Page 6 of Snowed in with My Protector

“I-I’m,” I stammered, “I’m sorry. I’m normally more put together than this.” I gently pulled away from him and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “I’ll be stronger.”

Duncan’s eyebrows pulled together, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “You don’t need to be strong, Fallon. We’re going to make sure that you’re safe. You did the right thing and that’s all there is to it. Once we get you somewhere safe then Blake and the rest of us will work on ensuring the men trying to protect their money know you’re off limits.”

My shoulders slumped and I nodded as Duncan led me to a waiting car. “I thought Bodhi had lost his mind when he told me about Higgins Security and made sure I had the number.” My voice dropped, defeat lacing through each word, “I guess he hadn’t lost his mind.”

“He was just looking out for you,” Duncan assured me as he helped me into the car.

I nodded and allowed silence to wrap around us while Duncan drove. I was shocked as hell when we pulled into a small, private air strip. The surprise only mounted when we went toward a private plane. My jaw was definitely on the floor.

Duncan chuckled and shrugged like it was no big deal. “It helps to know the right people and we happen to be close to Suburban Outcasts.”

I squeaked, “The band?”

“Yup,” Duncan popped the p before jumping out of the car, helping me out and grabbing the one bag I had.

There was no way for me to prepare for the opulence inside the plane or the beautiful woman sitting inside and waiting for us. The warm smile on her face the moment our eyes met put meat ease instantly. I hadn’t even realized how stiff my body was until I started relaxing.

“Hi, Fallon,” she greeted me, her voice bright but not in a fake way. “I’m Ellington. I would have rather been the one to meet your bus, but I was told I had to stay on the plane,” she griped and shot Duncan a scathing look that had me smiling.

Duncan was a pretty big dude, and I didn’t doubt for a moment his capability to protect me. Ellington gave off the same vibe which reminded me of Bodhi. I had to wonder if they were both former military, but that thought made my chest ache with missing my brother.

“That’s because you just gave birth not long ago and should, technically, be on maternity leave,” Duncan shot right back at her.

My eyes widened as I looked at Ellington again. I gasped, “You just gave birth?”

Ellington’s face softened as she patted the way too soft looking chair next to her. “I did and I’ll be more than willing to show you the million photos I’ve taken of Davis,” there was a satisfaction in her voice I didn’t understand but yearned for all the same. It was clear, with only a few words, that she was smitten with her little one. “But taking a few hours to do the job I love is not a hardship,” she assured me gently.

“Blake thought it might be easier for you to have a female here with us,” Duncan explained.

I nodded and sat back against the supple leather, letting it surround me. Exhaustion threatened to pull me under, but I was still restless.

“Fallon,” Duncan’s voice was a gentle prompt, “can you tell me what happened? I know you already told Blake some things, but I’m the resident tech guy. I’d like to dive into this problem and see what I can find. Once we get to Colorado, Blake has secured you a location where you’ll be safe. Then we’ll work on making sure you stay that way by going after those who have the most to lose with Luxe Notes being exposed for the company they really are.”

I nodded and then launched into everything. I told them about Dr. Hamilton being sick and getting the call from Mr. Carlisle. My voice was rough and thick with emotion as I explained about the Janus folder on Dr. Hamilton’s computer and everything I found inside. When I told them about remembering the article Echo wrote about the company when I was just starting and going to her, Duncan and Ellington looked at me with pride.

For the first time since this whole thing began, I found a flicker of pride in myself. Up to that moment it had all been big and scary.

“You were very brave,” Duncan’s praise washed over me, and it was like Bodhi was there at my side encouraging me, strangely enough.

“I didn’t feel brave,” I admitted. “All I felt was afraid, but I also knew that I couldn’t let the public image Luxe Notes had continue. Not when they were stealing and paying people off to maintain it. I was lied to long before I even started working there because I admired the company. I felt betrayed.”

“You were betrayed,” Ellington’s voice had an edge of steel to it and when I glanced at her, the fierce look on her face had me sitting up a little straighter. “If you hadn’t found that folder, looked in it, and decided to do something with the information,they would have been able to continue their lies and crimes for who knows how long.”

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. I nodded, hoping she could see the gratitude I felt in that moment with her validation written on my features. The way she reached for my hand and squeezed it told me that she did.

Finishing the rest of my story was easier right up until I got to the part where my security system notified me about my front door being opened. The fear I felt watching those three men, guns in hand, enter my home was still just as fresh and real.

I gave Duncan my phone and played the video which had him clenching his jaw. It made me feel safer because the fury coming off him was just as real as my fear.

“I didn’t know what to do,” I admitted, “but in that moment I remembered Bodhi telling me to contact Higgins Security if I ever needed help.” I chuckled and shook my head, looking away without really seeing the fancy plane around me. “I thought he was just being ridiculous when he told me that, just being my big brother. But I’m so glad he gave me the ability to get help when I needed it the most.” I blinked a few times, not wanting to cry, not yet anyway. “I went straight to the bus station and waited for the next bus to Denver. I needed to move, to run. The moment the sun came out, I called the number Bodhi put in my phone.”

“And now here you are,” Ellington’s voice was soft and comforting.

“And here I am,” I echoed.

Duncan nodded and gave me a smile that bolstered my defenses just a little bit more. “We’re going to make sure that you’re safe, Fallon,” he assured me. “When we land, Blake will be there, and we’ll be taking you to Hutch’s cabin.”

Butterflies took flight when Duncan mentioned Hutch. Meeting more people felt huge, but if Blake thought it would be the best place for me to be safe then I wasn’t going to question it.

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