Page 59 of Bound to the Bodyguard

“Jerome, I’m scared,” Raven whispered, her eyes reflecting the turmoil of the night.

I leaned in closer, my presence a shield against the outside world. “I know, I know. But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere,” I assured her, my voice carrying the weight of my military oath, the unspoken pledge I now extended to her.

“Promise me,” she implored, her fingers tightening around mine.

“Raven, look at me,” I commanded gently, waiting until her gaze met mine. “I will find him. No one gets to terrorize you and walk away unscathed. That’s a solemn vow.”

A small nod from Raven was all the confirmation I needed. Her trust anchored me more firmly than any military order ever could.

Whoever threatened Raven Fields would soon learn the true cost of awakening the wrath of Jerome Dawson.

My gaze never left Raven, even as the commissariat of movement erupted around us. My ears, however, couldn't miss the crackle of radios and the heavy boots hitting pavement as news broke through the chatter.

"Two in custody," a voice barked out. "Suspects apprehended at Fifth and Grand."

"Copy that," another confirmed. The tension that had wrapped around my shoulders like steel cables loosened infinitesimally. I saw an officer's nod, the affirmation in their eyes as they looked towards me. "We got 'em, Mr. Dawson. We got two of them."

"Good," I muttered, my focus shifting back to Raven, whose own eyes sparked with a guarded sense of relief. Even in the back of the ambulance, surrounded by EMTs, she managed to convey her gratitude with a simple, silent nod towards the officers.

"Stay behind the tape, please!" Detective Angela Ramirez's voice cut through the murmur of curious onlookers and frenzied reporters.

"Detective, we've got the area secured, but—" An officer approached Ramirez, his sentence trailing off as he caught sight of Raven.

"Secure doesn't mean safe," I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning the perimeter with practiced vigilance. "Not yet."

"Jerome, what are they saying?" Raven's voice was barely audible above the noise, her face etched with worry.

"Standard procedure. They're just locking down the scene." I tried to sound reassuring, but my words felt hollow even to my own ears.

"Jerome, do you think they'll catch them all?" Her fingers dug into the sleeves of my jacket, her need for assurance palpable between us.

"They've got two already, Raven. The rest won't get far." But even as I spoke, doubt gnawed at him, an incessant whisper that mocked my attempts at confidence.

Chapter 35

Raven

“Is it always this bright in here?” I quipped, an attempt to mask my growing anxiety as I squinted against the harsh fluorescent lights. The paramedics exchanged a glance above me, their faces etched with professional concern that failed to reach their eyes.

“Your pupils are reacting normally,” one of them responded mechanically, scribbling something onto his clipboard.

“Great,” I murmured, a frown creasing my forehead. Their detachment felt odd, clinical, even for medical staff. They seemed more interested in ticking boxes than in addressing my unease.

“Are you feeling any discomfort, Ms. Fields?” the other paramedic asked, his voice devoid of warmth.

“Besides the headache from your interrogation lights? No.” My retort was sharper than intended, but I couldn’t shake the unsettling suspicion crawling beneath my skin like ants over spilt sugar.

“Let us know if that changes,” the first paramedic said, already turning away.

“Will do,” I replied, but they were barely listening. As they walked off, their indifference gnawed at me. Why did it feel like they knew something I didn’t?

We took off in the ambulance toward the hospital. They wanted to do a couple more tests before sending me home. We were done within an hour and cleared for Jerome to take me home.

As I paced the sterile hospital corridor, I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to calm the storm inside my head. Where had I heard that voice before? It nagged at me, a splinter lodged deep in my memory.

“Remember, breathe,” Jerome’s low voice instructed, grounding me in the present.

“Right,” I whispered, taking a deep breath. The voice... it was almost recognizable, like a song heard once in passing, the melody lingering but the lyrics forgotten.

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