Page 50 of Protector

“I’m not,” she says matter-of-factly. “Besides, I need some space…to think about all of this. Us.”

Our eyes lock, and my heart feels suffocated as panic tries to take me. If only there could be anus. My silence seems to ignite her anger. “Just go, Brooks. I’m fine.”

The image of her in Rio’s arms, even if nothing happens but him watching over her, stings like a hot knife. I know I should feel better that she isn’t alone, but Rio is just waiting for his chance. I can feel it. “What’s he doing here anyway?”

“He called me on the way home. I told him what happened, and he insisted on meeting me here when Cal dropped me off.”

“What a guy…”

“Don’t do that, Brooks. He’s trying to be a friend to me.” She folds her arms across her chest. “Should I tell him to leave?”

The stare-down doesn’t last long before she adds, “Nothing?”

“Shay, come on. I can’t play these games with you. I just want to keep you safe.”

“And you can’t do that from my bed.”

It wasn’t a question, her face showing the hurt from the truth in those words. I don’t want to get into it now, not with Rio here, but maybe once Shay knows what I’m dealing with, she’ll understand. “I’m coming back first thing in the morning. We’ll talk before we go to the police.”

“Fine.” She shakes her head as she grabs the door handle.

With so many unspoken words left in my heart, I watch her slip behind the door, hoping I haven’t made a mistake. At least she was reasonable enough to know it’s time to bring this out in the open.

Back in my car, I barely get a hundred yards before I’m pulling a U-turn and heading back. I park across the street, the shade of a tree blocking the setting sun from my eyes. I hunker down for who knows how long, checking email on my phone, going through Shay’s accounts to see if any new comments are from Sam, and keeping a watchful eye on her place. Yes, I want that live Ken doll to leave, but then that means Shay is alone, and I can’t risk that, no matter what she says.

It’s after ten when Rio finally steps out and takes off in his ridiculous truck. I don’t know if I’m more relieved he’s gone or stressed over the fact that she’s now alone. But, it doesn’t matter because I know my ass is not leaving. I can’t. This guy is getting ballsy, and when he makes his move, I want to be front and center to take his ass down. This might be a gated community with a guardhouse, but that won’t stop him.

Unfortunately, this impromptu stakeout leaves me with no coffee or food, and that means I’m stuck with my thoughts, playing out the same scene in my head over and over again. If that’s the only night I’ll get to have Shay completely, it will certainly haunt me forever.

Besides using the binoculars I keep in the truck to pan around the front perimeter, I’ve got the window cracked, so I can hear any sounds nearby. But I can’t see the back, and though I don’t want to scare Shay, I feel like I should take a look around. We had motion sensors installed as well as cameras, so I don’t see anyone risking an approach, but I’ll still feel better once I make a sweep.

I reach across the seat, grab my leather jacket, and put it on. Just when I’m about to open the door, I see a shadow in my periphery. It’s gone as soon as I focus in on the spot, so I just stare for a moment, but there’s nothing but bushes shrouded in dim lighting from the street lamps.

Grabbing my gun from the box, I glance around the area before slipping it into place. Then, slow and cautious, I slide from the driver’s seat and rush over to a hedge for cover. With one hand reaching for my firearm, I decide I better text Shay first and let her know what’s going on, to stay inside. I sure as hell don’t need her coming outside if she sees or hears something, and I don’t want to frighten her, especially if it’s nothing.

Brooks: I’m still here. Checking the perimeter. Don’t come outside. I might have seen someone…

As soon as I turn off the ringer and pocket my phone, it vibrates with a response, and I’m sure it’s Shay asking questions I don’t have time to answer. I ignore it and inch closer to the house, staying behind the hedge. I’ll have to reassess when I get to the end since I have no idea what I saw. If there’s someone here, they have an advantage because I don’t know where they are at this moment. If I did, they’d have no chance.

At the end of the hedge, I crouch lower and peek around the side where I can see most of Shay’s front porch. Patience is key in a situation like this; I need to wait for a noise, movement, something.

It’s a good two minutes before I hear rustling, about twenty yards away and to my left. Could be an animal or a person. I take another look and hold my position. I feel my phone vibrate again but ignore it. Taking another look at Shay’s front door, this time I notice something small on the ground in front of it. The sensor lights are currently off, so I can’t make out what it is, though my quickened pulse, my instincts, say this is not good.

Whatever it was wasn’t there when I left. At this point, I have a few options: go to the door and inspect the item, risking my cover, try to trigger the motion detector to cast better lighting on the object, or wait it out until I’m certain whoever I saw has left the area.

Of course, there is a fourth option: calling the police. They won’t get here in time if shit goes down, though.

Fuck.Inaction has never been my go-to, so I reach for the gun in my waistband as I step out from behind the hedge. The moment I do, a hard poke in my side stuns me, my limbs instantly freezing as my side cramps up like a bitch. “Shit!” I hiss out as a large body shoves past me, and I try to orient myself. The numbness in my extremities along with the partial hit from what felt like a linebacker causes me to collapse down on one knee. Somehow, I manage to pull my gun out with my cement block of an arm, attempt to support my aim with my other hand as the perp runs, and I assess his retreating form.

I don’t bother yelling for him to stop; he knows he got the drop on me. Fighting through what I now realize was a shot from a stun gun, I labor to my feet and take chase, my breath already heaving.I won’t stop until I have you, motherfucker. I barely make it into Shay’s expansive front yard when I hear a loud explosive sound to my right. I don’t know what shocked my heart more—that taser gun or hearing that noise in the same direction where Shay is.

The sensors burst on and spill light over her entry, where I see smoke and debris billowing in front of her door. I don’t know what the hell that was or if it will happen again, but I run toward it, praying Shay is safe inside her home. The closer I get, the more I realize this wasn’t some deadly bomb meant for serious destruction; it was for show, maybe even a warning, and as black flower petals float down to the ground, there’s no doubt who’s behind this, and I’m sure he’s long gone.

I slide my gun back into place and pull my phone out just as Shay comes running toward me from the side of the house. She must have gone out the back way.

“Brooks, are you okay?” She doesn’t slow down until she’s in my arms, and I stumble a step backward—still reeling from the effects of the tase—while making sure to keep her tethered to me.

“What are you doing out here? It’s not safe.” I quickly pace us back toward the side of the house, in the opposite direction that lunatic went, just in case he decides to come back.

---