Page 133 of My Damaged Protector

Neville is a blubbering mess where he is on the bed. I try to make sense of the whole situation. He was in the mansion when I left. There’s no way he followed without me noticing. Maybe he took a flight?

I know he said he was coming with me last night ,but honestly, I thought it was just to talk me out of this, which clearly didn't work.

Why is he acting unlike himself then, knocking people out and threatening to take me with him? To where?

“Ian, what is going on?”

He groans, shifts Peter's weight from his left shoulder to the right, and then motions at me.

“Step away from the door or I'll make you.”

I've never heard him sound as deadly as he does now. Scared, I move away from the door, still confused, and watch him walk out.

Down the hall, he is approached by some of the hospital’s guards, and he uses Peter as a human shield, acting like he's going to kill him if they try to come near him. All I can do is continue looking at him as he walks away.

What on earth got into him?

39

IAN

I watchedher drive away through the curtains of the living room. I didn't sleep a wink through the night.

The moment she left, I started to think of how to help her. But I was unable to come up with anything except to follow her, so I did just that.

When I reached New Jersey, I still hadn't found any way to keep her from doing something she's clearly been blackmailed into, so I decided to play the villain.

I mean, why else would she agree to suddenly save a man she hates if not because she's being blackmailed? If my guess is right, Peter found out who Olivia's father is and threatened to sing like the pussy he is.

Asshole.

So, I found the nearest clothing store around me, got some concealing clothes, and drove to the hospital with the intention of acting like someone I never thought I'd ever have to be.

And what do you know? It was a success.

Driving for well over an hour to lose any trail I may have behind me, I circle back to an abandoned warehouse I know in my old neighborhood and pull up in front of it. I wait a long timefor the sun to set a little before I drag the bastard out and take him inside.

I get him tied up, drive to the nearest store, and get the scariest tools I can find. I drop by the fire station, too. I grab an ax and a chainsaw, but not without running into Richard.

“What are you doing here?” he asks.

Hiding the items in my hand behind my back as best as I can, I plaster a smile on my face. “I forgot something, just here to get it.”

“Does this mean you're back from your trip then?”

“Not quite. Listen, I have to go, okay? I'll call you.”

I rush out of there, awkwardly trying to conceal the tools before I drive back to the warehouse.

He's still out when I arrive. And while I want more than anything to leave him passed out forever, I have a man to scare.

Uncapping the bottle of water I bought on the road, I take a sip, swallow some, and then gurgle my mouth before I spit it out in the face of the despicable human being in front of me.

He shoots upright from his seat, of course still tied up, his eyes crazed.

“What the fuck?” he barks, his eyes half closed.

I take another sip of water and spit it in his face again. This one has his eyes opening properly.

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