Page 9 of Bound to the Bodyguard

“Raven, talk to me. You’re white as a ghost.” Evelyn’s approach was cautious, her steps slow and measured, as if approaching a wounded animal.

The room seemed to spin, heart a frantic drumbeat in my ears. I wanted to confide in Evelyn, to draw strength from her unwavering support, but the words choked in my throat.

I looked into Evelyn’s earnest eyes and saw the fierce determination there. It was the same look Evelyn got when tackling impossible schedules or calming irate clients — a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this fight, no matter how isolating the fear felt.

“They called. The voice —” I broke off, gulping back the panic that threatened to overwhelm me.

Evelyn’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before her brows drew together. “This has gone too far.”

I nodded, feeling the tremor in my hands beginning to subside. “I thought I could handle it, Evie. But this... this is different. They’re not just playing games.”

“Listen to me, Raven.” Her hand gripped my shoulder with reassuring strength. “I’m here, and I’m going to make sure nothing happens to you. We’ll increase security, change routines, do whatever it takes.”

“Let’s start by checking all the locks and alarm system.”

Evelyn strode to the sleek panel on the wall downstairs, her fingers flying over the touchscreen as she engaged the state-of-the-art alarm system. The soft chirp confirmed the house was now a fortress. She then pulled out her phone with practiced ease, dialing the local precinct with a number she knew by heart.

“Officer Hernandez, it’s Evelyn Carter. I need to report an incident at the Fields residence—yes, a threatening phone call.”

I watched from the doorway, my arms wrapped around myself, as Evelyn paced the room, detailing the call with precision. Despite the turmoil within, my gaze fixed on Evelyn’s determined movements, finding an anchor in my assuredness and poise.

“Thank you. We’ll expect them,” Evelyn concluded, placing her phone on the desk with a decisive click. She turned to me, her eyes locking onto mine. “They’re sending a car over.”

“Evie, what if that’s not enough?” My voice cracked, betraying the veneer of composure I fought to maintain.

“Raven,” Evelyn reached for my hands, grip firm and grounding, “I’ve seen you conquer mountains in heels higher than my ambitions. This is just another obstacle, and you’re not facing it alone.”

“Obstacles don’t usually leave you fearing for your life.”

“True,” Evelyn conceded, “but we’re a team. And I am quite the formidable sidekick, if I do say so myself.”

“Formidable doesn’t begin to cover it, Evie. You’re...you’re my rock.”

“Then lean on me,” Evelyn said, “as much as you need. We’ll get through this. And whoever is behind this will regret it.”

Things were escalating, and it scared the shit out of me. Why would anyone want to harass me? My success had tripled in the last year, but was that any excuse?

Evelyn picked up her phone again.

“What are you doing?”

She looked over at me. “Hello? Yes, this is Evelyn Carter. I need to arrange for a security detail at Miss Fields’ residence. Full coverage, round the clock until further notice.”

I watched, my heart a mix of warmth and worry, as Evelyn rattled off instructions with clear-cut precision. The woman who had moments ago offered comfort was now a whirlwind of efficiency, her petite frame seeming to expand with the weight of responsibility she bore.

I left her to make arrangements and needed some quiet. The craziness swirling around in my head was eating at me. Whoever was doing this wanted this exact reaction. As much as I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction, the turmoil left behind from the menacing silence ate away at my composure.

I slipped through the doorway of my bedroom, the familiar scent of lavender and linen greeting me like a whispered lullaby. I closed the door with a soft click, leaning back against it for a moment as if to shut the world away. The space was my sanctuary, walls adorned with abstract art that spoke to my soul, and shelves lined with awards and mementos of my hard-earned success. Now, though, those symbols seemed hollow, their shine dulled by the shadow of menace that loomed over me.

The phone call replayed in my head, the stalker’s voice a sinister whisper. Betrayal gnawed at my insides, bitter and sharp. I had built a fortress around my life, brick by brick, trust doled out sparingly and only to a chosen few. To think that someone could penetrate those defenses, could observe me so closely to instill such precise fear—was it someone I knew? A former colleague, a spurned lover, an envious acquaintance?

Dammit. Not now. Not after everything I’ve fought for. Anger flared within me, a brief but potent blaze that seared through the cold tendrils of dread. I was Raven Fields, and I would not cower because of some faceless coward hiding behind threats.

But then the anger ebbed, leaving behind a hollow echo of vulnerability. I wrapped my arms around myself, seeking comfort in the solace of solitude. Trust was a precious commodity, one that was slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. Paranoia crept in, a silent invader probing at the edges of my resolve.

I need to stay strong. I can’t let them see me break.

With a deep breath, I rose from the floor and walked to the window, peering out at the night sky. The stars were hidden behind clouds, much like the answers I sought—obscured, distant, untouchable.

---