I curled my hands into tight fists at my side and stared at Snow’s father, knowing that the man would never know the lengths I’d go for his daughter. This had nothing to do with me being the White family’s personal security either. This was because Snow was mine, had been for a long time.

“She left sometime last night. She was smart enough to do it during the security shift change.”

I clenched my jaw even tighter as I listened to Robert White talk--worry--about his daughter. Snow was stubborn, smart, but didn’t want to play by the rules. At twenty years old she sure gave her father a run for his money.

And it was a hell a lot of money, too.

“I’m going to need you to find her,” Robert said, the worry and strain on his face clear. “I know after her mother passed away she retreated within herself. I know she’s staying here because of me. I don’t want her to hate me over it, to resent me because she thinks I’ll crack being alone.” He stared off over my shoulder. “Maybe I would,” he said softly, almost to himself.

Robert ran his hand over his face, exhaling roughly. He leaned back against his seat and stared at me, a hell of a lot of trust reflected back in that gaze.

“I’ll find her. I’ll bring her back safely.” I knew he could hear the determination in my voice. It didn’t matter where Snow was, where she ran. I’d chase after her. I’d find her. And when she was back home, under the safety of her father‘s roof and my protection, I was going to show her exactly who she belonged to.

I was going to show Snow White that she was mine.

* * *

Snow

I leaned back in the driver’s side seat and stared out at the coast. I wasn’t trying to be dramatic by leaving in the middle of the night, but the truth was I was tired of having round the clock security. I was done with having everybody know my every move, knowing exactly where I was every moment of every day.

I wanted a normal life, one that didn’t include my high profile political father, the wrought iron gate that surrounded our property like a prison, or having to watch what I did so I didn’t give the family a bad name.

It wasn’t just that. I was tired of seeing Hunter, my father’s head of security, day in and day out when what I felt for him wasn’t like anything I’d ever experienced before. Truth was I loved that man, had since before I probably even knew what the emotion was. But he was almost double my age, and I knew that he would never cross lines to be with me.

I snorted at my thoughts, even wondering why I thought a man like Hunter Sterling would be with someone like me. He was rough around the edges, tall and masculine, muscular in a way that only a male was. He made me feel feminine, small and petite. And he didn’t even know how much I wanted him.

I looked down at the red apple I’d taken with me before I’d left. The flesh was shiny, perfect. It fit perfectly in my hand, the weight heavy. I lifted it to my mouth and took a bite, the flesh cracking as my teeth went through it. As I watched the ocean I thought about everything I had in life, how I was truly lucky, but at the same time I remembered what I’d lost.

I wasn’t running away, even if my father probably thought so. I just needed to get away for a little bit, even for a few hours, without having someone tail me. I needed to get my head on straight, to think about what I really wanted in life. But the very thought of not having Hunter by my side, not just as a protector that my father hired, but the man who loved me in return, was a hard pill to swallow.

The waves crashed against the sandy shore, the sound calming, yet almost frantic as well. The sun was already rising, yellows and oranges, pinks and reds casting along the water and the beach. I opened the car door and climbed out, shutting it silently behind me. At this hour of the morning the beach was empty, no life to be seen.

Finishing the apple, I tossed it in the trashcan beside my car and pulled my shoes off, setting them on top of the hood. I then made my way down to the beach. As soon as my feet touched the sand I sighed in contentment. Walking toward the water’s edge, I looked on as I let the cold liquid splash on my toes. I stared out at the horizon, the sun this huge ball of orange in the distance.

The wind picked up, moving my hair along my shoulders. I should just move out because that would be the smart, responsible thing to do. If I didn’t want to be under my father’s thumb anymore I needed to just make that leap. But after my mother died last year, I hadn’t wanted to leave him alone.

He might always have people around, but that was hired help. He had no family aside from me. And so it had been love and guilt that kept me in place. I knew my mother would want me to live my own life. She wouldn’t want me to stay in the past, to live at home just because I didn’t want my father to be lonely. I’d still see him, daily, but I needed my own space. Not even a mansion could give me the isolation I wanted or needed.

But then there was Hunter, the man who consumed my thoughts, who made me want to break out of the mold I’d made for myself. Maybe I should just tell him that I loved him, that I wanted him. But even thinking that gave me anxiety.

The very real possibility of being rejected by the only person I’ve ever wanted was enough to have me keeping my mouth shut. And it was because of that very reason that I kept my mouth shut. It was because of that reason that I probably would never tell Hunter exactly how I felt.

* * *

Hunter

I’d found her easily enough. I knew where she would be going before she probably did.

The beach. The one place she’d been going to for as long as I’d been working for her father.

I parked the SUV and cut the engine, seeing her small form sitting on the sand as she watched the waves.

God, I loved that woman. Everything about her drove me insane. She had marked me in every single way and I wanted her to be obsessed with me like I was with her.

I headed toward her, knowing she wouldn't know I was here until I was practically on top of her.

On top of her.

My cock thickened at that very thought. I envisioned a hell of a lot with Snow, more than I deserved to. But she was mine, had been, and always would be.

And I was going to make her see that, know that, right fucking now.