Page 9 of Ride or Dies

“Yeah,” I said. “That’s why when it happened a third time, even after the building’s security told me they’d double down, I decided Jenna moving up her wedding was just the excuse I needed to get out of Nashville without looking suspicious.”

“What did the cops say?” Tucker asked. “I mean, you did tell the cops you had someone threatening you, right?”

“Of course she didn’t,” Levi scoffed. “That’d mean actually asking for help.”

“Would you call the cops?” I snapped.

He gave me a derisive look. “In case you forgot, I’m a hell of a lot bigger and scarier than you.”

“I don’t know,” Jenna said. “You’ve never tried to carry on a conversation with her before she has her coffee.”

I flipped her off, but smiled while doing it because I knew she was just trying to lighten the mood and I appreciated it.

“Wait—” Mason frowned. “You’re some big-shot country star and you don’t have bodyguards? Personal security?”

“I do,” I said before Levi could make another snarky comment. “But they don’t live with me. Until recently, the security in my building was enough.”

“Are they invisible, or do they just suck at their job?” Tucker asked, looking around. “Because I didn’t see them outside helping you a few minutes ago.”

I glared at him. “I was coming back to Bedford for my friend’s wedding. I had no reason to think that my shit was going to follow me here. I mean, it’s Bedford. The most dangerous people around here are…” I hesitated, but then decided what the hell. “Well, your kind are the biggest criminal element.”

“I’m not sure whether that’s an insult or a compliment,” Mason said dryly.

“You know what I mean,” I said. “Stalkers aren’t something Bedford PD really has to deal with. And besides, around here I’m not Evelyn Hayes, one of country’s brightest stars. I’m Evie, the daughter of the town drunk, the girl who once put bread bags in her shoes to keep her socks from getting wet.”

“Does that mean you left your bodyguards back in Nashville?” Jenna asked, squeezing my hand.

“I told them to take a vacation,” I said. “And you don’t want bodyguards around when we’re doing wedding planning. Or at the actual wedding. I mean, how’s that going to work? I’m standing up there with you and I have guys in suits on either side? It’s your wedding. I’m not going to ever take the focus off of you. I’ll be fine.”

“Yes,” Jenna said, a gleam entering her eyes. “You will.”

I didn’t like that gleam. It’d gotten me into more trouble than I cared to remember growing up.

“You’re going to be fine because my brothers are going to protect you.”

We all stared at her, waiting for the punch line.

She beamed at us, apparently pleased with herself. “Think about it. It makes perfect sense. They’ll already be at the wedding and most of the pre-wedding stuff. They live here in town, so it’s not like they’d have to travel here or stay at the dumpy motel at the edge of town. They’ve already scared off your ex.”

My stomach flipped at the too-close memory of Levi’s lips.

“And because you’re my best friend, no one will think twice about them being around you. No attention taken from me or Isabel, and you stay safe. It’s a win-win.”

“We’re not bodyguards, Jenna,” Levi ground out, his eyes blazing. “Or did you miss the part where she said we’re the biggest criminal element in Bedford?”

“How do you even know we’d have the time to do it?” Mason pointed out. “We’ve already got Mom making lists of shit she wants us to do before the wedding.”

“And maybe Evie doesn’t want us hanging around her all the time,” Tucker chimed in.

I was really feeling the love here. Even though it hurt to hear them coming up with whatever excuses they could to get out of Jenna’s suggestion, I was glad to have their protests as an excuse to refuse. The last thing I wanted was to spend every minute of my time in Bedford being the butt of their jokes, dealing with them running hot and cold, and let’s not forget all the reminders of how much they tormented me growing up.

“I’ll be fine,” I assured Jenna. “After seeing your brothers, I doubt Randall will come anywhere near Bedford.”

None of us mentioned the fake claim Levi had staked, and I was grateful for that.

“But that’s exactly my point,” Jenna said. “If my brothers are around, your stalker will figure out he can’t get anywhere near you, and you’ll be safe.”

“No,” Levi said flatly, crossing his massive arms over his chest. “I’m not gonna have you pissed at us if she does something stupid and gets herself hurt.”

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