Page 50 of Bound to the Bodyguard

“Raven? Is everything okay?” Evelyn’s voice crackled through the line, tinged with worry.

“Can you come over?”

“Of course, sweetie. I’ll be right there.”

Minutes later, the door swung open and Evelyn stepped into the room. Her presence immediately felt like a warm embrace.

“It happened again, Evie. Another call from The Phantom. Every time that phone rings or a letter arrives, it’s like I’m losing another piece of myself to fear.”

“We’re stronger than we think, hon. And remember, you’ve got Jerome too. Have you spoken to him about this? Where is he?”

The mention of Jerome’s name brought a complex swirl of emotions. Trust battled with the instinct to withdraw, to protect myself from relying too heavily on anyone else.

“He was asleep. He has been barely sleeping lately. I didn’t have the heart to wake him up.”

The poor guy had been going non-stop since he started protecting me, and he deserved one night of good sleep.

“Let’s talk to him, Raven. He’s here for you.”

I knocked on his bedroom door, but no sound. “Hey, we need to talk.”

Footsteps led to the door. “What’s wrong?”

“Another message. It’s getting worse.”

“Go call the Detective so they can get access and let me get dressed. I’ll be right there.”

After Evelyn left, Jerome busied himself with checking the locks on the expansive windows of the house for the third time that evening. The click of each deadbolt reverberated like an echo of my racing heartbeat. I watched him from across the room, arms wrapped around myself as if to ward off the creeping chill of isolation.

I was safe with him here, but for some reason, chills still ran up my spine.

Chapter 32

Jerome

Istood silently in the corner of the sprawling living room, eyes scanning for any sign of intrusion, any hint of threat. The weight of my responsibility pressed down on me like a physical force, the tension knotting my muscles as I observed her. She was laughing now, a rare and uninhibited sound that resonated through the spacious room, but even that couldn’t ease the tight coil of apprehension in my gut.

Can I really keep her safe? The question haunted me, pacing the perimeters of my mind with the relentless cadence of a sentry. I had been trained to face danger head-on, to be the shield against chaos and violence. Yet, standing in Raven’s presence, surrounded by opulence and normalcy, I felt a disquieting tremor of doubt.

Raven was becoming used to the terror. We had gone a couple of days without an intrusive note or phone call, so I thought maybe they had finally given up.

“What are you doing over there? Don’t you want to chill and watch the movie?”

There was no way I could sit down and chill. I was on edge. “I’m good here, thanks.”

“I know what this job asks of you, the sacrifices you make. But I also see you, Jerome. Not just as a bodyguard, but as the man who has never once let me down.”

I remained silent.

“Even when I can’t see the dangers ahead, I feel safe because you’re here. I trust you with my life,” she continued, her gaze never wavering. “Not just because it’s your duty, but because I believe in your strength, your honor. You’re not just a hired hand; you’re the reason I can still stand tall amidst this chaos.”

She believes in me. Despite all the risks, the close calls, she sees something in me that’s worth her trust.

My own doubts, those constant shadows that lurked in the recesses of my mind, began to recede. Raven’s belief acted as a beacon, guiding him through the fog of uncertainty that had clouded his thoughts.

If she can trust me, then maybe I can trust myself. The idea took root, anchoring itself. The insecurities that gnawed at me now seemed distant, inconsequential compared to the conviction I saw in Raven’s eyes.

“Your trust—it means more to me than you might realize. I won’t let you down. No matter what comes our way. That’s my promise to you.”

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