refrigerator. I had ordered it for dinner, but something cropped up and I had to leave.”

Her eyes lit up at the mention of pizza. “Thank you.” 

I walked away towards my car, all the while watching her step into my luxurious vehicle. It was more my home than my luxurious penthouse in LA. It had been almost two months since I had been there. But there was no rush to go back to my house. Who was there anyway? 

Fifteen years ago, my dad, William Barlowe, had died of cardiac arrest, followed closely by my mom, Stephanie Barlowe, who died the next day. My world had crumbled in just two days, leaving me alone to fend for myself, with nothing to fall back on. If my friend Knox Cromwell and his grandpa, Vincent Cromwell, hadn’t helped me, I would have been on the streets now. He sponsored my education and funded my business. There had been no looking back since then as I surged ahead with sheer hard work. I was indebted to them for what I was today. 

There had been two missed calls from Knox last night, but I had been too busy to take his call. Maybe I would in the morning. 

Sighing, I carried her luggage to my mobile home. 

The aroma of pizza filled my living space. It was as if I were coming home to warm food, the way I used to when my mom was alive. 

I glanced around and found her in the kitchen, warming up the pizza. She turned to give me a clueless look. “Your pad is superb! I like it. But where will I sleep?” She stared awkwardly at the twin beds at the far end. 

“That’s the only place available right now.” I grimaced and served myself a pizza. She could have the other one. 

She chewed her lips with nervousness as she sat down with her food. “But I can’t sleep with you.” 

“Why not?” I frowned at her, watching her hesitate. “Don’t worry, you aren’t my type. I prefer mature women.” 

She fumed at the insult while my body tingled, watching her reaction. “What do you think I am? I’m more mature than those bi*ches you hook up with. Anyway, you aren’t my type either. I prefer gentlemen, the corporate types.” She munched her food while my jaw dropped to the floor. 

I liked her sass. “I see! So what’s my type?” I watched her hesitate. 

“Umm, you might be a drug lord or a mafia don hiding here from the cops.” She stopped while I chuckled. 

“I see. And what makes you think so?” My interest was piqued now. 

“I don’t know. Maybe you look like one.” The way she avoided my gaze desperately amused me. 

“I see. So, how many mafia dons have you seen?” I was stunned by her frankness. Did I really give out such vibes? 

“Maybe not in real life, but I’ve seen them on the screen.” Her cheeks flamed with color while I gave her an amused look. 

“Well, you’re wrong this time. I’m not any of those. I’m just an outdoorsy guy, a nomad, basically.” It was best to downplay my identity before knowing hers first. 

“Oh! You like this nomadic life in an RV pad?” Her eyes were wide with disbelief. 

“Yup.” I finished my food and rose. “I’ll get some sleep now. Come on, you can too.” 

She nodded, yawning frequently now. Before I could, she hit the right bunker and dozed off in seconds. Such a princess! 

My phone buzzed with a call from Joe, and I frowned. What now? Walking out of the vehicle, I took the call. “Yes, Joe. What’s up?” 

“Dude, are you sure Sierra is your girl? We checked the vehicle’s registration number. The car is registered in the name of Philippe Bardot. Maybe the car’s stolen, and I don’t want to face the man. He’ll sue me for sure.” Well, who didn’t know the twisted owner of the Bardot Group? 

My eyes widened, and I sat on the steps of my vehicle. How could I not know Philippe Bardot? He was my only enemy and the one who had destroyed my family fifteen years ago. 

“Do it, Joe. I’ll face the consequences.” The wish to teach the evil man a lesson was too much to ignore. I wanted my revenge, and this was just the start. How could I let it go?

Joe disconnected the call, and I trudged back to the bedroom. Seeing her sleeping peacefully made me frown. Was she a thief? Or was she related to Philippe Bardot? 

I had to know before she woke up.