Page 54 of The Hideout

“If you see her, could you tell her James was looking for her?” Tears welled in his eyes as he cleared his throat. “It’s been a while since we got the chance to catch up. I really hoped I’d catch her here.”

“Sure. But from what little conversation I did have with…Paige, was it?” James nodded. “She has no intentions of coming back here. Maybe try calling her instead. I’m sure she’ll let you know where she is if she wants to meet up with you.”

“Yeah. Thanks. I’ll try that.” James turned and walked away, his shoulders hunched.

Juliet took her phone from her pocket, bringing up her ‘guys’ number. When the call connected, her nostrils flared. “Where the hell are you?”

“Getting coffee. Why?”

“Why? I don’t employ you to get fucking coffee! I employ you to watch my back.”

“Jules, relax. You told me last night that you wouldn’t be working today. I assumed you’d be at your place unless I heard differently.”

“Well, I’m not. And the woman I asked you to keep an eye on? Her abusive husband has just almost gained entry to the building. Luckily it was me leaving when he tried to get in.”

“Shit. I’m sorry. I’ll be there in three minutes.”

Juliet ended the call, her mind reeling. She didn’t want to imagine what could have happened if Paige had been in her own apartment and James had managed to get inside. It only left her heart pounding.

She brought up Paige’s number. The last thing she wanted was to keep her in the dark.

“Hi. Missing me already?” Paige teased.

“Of course. But that’s not why I’m calling. I…bumped into James. Outside the building. I wanted to tell you and not keep it from you. Relationships based on lies never end well.”

“James is here?” The fear in Paige’s voice didn’t go unnoticed by Juliet. “I should go. Leave the city. He won’t leave until he finds me.”

“Paige, I told him you’d moved out. Said you’d left for Scotland.”

“I…have a bad feeling about this. And it shouldn’t fall to you to protect me.”

Juliet smiled weakly, taking a seat at a bench on the pavement. “You’ve never had anyone to protect you before, have you?”

“No.”

“Well, now you do. I won’t let him hurt you, Paige.” Juliet meant that with every fibre of her being. Paige may be new to her life, they may not have had the deep and meaningful conversations yet, but Juliet knew she’d still protect her with her life. The pull was undeniable, the connection palpable. This woman, before too long, was going to mean the world to her. “I’m serious. I give you my word.”

“I have some decisions to make,” Paige said, her voice breaking. “I need to decide what to do for the best.”

“Let me run to the bar and grab the things I need, and then I’ll be back. Do not go to your apartment. Stay in mine. I’ll be thirty minutes. Not a second longer.”

“Okay.”

“And Paige?”

Paige sighed. “Yeah?”

“We’re going to fix this. I…don’t want to lose you.”

Chapter 17

KISS ME

The silence in Juliet’s apartment was to be expected this morning. Paige was on edge, Juliet didn’t know what to do for the best, and as she glanced out of the window, Henry was still outside. He’d been there all night, but that was exactly what Juliet paid him to do. To watch her back. And her apartment. And her car…the bar…anywhere and anything that was related to Juliet needed eyes on it. Because if she dropped her guard, God only knew what could happen. Someone had already tried to access her car three weeks before she retired, but she had full faith in Henry and his abilities. She wouldn’t pay just anyone.

As she sipped her coffee and turned away from the window, Paige was watching her from the bedroom door. “Mornin’.” She yawned, tiptoeing across the tiled kitchen floor. “Can I get some coffee?”

“Have a seat. I’ll make you some.”

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