Page 14 of My Damaged Protector

Hmmm. No, that won't work.

Infidelity is a topic I haven't quite touched on in my stories or as a person either. The idea of Ian having a wife in real life or in a book makes my belly churn.

Was that why he left?

Nah, Ian wouldn't do that. He wouldn't sleep with me if he had a wife, right?

But would he?

Do I even know this man well enough?

Doesn't matter now. All you should focus on is the golden story your encounter with him has given you.

Yeah, it's probably better for everyone involved for me to stop worrying my head over Ian. Correction, it's better for me.

Picking my laptop up again, I read what I've written so far, and another idea of what to do comes to my mind. Before I can think of writing it down, though, my phone dings twice from my bag on the floor, and I am momentarily distracted as I fetch it.

When I unlock it, I see that I have a message from a fan. Opening it, I have a smile on my face before I even read it. My smile broadens as I read the message.

Apparently, this person has read many of my books and would like for us to meet.

If only it were that easy. If I give in to all the requests of the number of people asking to meet me every day, I definitely wouldn't be able to do anything else with my life.

Glancing at the name of the sender, I pause as soon as I read it.

Neville Brown.

That's my father's name. At least, it was the name I knew him by before he left my mom when I was ten and we had to relocate because my mom couldn't handle their separation.

The last time I heard from him was over fifteen years ago. Why is he reaching out now all of a sudden and asking for us to meet?

Something isn't right here.

I don't know what it is yet, but I can feel it.

5

IAN

Moving to my door,I open it to check if I've heard the sound correctly or if I'm just manifesting trouble in my head.

I hear nothing, so I close it again.

“Ian, are you still there?” Richard's voice comes from the phone in my hand, and I put it back to my ear.

“Yes, Richard. What is it you said you called for again?” I ask him in annoyance.

I would very much like to be left alone right now. It's been a long day and an even longer night. All I just need is a good night of sleep, and tomorrow I can figure out what my next line of action is because right now I can’t put shit together.

“I’m just checking on you, Ian. Seeing if you're doing alright.”

“Well, I am certainly not doing fine thanks to you, but I'm alive, and there's no burning house for me to jump into where I am, so you can go to sleep and let me do the same,” I rant, expecting him to end the call on me now.

But leave it to him to just not take a very clear clue.

“Glad to know you're doing good man. The team misses you.” His voice ends in a reflective tone, and it almost makes me wantto soften on him. But all I have to remember is that no one would be missing me if he hadn't suspended me.

I should be in my home now, not some cheap motel in a town where I barely know anyone.

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