Page 10 of Not Your Hero

“I can stay for a few days. I’ll take off work and stay here to keep an eye on things,” he offers softly.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I can tell this is really bothering you. We’ll figure it out,” he says, keeping me close. I nod my head and let him hold me a little longer until I get myself under control. When I pull away, he brushes the tears from my cheeks and smiles at me.

“It’s going to be okay, Emerson.”

“It’s just so weird and crazy. Who would do this? What are they getting out of it?”

“I really don’t know. It doesn’t make sense to me either.”

“This is stupid. You shouldn’t have to stay out of work over this. I’m sorry, Brandon.”

“Stop. We might not be together anymore, but I’m not going to shut you out when this shit is happening to you.”

“Thank you. I really do appreciate this.”

“Let’s just order something for dinner and try to relax. I’m sure it’s some idiot trying to spook you.”

“You think so?”

“I’m sure it is. You don’t bring strangers back here, so it wouldn’t be one of those guys you hook up with,” he adds. He’s right. I don’t bring men to my house. Never have and never will.

“It all just feels so wrong. Cameras?” I question.

“Yeah, I’ll take those down tomorrow. For now, let’s get something to eat and watch a movie.”

“I can’t thank you enough for this, Brandon. I really didn’t know who else to call.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Brandon goes on to call us in an order while I go to my room and get changed. I pull on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before making my way back into the living room and dropping onto the couch. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. I don’t know what the hell is going on anymore.

“Food is coming. What do you want to watch?” he asks dropping down next to me.

“Nothing scary,” I respond, getting a small laugh in return.

“Comedy it is,” he says as he grabs the controller and starts flipping through the channels. He finally finds something when there’s a knock on the door. I jolt, but Brandon stands and makes his way over, pulling the door open. I hear him talking to the guy on the other side of the door and know it’s the food.

He locks up and comes back with a bag and sets it down on the coffee table before pulling it all out for us. He hands me my food, and I sit back, eating and laughing at the movie he turned on for us.

After I finish eating, I sit back and snuggle under a blanket before finally falling asleep with my head on his shoulder.

Chapter 7

Gannix

He was in her house. She fell asleep on his fucking shoulder. The way my anger boiled inside of me, I thought about snapping his fucking neck. I will kill him for touching her, but I couldn’t do it just then. And the fact I snuck in the back door, and he didn’t hear a thing? That pissed me off even more. I was there, in her house, with the two of them, and he had no fucking clue. What kind of man is he?

I left the rose on her nightstand before leaving the way I came in and heading back home. The next day he pulled my fucking cameras down and tossed them into the trash. My fingers itch to wrap around his no-good neck for putting her in danger. He doesn’t know someone else is watching her besides me. Fucking prick.

Tonight? Tonight, I plan on having her under me, riding me until she passes out. Tonight, she’ll show up at Charlie’s just like she usually does, and I’ll drug her and take her back to my hotel room.

That’s the only thing that’s keeping me from hunting down her little ex-boyfriend and slitting his throat tonight. Her. It’s always her. Always about her. Fuck! Why can’t I get this girl out of my head even though I know we could never be together?

I adjust my shirt and climb out of the car, heading for the front doors of Charlie’s, and nod to the security guard at the front door before walking inside.

The club is already packed with people drinking and dancing and just having a great time. I nod a few I know as I pass through and head for my office upstairs. From there, I can watch for Emerson, and that’s all I plan on doing tonight.

“Hey, Nix,” Cory, the bartender I have drugging Emerson’s drinks, stops me.

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