Page 22 of Bound to the Bodyguard

Knox, Bishop and Mack awkwardly looked around the room, not wanting to get in the middle.

“I’m just saying… it’s only a matter of time. At this point, they know where I’m at and what I’m wearing… I’m gonna wake up with some man’s hand around my throat.”

I cracked my neck. Hearing those words come out of her mouth was fucking killing me. “The only man that will ever have their hands around your neck is me… and not to hurt you.”

The room was now in complete silence. Nothing would ever stop me from protecting her. Ever.

Chapter 13

Raven

Jerome’s friends had left, and the buzz was strong, but tonight had been an eye opener. Things were getting tricky. My fingers curled around the banister, the grain of the wood grounding me as I paused mid-step. The gentle hum of Jerome’s voice from below reminded me that it wasn’t just the structure of the house that held me up—it was the man ensuring its safety.

“Jerome,” I called down, voice steady, yet softer than usual. There was vulnerability in this admission of needing someone else.

From his position in the living room, he looked up, meeting my gaze. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, I just...” Words usually came easily, but now they tangled on my tongue. I descended the remaining stairs, coming to stand before him. “I wanted to say thank you. Not just for tonight, for all of it. For being here.”

Jerome’s posture remained vigilant, though his eyes softened. “It’s my job, Raven.”

“Maybe so, but you do it with a kind of dedication that’s rare.” I stepped closer, the distance between us charged with a new electricity. “You’re always so composed, so professional. But I see the care behind your actions. It means more to me than you might realize.”

“Looking out for you, keeping you safe. It’s what I’m here for.” Jerome’s voice was a low timbre of resolve, yet I detected the faintest hint of something else.

“Still, it’s one thing to be hired to protect someone; it’s another to actually care whether they feel safe.” I folded my arms, hugging myself as if to embrace the newfound security he had given me.

“Good. That’s how it should be.”

I hesitated, the next thought tiptoeing on the edge of my consciousness. Trusting someone wasn’t easy—not when betrayal lurked in shadows, not when every new face could be a potential threat. But looking at Jerome, at the unwavering assurance in his stance, I felt the walls I’d built crumble just a little.

“Before you came along, I thought I could handle everything on my own,” I confessed, gaze never leaving his. “But you’ve shown me that it’s okay to rely on someone else. That doesn’t make me weak.”

“Being able to trust is a strength, Raven. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re starting to trust me.”

“More than starting,” I admitted, heart skipping a beat. “I do trust you, Jerome. With my life.”

The air between us seemed to shimmer with unspoken understanding, a connection forged through whispered confessions and silent promises.

“Then rest well tonight,” Jerome said, the ghost of a smile touching the corners of his mouth. “I’ll be here, as always.”

“Thank you,” I repeated, feeling the gravity of my gratitude resonate within the quiet confines of the house. As I turned to head back upstairs, the night would bring sleep more peaceful than any I’d had in months—all because of who watched over me.

Chapter 14

Jerome

The clock showed three in the morning, and I was completing my ninth check-in on Raven. After everything that had happened, and then getting that text, I was on edge. Things were getting out of control and the police still didn’t have any leads. When were they going to get off their asses and find this guy?

This disaster might have brought Raven back into my life, putting me at the Gala that first night, but she didn’t deserve this. Nobody did. Things were escalating. Someone had demonstrated their readiness to harm her if given the opportunity, and I had the responsibility to prevent that from occurring.

I stood outside her door, expecting her to be awake, running lines, but then loud snoring happened. Laughs erupted from my throat and I threw my hand over my mouth so she wouldn’t hear me. How could someone so beautiful sound like a freight train?

Now that I knew she was finally getting some sleep, I would try to do the same, but with averaging two hours a night since staying here, I wasn’t holding my breath.

As I headed back to my room, the events of the past few weeks replayed in my mind like a broken record. The Gala where I first saw Raven after all these years, only to have our reunion darkened by the looming threat that now hung over her. The way she looked at me with those vulnerable green eyes, silently pleading for reassurance that everything would be alright.

But nothing felt alright. The weight of responsibility I carried for Raven’s safety was a heavy burden on my shoulders, one that I couldn’t shake off no matter how hard I tried. She trusted me to protect her, and I wouldn’t fail her.

---