“You’re tired. I hope you sleep well.” Brig nodded to her and walked out the open doorway.
Claire went to the door and closed it softly. Putting her back against the door, she sank down to the ground. Tears welled up and raced down her cheeks. She’d been a monster to Peyton. No wonder she hadn’t let herself date someone fabulous like Brig. She should get an Uber and go to her apartment. Brig didn’t need to deal with her amnesia or her guilt. She reached for her phone and realized she didn’t have it. Part of her was relieved. She wanted to stay close to Brig and feel safe and protected. Instead of flinging the door open and rushing to him for comfort like she wanted to do, she curled into a ball on the hard floor and let the tears flow.
Chapter Five
Brig had plenty of security to cover the property for the rest of the weekend, and Knox had been supportive of him taking time off and being with Claire. He had three days to get to know her and hope she’d fall for him like he had already done for her months ago. He worried that she’d either recover her memory and realize what had held her back from dating him before or she’d just leave. He was surprised she hadn’t left with Hazel. Normally, he didn’t lack confidence, but Claire was his dream woman. It was hard not to feel unworthy of her. Especially since she’d turned him down every time he’d asked her out.
He usually would’ve gone back down to his office to check the security cameras one more time out of sheer habit, but he went into his bedroom instead and started a round of fifty burpees to try to burn off some excess energy. Knox had a great gym in his home, and it was open to Brig anytime, but he didn’t want to be far from Claire. Yet he needed to move. Having the beautiful Claire in the bedroom next to him was invigorating, disturbing, tough—he didn’t know what word to pin on it. He wanted to rush in there and kiss her. Shaking his head, he finished the burpees and started into pushups.
“Brig!” Claire’s shriek raised the hair on the back of his neck. Jumping to his feet, he banged out of his door and flung hers open.
She sat in the middle of the bed with a card in her hand. Her eyes were wide and terrified.
“What?” He rushed to the side of the bed but stopped himself short from climbing up on the mattress and pulling her close.
“Hazel brought my mail, I have no clue who ... why …” She shook her head and swallowed as if trying to organize her thoughts. “Someone’s sent me four letters since yesterday.” Her mouth kind of flapped open, but then her jaw tightened. “Somebody is threatening me, and I have no clue who he is or what I could possibly have done to him.”
“Someone is threatening you?” That did it. Brig ignored any voices suggesting caution. He climbed onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. He would tear apart anyone who dared to threaten her.
Claire wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. Her small form fit so perfectly in his arms. She belonged here. He felt wetness on his shirt. He didn’t know if she was scared or just frustrated with her memory loss and whatever was going on with the letters.
“What’s in the letters?” he murmured against her hair.
“I must’ve ticked somebody off.” One of the notes was still clutched in her hand. She placed it carefully next to the others then lifted the first card. “I think this one is first.”
He didn’t want to release her, but he let go with one hand and took the card.
You don’t get to choose to quit on me. You’re mine. I’ll be coming for you, sweetheart.
You’re mine? Whoever this joker was, he’d better stand down quick. Brig set the card back on the comforter and picked up another opened card.
I gave you a chance for romance, sweetheart. Now it’s only going to be fun for me. Unless you’re into pain.
Brig’s stomach tightened. He was going to rip this guy apart. He forced himself to release the card and let it fall to the bed, picking up another one. Claire had already touched them so he wasn’t as worried about fingerprints as he probably should’ve been. He needed to know what was written on the cards.
Looks like somebody got what was coming to her. Wish I could’ve been there to see it. I’ll be waiting for you when you come home from the hospital, sweetheart.
Brig’s grip on Claire tightened. Who was threatening her and why? The person knew about the accident. None of the envelopes had postage on them, maybe the guy slipped them into her mail slot? Did the police know Claire was being threatened? How long had it been going on? If the police had wind of this, they would’ve said something when she was in the accident this morning. He reached for the last card, and Claire buried her head in his chest.
You think you can hide out with Knox? I’ll take down the Beast, and then I’ll do everything I’ve been fantasizing about doing to you. See you soon, sweetheart.
Anger rushed through him, making his stomach sour and his throat tight. Whoever this loser was he would never hurt Claire or Knox or anyone on this property.
“We need to call the police,” he said.
She nodded against his chest. “Okay.”
Brig carefully held her with one hand as he pulled out his phone with the other and found the contact info of a man he’d known in the Army who was now a detective with the Dallas P.D. His buddy John answered, and Brig quickly explained the situation. He asked him to have someone check into any threats against Claire in their files while John and his partner came to look at the notes and discuss security measures. John assured him they’d be there soon and hung up. Next, Brig called Beau who was at the front gate and briefed him quickly, asking him to call in six more of their security team, keep his eyes wide open for potential danger, and watch for the police. Then he called Knox, told him what was going on, and asked him to come over, assuring him that Beau would send Rudy and Ken to the main house to watch over his family and Tyrell would patrol the property in his Jeep.
Knox responded in typical Beast style. “Whoever this loser is, I’d love to take him on.”
Brig smiled. He should’ve known Knox wouldn’t be mad that someone was coming after them but look at it as a challenge. It would take a champion ultimate fighter to conquer Knox. “Thanks for being so great,” he said to his boss.
“Great? I’m ready to rip somebody’s head off, and I don’t even know who they are. Nobody messes with my family or my friends.” Knox hung up on him, but Brig knew they’d see him soon.
Brig pocketed his phone then plucked Claire off the mattress and stood.
“Whoa!” She wrapped her arms around his neck instinctively. Brig realized it was for stability, but he loved having her touch him.
“Let’s go downstairs until they come. You don’t need to sit here and look at those notes.”
“Thanks.”
As he carried her into the hallway and then down the stairs, she stared steadily at him. Brig reached the bottom of the stairs and finally looked down into her aqua eyes. “What? Do I have something on my nose?” He tried to joke. He wished he was funny like her and her sister. They could put on a comedy show.
She smiled. “No. I’m just so grateful I’m with you right now. What would I do if I opened those notes by myself?”
“Call the police.” He didn’t say it out loud, but the notes said the guy would’ve been waiting at her apartment. Thank heavens they’d brought her here. Yet now they might be putting Knox’s family in danger. Brig’s life revolved around keeping them all safe. His gut churned. He wanted to find this guy and pummel him, but he had to make sure everyone was safe first.
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t have my hunky personal bodyguard to hold me.”
Brig should’ve set her down somewhere. Instead he sank onto the couch with her in his arms. Claire kept her arms around his neck and leaned into him. He really liked that. “I want to always be here for you,” he said then wished he could bite his tongue. Too sappy. Too loser-ish.
Claire looked him over and murmured, “I must’ve been some kind of idiot before the amnesia to ever say no to you.”
Brig smiled. “N
o, you’ve always been magnificent, way out of my league.”
“I don’t believe that for a second,” Claire said, arching up closer to him.
Brig’s breath caught in his throat. He’d loved Claire from afar for so long, and now, she was here in his arms, inches away from his mouth. He bent down, tenderly touching his lips to hers. Claire responded exactly like he had hoped she would. She yanked him closer, extending the brief kiss. Fire raced through him.
The front door banged open. Brig pulled back a little bit, but Claire clung to his neck, keeping their faces close.
Knox stormed into the great room. He reared to a stop as he saw Claire on Brig’s lap. His eyebrows shot up. “I think your timing’s off, bro.”
Claire stuck out her tongue at him. “Leave us alone, Beast.”
Knox chuckled. “So at least this loser threatening you brought Claire back.”
Brig glanced sharply down at her. She shook her head. “No, I don’t remember everything, but Knox is an easy one to figure out.”
Knox roared with laughter. “Tell Ema that.”
Brig released his grip on Claire, but she didn’t move from his lap. It was like she was choosing him with their friend in the room. He wrapped his arms back around her waist and looked up at Knox. “I think I should get her out of here.”
Knox nodded. “Exactly. I’m flying Ema, Shelby, Nellie, and Aunt Genny to my sister’s house. You take Beau and Rudy with you. I’ll send Ken and Tyrell with my girls, and I’ll rotate through the rest of our men here in case the idiot is really brave enough to show up.” He got a wicked gleam in his eyes and cracked his knuckles. “Game on, baby.”
Claire’s eyes went wide, and she clung to Brig. “Where are you taking me?”
“To my cabin.” Brig felt strength rush through him. He had to protect Claire. Whoever was after her knew she was at Knox’s. They could disappear out a back gate in his Hummer. He’d keep her safe, and either the police would find the guy or the guy would be stupid enough to try to break into Knox’s fortress. He smiled, wishing he could be here for the battle if that happened. Knox was a trained fighter and a former captain in the army. Brig had been his major before they both retired and Brig went into private security and Knox inherited a fortune from his buddy and started playing in the NFL. The rest of the men Brig had recruited for his security team were no slouches either.
“That’s what I was thinking.” Knox nodded. “Ema and Shelby will go in the chopper to the airport. You can go out the back exit. We’ll take him on here.” He gave them a rare grin, looking like a little boy ready to pick a fight.
Chapter Six
The rest of the night was craziness. The police showed up and questioned Claire over and over again. They took the hand-written notes in plastic bags to try to get fingerprints. Brig was competent and confident, and Claire stayed as close to him as she could.
When the police conferred with the security personnel at her office building, they finally got some answers. There was video footage of a well-built man being escorted by security along the hallway outside her office, down the elevator, and out of the revolving glass door. He had a handsome, smooth-looking face. Well, smooth except for the red marks on his cheek. Scratched by her nails possibly? The most disturbing thing was his very self-satisfied and sadistic-looking smile.
“Who is that guy?” she asked, pressing closer into Brig’s side as they sat on the love seat watching the footage on a laptop. Knox paced behind them like a caged animal.
“Gage Tantrum.” Knox spit the name out.
The policemen and Brig all looked at Knox.
“He’s a fullback for Pittsburgh.”
“Oh yeah,” Brig said. “I recognize him now.”
Knox nodded. “I wonder if you took him on as a client, Claire.”
The guy didn’t look familiar to her at all. “Is he bad news?”
“It’s debatable.” Knox rubbed at his short beard. “He’s too friendly for me, but some people like him. There are lots of rumors of Gage being heavy into porn, and he seems to be getting crazier every year. He’s had at least one publicized suspension for steroids. I know Brady and Hailey Giles hate him.”
Claire arched an eyebrow. She remembered Brady Giles. “Brady got married?”
“Yeah, to Hailey Knight, James Knight’s daughter.”
Claire had met the owner’s daughter before. She was a bubbly blonde, beautiful and kind. She was also one of the Titans’ trainers. “How do you know the Giles don’t like him?”
“Brady put some vicious hits on Gage at our last game against Pittsburgh, and I overheard him telling Hailey that Gage would pay for what he’d done to her.”
“Wow.” Claire’s mind was whirling.
“Gage thinks he’s quite the ladies’ man,” Knox said. His jaw clamped tight. “If he’s the one who sent the notes, he should know better than to think he could take me on.”
“You said you’re in season,” Claire said. “How would he be here and not practicing in Pittsburgh?”
“We play Pittsburgh on Sunday,” Knox said.
John, the police detective who seemed to be in charge piped in. “So your theory is that Mr. Tantrum is one of Miss Tucker’s clients, but she upset him, and he’s coming after her?”
Knox nodded and focused on Brig. “We might want to contact the Giles. If Gage assaulted Hailey at some point, maybe this isn’t his first offense. If Claire turned him down, like she does every guy, Gage might have tried something in Claire’s office.” He swallowed and wouldn’t meet Claire’s eye. “Hopefully she was able to get security to escort him out before anything happened.”
Claire’s stomach dropped as Brig’s arm tightened around her shoulders. So she may have been assaulted by this Gage guy? She hated not remembering. She was also confused about why she supposedly turned every man down. A wave of exhaustion hit her. She wanted to just climb onto Brig’s lap and shut all this out for a while. He made her feel so safe. “Why wouldn’t I have reported it to the police?” she asked.
“Maybe he didn’t take it far enough?” Knox wondered.
John nodded. “I’ll contact the Giles in the morning and check into any sexual harassment suits taken against Mr. Tantrum. We’ll station men outside your property to help keep an eye out, Mr. Sherman. You’ve got your security team in place, Brig?”
Brig nodded. “We are taking Miss Tucker to a secure location. I’ll check in tomorrow morning.”
John didn’t look upset, but he didn’t look happy either. “I’m not sure I can approve of that plan. We’d need to send additional men with you.”
“My men are all I need.” He met John’s eye evenly, definitely not backing down. “I’m not keeping Claire here. We’re leaving tonight. Either we’ll get the proof we need to detain Tantrum in the next couple of days and form a case, or he’ll try to attack here. At which point, my men and yours will take him down.”
John’s lips pursed. “Mr. Sherman, what about your fiancée and daughter?”
“My pilot and two of my security men have already taken them to my sister’s house. I know they aren’t the target, but I would never risk them being in harm’s way.”
John nodded. “So basically, if Tantrum attacks here, he’ll meet a ton of resistance with no innocents?”
“That’s the plan,” Brig said. He rubbed his hand along Claire’s arm. She loved it.
“How long do you plan on keeping Miss Tucker at your ‘undisclosed location?’”
Brig shrugged. “Until her memory returns and she can help with your prosecution or the perp is caught.”
Claire wasn’t sure she wanted to be stuffed away at some remote cabin while they waited for this Gage guy to attack Knox and his men. She couldn’t remember the last three years, but she knew that she hated inactivity and would rather be moving and doing. Yet she trusted Brig and would be happy to stay with him and get to know him better.
John finally stood and shook Knox and Brig’s hands. “I’ll get my men s
et up, and I’ll get back to work researching this guy. Check in with me.” He commanded Brig.
“You got it.”
Claire thought Brig was an interesting enigma. He had a presence about him that showed he could be the leader of any group, but he was also humble and didn’t put on airs.
They said thank you and goodbye to the policemen. Then Brig took Claire’s suitcase and his duffel bag and loaded them in a black Hummer. He opened Claire’s door and escorted her in. She saw Knox lingering outside. “Thanks, Knox,” she said.
“Who’d negotiate my Under Armour deal if you got killed?” He winked at her.
Claire knew this was extremely serious, but it kind of felt like Knox was excited, like a little boy going into a play battle.
Brig shut her door, and she watched him and Knox shake hands and confer for a little while. At one point, Brig stared through the window at her then went back to talking to Knox. He sauntered around to the driver’s side and climbed in. Glancing over her face, he asked softly, “You doing okay?”
Claire wilted into the seat. His concern and kindness were like a warm tub full of lavender Epsom salt when every muscle in her body was sore. Yet she didn’t know how to answer him. No, she was not okay. If Brig hadn’t taken her to Knox’s house after the hospital, that man, Gage, would’ve probably been waiting for her at her condo.
“I just thought of something,” she said, straightening. “There would be security cameras in the elevator and hallway outside my condo. If that guy really went to wait for me today, they’d have footage of it, right?” She was proud her brain could still remember something.
“Good call.” He nodded his approval and pulled out his phone. “I’ll text John to get someone to look into that as well. Knox also got a hold of his private investigators, ex-Navy SEALs. They’re flying in soon, and if anybody can find Gage, these guys can.” He hurried and typed into his phone.
“Knox is a good guy, isn’t he?”
“One of the best I know.”
The Irresistible Groom: Texas Titan Romances Page 5