by K. C. Crowne
“O-kay,” Vivian said slowly. “Anything else?”
“You will not be permitted to leave this penthouse without supervision.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“You were almost kidnapped in broad daylight,” I pointed out. “They got within inches of you, correct?”
She nodded stiffly. “Yes.”
“It will feel restrictive at first, but it’s for your own good. As far as I’m aware, the men who are after you don’t know you’re here. The penthouse is a fortress. It’s the safest place for you to be, even at the cost of your usual freedoms.”
Vivian closed her eyes and breathed deeply. At first, I thought she was going to protest. It wasn’t uncommon for me to receive a great deal of pushback from my clients when they came under my security detail. The people under my care were of a specific demographic, one used to getting what they wanted when they wanted. I was no stranger to their moaning and groaning about cramping their lifestyle.
“Alright.”
That was a lot less resistance than I thought. “Good.”
“How much will I owe you?” she asked, totally serious. “Do you offer payment plans? My budget’s kind of tight, but I can probably scrape together the funds to—”
“I’m not charging you.”
“You’re not?” She eyed me suspiciously. “Why?”
The businessman in me told me I was being stupid. Pegasus Star Security was the go-to security firm for the elites, and that, therefore, came with a hefty price tag. It wasn’t just for show, either. Every penny went back into the business for funding training, upgrading equipment, gathering reliable intel. Agreeing to protect someone pro bono wasn’t in my or my company’s best interest. It wasn’t personal, just business.
But the longer I stared at Vivian, the more I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to pay. That’d be a dick move, to be honest. She was scared. She was way in over her head. And the thought of someone nearly getting their hands on her made my blood boil.
“You need help,” I stated. “And I can provide it. It’s as simple as that.”
Wally breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Get some sleep. Both of you.”
“Do you think it’d be possible to stop by my apartment?” she asked. “Just to grab a few things. Clothes and whatnot.”
“Give me your address. I’ll pick them up for you.”
Vivian grimaced. “Can’t I just come with you? You’d count as supervision, right?” And then, under her breath in embarrassment, “I’d rather not have you going through my underwear drawer.”
My mouth was suddenly dry. She had a point. The thought of rummaging through her drawers, sifting through her panties… My pulse raced at the thought.
“I… Yeah, alright. You can come with me. But we leave now. The sooner I get you back, the better.”
She nodded. “Alright. Just give me a few minutes to get dressed.”
Chapter 9
Vivian
The Chicago streets were different at night. I couldn’t see the stars above. The lights of the city were just too bright, but there was still something comforting about the warm golden glow of streetlights as we drew closer to my apartment building.
We drove in silence.
I didn’t know what to say. Jesse was being so incredibly patient and kind, but he was super quiet the whole time. I wondered briefly if I was a burden to him. Of course I was. Suddenly having protection duty thrust upon him must have thrown a wrench in his usual plans. It was almost midnight. He’d probably be asleep and in bed by now if it weren’t for me.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled quietly. The low rumble of the car engine almost drowned me out. “For being such an inconvenience.”
Jesse’s eyes remained on the road, but I couldn’t help but notice the way his grip tightened around the steering wheel. Knuckles white, shoulders tense. “Your safety is never going to be an inconvenience, Vivian.”
I watched him out of the corner of my eye. There was a strength to his presence, a self-assuredness in the way he carried himself. It was his stillness I admired the most. Unwavering. So damn serious. Was he always like this? Or was it because he was on high alert, bodyguard mode?
“I have a few more rules for you,” he said sternly.
“I’m listening.”
“You’re not allowed to go anywhere without me.”
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?”
He huffed. “You can obviously go to the bathroom. You know what I mean.”
I suppressed a giggle. “Got it.”
“When we’re out in public, you have to remain ahead of me at all times.”
“So you can keep an eye on me?”
“Precisely. The only exception is when we’re entering or exiting a room. I’m always first through the door.”
“What happened to ladies first?”
“It’s so I can take a bullet for you.” He said it so bluntly that it took me by surprise.
“You’d really take a bullet for me?”
“Yes,” he answered in a heartbeat.
“But why? You don’t even know me?”
“That’s the job.”
I squirmed in my seat, unsure why my heart was racing. The AC was on, but my skin was on fire. What was I expecting? Of course that was his answer. I just didn’t expect him to be so clinical about it. In fact, Jesse made the whole notion of being a bodyguard sound rather boring. Mundane. Like taking a bullet was as easy as clocking in to work in the mornings.
“Have you ever been shot at before?” I asked.
“You’re a morbidly curious little thing, aren’t you?”
My face pooled with heat. “Maybe.”
“Yes,” he said, flicking the turn signal before pulling left. “I’ve been shot at a few times, actually. A couple of close calls while I was serving overseas, but I’ve been lucky enough not to be hit.”
“Was it scary?”
“The first few times.” He shrugged. “It’s hard to explain. You get desensitized to that sort of stuff really quickly. It doesn’t serve me to be scared.”
“So you’re never scared?”
“Nope.”
I thought I saw him grin, but then we pulled up to the curb just outside my apartment building. Jesse killed the engine but didn’t unlock the door.
“One more thing,” he said. “When I give you an order, you obey it. When I tell you to run, you run. When I tell you to duck, you duck. When I tell you to stay, you stay. Do you understand?”
“The world’s strictest game of Jesse Says? Got it.”
“I’m being serious, Vivian. You shouldn’t make light of the matter.”
“I know, I know.” I sighed heavily. “I’m just… This is a lot to deal with. I’m really worried about Molly. I’m scared. And I guess the way I deal with it is by making jokes. I’m sorry. I swear I’m paying attention.”
Much to my surprise, Jesse reached over the center console and placed his hand on the back of mine. His was massive in comparison, his palm and fingers blanketing mine. I held my breath, startled by the thrill that shot through my veins. Jesse was warm, and he smelled utterly delectable. It was the first time all day that I felt even remotely close to alright.
“Don’t be scared,” he said gently, holding my eyes. “I’ll protect you. You just have to promise that you’ll do as I say.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Jesse pulled away and cleared his throat. I could have sworn I saw redness creeping up the back of his neck, but he got out of the car before I could tell. He circled around front and opened the passenger-side door for me, looking left and right in search of danger.
“Fifteen minutes,” he said gruffly. “Pack your things in fifteen minutes or less.”
I wasn’t about to argue. I wanted to get the hell out of there just as much as he did.
As promised, Jesse was first through the door of my apartment. Nothing was out of place, nothing out of the ord
inary. I watched him work, mesmerized by his efficiency. He checked the windows for tampering, searched every room for threats. He was a shark, nothing but cold eyes and steely focus, moving with speed and precision.
“All clear,” he said, waving me in.
I didn’t dawdle. It wasn’t like I had much to bring with me to begin with. After grabbing a duffle bag from the hallway linen closet, I made straight for the bedroom to pack my clothes. I picked up my toothbrush from the bathroom, my laptop from off the coffee table, a book or two from my bookshelf. I wasn’t sure how long I was going to be in Jesse’s care, so I figured bringing some light entertainment couldn’t hurt.
“I think I’m good to go,” I said.
“You sure? What about those pictures over there?”
He was referring to the framed family pictures lined up above the kitchen table. I shook my head. “They’re not real.”
“What?”
“I bought them at Walmart. Those pictures came with the frames. I don’t actually know any of the people in them.”
Jesse looked understandably confused. “Why—”
“To spruce the place up. Makes it less dreary.”
He opened his mouth as if to ask a question but refrained. Even if I wanted to tell him, now was hardly the time to give him my backstory. We were running out of time.
“Let’s get going,” he said, taking my duffle bag from me.
The apartment door burst open, shards of the frame flying from the force. On the other side, stood three burly men. Snake tattoos choked their necks, blood red eyes staring me down like lasers.
In that moment, sound ceased to exist. Time slowed. My body dragged, heavy with fear and shock. They’d found me. They were here, in my home, a place I always thought I’d be safest. It was more than jarring.
The only thing I could register was Jesse’s hand grabbing mine, yanking me back with alarming force. He screamed something at me, but I couldn’t hear him over the rush of blood in my ears.
I read his lips instead.
Run.
Chapter 10
Jesse
They ganged up on me all at once, throwing their hands and gnashing their teeth. That was their first mistake. It was all for show. They might have looked tough, but they were inexperienced fighters.
I may have been outnumbered, but they were sorely outmatched.
The first guy ran up and tried to lock me in a sleeper hold. I kicked him in the groin as hard as I could before he could get to me, immediately moving into his space to connect my knuckles to his jaw. The crack was swift and deafening. He was out like a light before he knew what hit him.
The second guy whipped out a gun, but he moved to slow, his size more of a burden in such close quarters. I was on him in milliseconds, knocking him against the side of the head with a nearby table lamp. It shattered, breaking into sharp pieces. He fell to the floor, his gun slipping out of his grip and sliding beneath the couch. He was down, but not out.
I’d deal with him later. I had to deal with the third assailant before he got to Vivian.
The second I told her to run, she made a break for the bathroom down the hall. It was a good call. It had a sturdy lock and a window leading out to the building’s fire escape. With any luck, Vivian was already climbing down and putting as much distance between her and her apartment. Either way, I had to finish this up quickly and get to her. She’d be exposed without me.
I ran after the third man, tackling him to the floor. I landed harder than I wanted to, my joints cracking for my efforts. I’d spent too long behind my desk at the office, but it felt strangely good to be back at it.
I pinned the guy down, but not before his fist connected with my jaw. The sting made my eyes water, blurring my vision. He wailed on me again and again until our positions were reversed. He had me on my back, shielding against his blows with both my arms out in front of me. This wasn’t ideal.
In fact, things were going south and fast.
I was getting tired. My movements were sluggish, my limbs heavy, my breathing tight. I was taking more blows than I was dealing. My age was catching up to me, but I couldn’t give up. I wouldn’t. Not when I knew Vivian might still be on the other side of that door.
The image of her cowering in the bathroom flashed across my mind. Those big doe eyes full of fear. Shaking uncontrollably. Her face drained of color. I couldn’t go out like this. I needed to get the upper hand.
For her.
I caught my second wind, a sudden burst of energy numbing the ache in my bones and spurring me on. I managed to turn the tide with a swift punch to the man’s throat. He recoiled, gasping for air. It gave me just enough time to kick him in the chest. He went flying, hitting his head against the wall next to us. It left a dent in the drywall. This time, he was knocked unconscious.
I dragged myself onto my feet, bones creaking. The assailant with the gun was already standing, dashing toward me. He punched me in the gut, knocking the air from my lungs. I was dizzy, the taste of iron that coated my tongue making me nauseated. I wasn’t out of the woods yet. My concentration was slipping, my hits weren’t connecting.
The attacker managed to get behind me, locking my head in a chokehold. He squeezed hard, crushing my windpipe. There was a sudden pressure behind my eyes, in my skull. I couldn’t see straight.
The sound of something cracking reached my ears. The man released me, and I could suddenly breathe again, gasping for air. I turned to find him unconscious, flat on his face. Above him was Vivian, toilet tank cover —the half that hadn’t broken off— still in hand.
“Holy shit,” she breathed, rushing to me. “Holy shit, are you alright? Your nose is bleeding. Here, tilt your chin up.” She cupped my face and wiped at my nose with the sleeve of her sweater.
“I told you to run,” I said, voice hoarse and barely recognizable in my own ears.
“I wasn’t leaving you behind.”
“I gave you an order.”
Vivian rolled her eyes, but her shaky hands gave away her composure. “You can be angry at me about it later.” Her fingers grazed my cheek as she inspected me. The cool touch of her skin was a greater relief to me than an ice pack. “Good. I don’t think your nose is broken. Quit squirming, you’re going to ruin your shirt.”
I grasped her hands. “Why didn’t you listen to me? You should have at least stayed in the bathroom.”
“You’d be dead if it weren’t for me.”
“I would have been fine.”
“Oh, yeah,” she quipped dryly. “Fine and blue in the face.”
“This isn’t up for debate. You said you’d obey my orders.”
“Jesus, would it kill you to say thank you?”
“I’m not going thank you for being reckless.”
“Reckless? You’re telling me that taking on three gang members all by yourself isn’t reckless?”
“I told you already. It’s my job.”
Vivian’s nostrils flared. “I was just trying to help.”
She was probably trying to come across as serious and angry, but I got more of a pouting puppy impression. She was just so small and beautiful and wide-eyed that I wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. Still, there was no missing the way her eyes grew glassy and red at the corners, tears of frustration welling up.
I swallowed, ignoring the urge to dry her tears. “Thank you,” I mumbled.
Vivian sighed. “Was that so hard?”
“Yes.”
“Shush. Let me get you a cloth for your nose.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Bleeding’s stopped, I think.”
“We should get you to a hospital. What if you broke something?”
“Trust me, I would know if something were broken.” I grunted as I got up. I was going to feel it in the morning.
“Jesse, you really should—”
The gang member that Vivian nailed across the back of the head with the toilet tank cover groaned. He stirred, about to come to.
“We
need to go,” I said. “If they don’t check in within the next couple of minutes, the Azure Cartel will send more of them after you.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Chalk it up to experience. You picked the wrong people to piss off.”
She glanced at her shoes, indignant. “It’s not like I did it on purpose.”
I took her hand and led her out the way we came. She had no qualms about stepping over the unconscious man at her feet. In fact, she looked like she enjoyed it. A little slice of revenge for the turmoil he’d brought down on her.
When we got outside, I made sure the coast was clear. There weren’t any suspicious vehicles nearby, but I had no plans of sticking around and waiting for cartel reinforcements to show up. I helped Vivian into the passenger seat before tossing her duffle bag into the back.
We sped off into the night by the skin of our teeth.
Chapter 11
Vivian
The guest bedroom was nice. Lavish. More than what I was used to. The bed’s silk sheets and goose-down duvet felt like laying on a cloud. After the exhausting day I had, I should have been able to drift off without a hitch.
Instead, I tossed and turned all night, unable to still my mind.
I thought about Molly, how terrified she must have been. I wondered where they were keeping her, if the cartel had hurt her, if she was even alive.
I shuddered, hiding my face in my hands. The thought was chilling. What if they’d killed her just because she pointed out an error in the books in my place? It should have been me. It should have been me who marched into Arty’s office. It should have been me who had to suffer the consequences, not her.
I thought about Wally. I didn’t mean to drag him into all this. He was the only friend I thought I could turn to, the only one I believed would listen. Now I’d exposed him to the cartel, as well. What if they decided to go after him, too? What if they took him like they took Molly?
Guilt churned in the pit of my stomach.