Page 16 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

“You do?”

“The first test assignment before my expansion is important. Having it here in Sweet Haven, where I grew up, feels fitting, and I wouldn’t have had it here if it wasn’t for her…not that I’m happy about what happened to you.”

“No, I get it. There’s no place like home.”

There’s a wistfulness to her tone now, and I wonder if she misses her apartment despite the trauma that place gave her. Again, I’m filled with the urge to comfort, so I shut it down and step back.

“Get comfortable and settled in. Explore the house if you want. Then we can get to the security locks and house weapon basics later.”

* * *

I have clients who can argue their way out of any corner, even if that corner means their safety and the other side means danger. Luckily, despite our animosity, Raven isn’t the type to argue just for the sake of arguing, and she pays attention to my instructions and easily adapts to the weapon training I show her.

It doesn’t mean, however, that we’re friends because the tension is still very much present when the hours pass and we get through a rather stilted dinner. I don’t try to make conversation, not when I already have the information that I need to protect her, and finding out more will just mean attachments.

And this is a business deal, nothing else.

When Raven settles into her room for the night, I settle in mine, too. Honey Lee calls me sometime later.

“How’s my cousin?”

“She’s good. But you should ask her.”

“I already did. Now I’m asking you. How is she?”

Vulnerable. Feeling trapped. Frustrated with her situation and angry that I’m the one protecting her.

But I have no right to share those things, not when Raven is trying her best to keep them to herself.

“She’ll be fine, Honey Lee. I told you. Don’t worry too much.”

She sighs. “I can’t help it. She’s my cousin.”

“I know. If this happened to Clara, I’d go batshit, too. But this is Sweet Haven. We got her, okay?”

That eases her up. “Okay. Aaron says I should calm down for her.”

“Aaron’s right. Go enjoy your night. We’re fine here.”

“Okay.”

When we hang up, I take a hot shower and walk around the room naked, assured that no one would be bothering us in this area and everything’s locked tight. I’m putting on my sweatpants and shirt with that confidence thrumming inside me when I hear it: a faint scream, then a louder scream filled with fear.

And it’s coming from Raven’s room.

Chapter 6

Raven

The nightmare is the same as it’s always been, with my ex running after me and me running away until I get myself to wake up. This time, he manages to catch up to me, and the feeling of being trapped surges like a tide and drowns me. I lose my breath, then lose my sight as darkness surrounds me, his words the only thing I hear.

There’s nowhere to run. I’ll always find you.

I scream my lungs out when hands wrap around my neck and choke the life out of me. Then I jerk awake, forcibly yanked from that moment, but now wrapped in a cold sweat and the knowledge that I will be haunted by that forever. When I still hear the words ringing in my ears, panic surges and I can’t breathe all over again.

Then his hands are reaching for me and?—

“Hey. Hey. It’s me. Christian. I won’t hurt you.”

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