Page 33 of Second Chance Serenity

“How did he know Jaxson was with me?” I ask, my breathing ragged.

“Probably been keeping tabs on you. We’ll sweep your house again, make sure there aren’t any bugs or hidden cameras.”

“What? Again?”

“We checked it when we installed the system,” Michael says. “It’s routine.” He reaches forward and touches my shoulder. The moment his hand touches me, a sense of calm washes over me. An assurance that he’s here.

I know, without a doubt, Michael Anderson would lay his life down for me. Does the man on the other end of the line know that I would do the same?

“I don’t understand why this is happening to me.” I remain where I am for a moment, even though I know I should pull away. Put distance between us. But the feel of his hand on my shoulder…I force myself to step away and a deep, steadying breath. “What could I have done?”

“I’m not sure,” Jaxson replies. “But we’ll figure it out.”

Michael shoves both hands into his pockets. “You should probably get home. Someplace more secure.”

“I’m in a school,” I reply. “How much safer could I get?” But even as I think it, I know he’s right. I’d feel better at home. Safer. More tucked away.

Every time this man has come after me—the parking lot and now this phone call—I’ve been here. It’s likely coincidence, but I can’t deny the fact that this place is feeling a lot less safe these days.

CHAPTER 11

Michael

Idrop down and sweep my leg out, knocking Elijah to the ground. But he doesn’t stay down long. He flips up, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he does, then swings.

His fist makes contact with the side of my face, and I fall back, pain shooting through my head as the rope surrounding the ring scrapes against my back. I lean against it, sucking in a ragged breath as I spit out my mouth guard.

He does the same. “You could have dodged that last hit,” he tells me as he makes his way over to his water bottle.

“You’re fast.” But we both know he’s right. I’m distracted. Head not in the fight because right now, Jaxson is protecting Reyna instead of me.

He’s following her into the school, standing by as she preps for the next school year. It’s been a week since she hired us. Seven full days of sitting on the sidelines, when I want to be front and center. And yesterday, after seeing the terror on her face as everyone around her was threatened—I’m desperate to do something. Anything.

“I am fast. But not that fast.” He climbs through the ropes and drops down off the side of the ring.

Since it’s still two hours from officially opening for the day, the gym I started after returning home is empty except for the two of us. This is when I like it the best. Quiet. Controlled.

“What do you want me to say?” I ask him.

“I want you to admit what you’re feeling.”

“What’s that?”

“Anger. Probably some pain.”

“Pain.” I snort. “My relationship with Reyna ended a long time ago.”

“Doesn’t mean you’ve moved on.”

“She certainly has.” I think of Liam. Of the fact that Jaxson told me it was him who brought her those roses yesterday. I nearly scoff. She prefers tulips. Always has.

Will he ever know that?

Will he ever know that she likes a dash of cinnamon in her coffee?

Or how she hates wearing matching socks?

Honestly, he probably will. And I bet he never would’ve let his father chase him out of town when he had the love of a woman like Reyna.

---