Page 27 of Protector

My heart skips a beat when Brooks steps into the hallway. Our eyes lock, and he seems to know exactly what’s going on. He nods, stays quiet.

It takes me a few beats, but with him standing there, I’m able to gather my courage and say, “What’s your name?”

“You can call me your knight.”

I shake my head at Brooks, my lips pursed. I can see one of his fists balled at his side, his jaw clenched. This guy’s completely jacked up in the head, and in a way, that gives me a little more confidence to continue, knowing he’s not dealing with reality and that maybe I can get the upper hand.

“Tell me something… What makes you think you could be my knight?”

“Because I already am. I’m your knight. You just don’t realize it—or appreciate it.” Those last three words are tinged with malice.

“Please, just leave me alone,” I say as calmly as possible.

“I wish I could, but you need me.”

Now he’s just pissing me off. “No, actually, I don’t.”

There’s a short pause, his disgusting breathing, then, “I don’t like him, by the way.”

My heart stutters, my eyes locking with Brooks’s. “Who?”

“This new guy. I don’t want him around you.”

Brooks is shaking his head, but I’m so confused. “He’s…just my uncle.” I don’t like the shake in my voice, so I add, “Not that it’s any of your business.”

A little laugh comes across the phone. “My princess, I don’t like it when you lie to me.”

Goddamn him. I feel my breath shortening; it’s a struggle to get air. I need to get off this call. “I— Please, stop this.”

“Oh, Shay. You’ll see. Someday we’re going to be together again.”

The visual sends icy hot fear shooting through my veins. I don’t know what to say to that. My breath is now coming in quick bursts, and my head is ringing. Before I can stop myself, I yell into the phone, “You’ll never get near me, you fucking psycho!” I tap the call off, and the phone falls to the ground with a clatter as I bend over, my other bag slipping down as well, hands on my knees. I try to catch my breath. It’s so not like me to lose control like this. To panic. I’ll probably be embarrassed later, but right now I can’t even think straight. My eyes sting, and I fight like hell not to cry. Then Brooks steps closer, takes hold of my shoulders, lifting me back up and against his broad chest. It feels like the safest place on earth, and his embrace instantly calms my breathing. I meld into him, drawing in his scent, my arms slipping under his and around his back.Please don’t let me go.

We stay that way for long moments, the quiet sounds of my breathing giving me something to focus on other than how good it feels to be held by Brooks.

All too soon, I feel him move back. I look up at him, gaining strength in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened there.” I drop my gaze, and reluctantly, my arms.

Before I can move away to get my phone and bags, he takes hold of my wrist with one hand, then lifts my chin with the other. “Listen, I don’t want you feeling bad about this. I’ve seen it many times before. You have a lot of demands on you, a lot of pressure. Add this psycho on top of all that… Everyone has their breaking point.”

“Not me,” I say firmly. Then I pull away, bend to grab my phone. I tap into my calls, and it’s just as I suspected. “Unknown caller.” Now that the fear has fallen away for the most part, I’m left with an acidic anger that I don’t know what to do with. I grab one of my bags just as Brooks grabs the other.

“Hey, I’d be pissed if I were you too. But maybe that’s exactly what he wants.”

I turn and tilt my head. “I’m not sure anger is what this guy wants from me.”

“What I mean is, he wants to disrupt your life.”

I nod because that’s exactly what’s happening.

“So don’t let him. I’m here now, so trust me when I say, this guy won’t touch you.”

I take a deep breath, somehow managing a slim smile. “I do trust you, Brooks. It’s just…”

“What? You can tell me.”

“I know you’ll protect me. I just hate the thought of someone out there, so focused on me, so—obsessed. And for some reason, I feel like…I don’t know, like maybe I know him. Part of me wants to change my number, but I know that probably won’t deter him.”

“It won’t. From what I’ve seen, he’s not giving up, which means we need to find out everything we can about him. You did good asking him questions.”

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