Page 61 of Bound to the Bodyguard

As the officers led him away, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. It wasn’t relief—no, that would come later. It was the weight of the chains he had tried to place around me, now broken and discarded.

“Will you be alright, Miss Fields?” the detective asked, watching me closely.

“I will be,” I affirmed, voice unwavering. “Now that justice is being served.”

“Good.” The detective nodded. “We’ll do everything we can to find the gardener. He won’t get far.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, turning away from the sight of my ex-husband in cuffs.

As the sirens faded into the distance and the last of the police cars pulled away, I stood alone amidst the disarray. My heart was an inferno, burning away the remnants of a past that no longer held any power over me. With each breath, I felt more alive, more myself than I had in years.

I am free, and I will never look back.

“Let’s just go home,” Jerome whispered, crossing his arms around my waist.

Together, we walked to the exit, the automatic doors parting as if sensing the gravity of our shared unspoken resolve. The cool night air kissed my cheeks, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere I had left behind.

“Lean on me,” Jerome offered, noticing the slight tremble in my steps. Without hesitation, I accepted the crook of his arm, allowing his steady presence to ground me.

As Jerome guided me to his SUV parked under the dim glow of the streetlight, I felt an odd sense of safety. I slid into the passenger seat, body sinking into the leather as he closed the door with a soft thud.

“Seatbelt,” he reminded me gently, a hint of the old Jerome peeking through the cracks of his stoic facade.

I buckled herself in, fingers brushing lightly against his as he reached across me to ensure the strap was secure. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world outside faded away. There was an unspoken conversation in that glance, a depth of feeling that words had yet to capture.

Jerome started the engine and pulled out onto the deserted street. The hum of the vehicle was soothing, a lullaby to the tempest of thoughts swirling in my mind. As we drove through the quiet city, I found myself leaning slightly toward him, drawn by an inexplicable force.

“Thank you, Jerome,” I murmured. “For everything.”

“Always.”

The SUV came to a halt outside the gates of my estate, an oasis of tranquility amid the chaos that had become my life. I gazed out the window, the sprawling shadows of my home casting long patterns on the gravel drive. The silence between us was thick with words unsaid, a tangible tension that begged for release.

“Jerome,” I began, turning toward him. “I need to say something.”

He cut the engine, the soft purring of the car ceasing and surrendering them to the stillness of the night. His profile, silhouetted by the moonlight, was a picture of focus and strength that had been her shield. Yet now I sought the man behind the armor.

“Go ahead,” Jerome said, his voice steady but cautious, as he turned to face me, the intensity in his eyes inviting me to speak my truth.

“Your job here is done,” I stated, though my heart raced at the gravity of my own words. I watched as a flicker of surprise, perhaps disappointment, crossed his features.

“Raven, if you’re worried about—”

“No, it’s not that,” I interjected, my hands clasping together to steady their shaking. “It’s just... I can’t have you as my bodyguard anymore.” My eyes searched his, pleading for understanding.

“Because of what happened?” Jerome asked, the lines on his forehead deepening with concern.

“Because...” I took a deep breath, gathering the courage that had propelled me through life’s trials. “Because I want more, Jerome. More than the professional, more than the safety you provide. I want you—the man who has been by my side, who makes me feel... alive.”

Jerome’s expression softened, a vulnerability breaking through his usual composure. “Rav—”

“Let me finish,” I rushed to say before my confidence waned. “These past days, the fear, the uncertainty, they peeled back layers I didn’t even know I had. And beneath it all, I found something unexpected... feelings for you that go beyond gratitude or friendship.”

For a long moment, there was only the sound of our breathing, a symphony of nerves and anticipation. Jerome reached out, his hand coming to rest gently on my cheek, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through me.

“Raven,” he whispered, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw tenderly. “Are you sure?”

“Never been more certain of anything in my life,” I admitted.

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