Page 15 of Blame It On The Carols

“He included pictures of you at the airport in LA. I don’t know that he knowsexactlywhere you’re going, but that doesn’t make me worry any less. He’s smart, and he knows how to stay in the shadows. That’s why we have yet to catch him.”

“What do you want me to do?” I asked, already feeling frustrated with the situation.

“Your safety is the biggest concern right now, so let’s figure out how to keep you safe.” I knew he meant well, but it didn’t make me feel any better.

“Alright. I’m staying with my mom, but I don’t want to put her in danger. Maybe I should check into a hotel instead?”

“I feel like that would be even riskier. Even with extra locks in place, that doesn’t guarantee that he won’t find you there. Or worse, that he won’t be able to get in. We’ve already had an issue with him showing up at your house and you have security in place there, remember?”

“Are you fucking serious?” Aiden questioned, his jaw tense again.

“As a heart attack,” Curtis responded. “We’ve been trying to figure out who he is for months but can’t catch him. He signs everything as Kevin, but we don’t even know if that’s really his name. Everything he does is very calculated and planned out.”

“I can’t stay with my mom,” I objected, chewing my lower lip between my teeth. “A hotel is going to have to do because there aren’t any other options.”

“Yes, there are,” Aiden interrupted, his green eyes blazing as they found mine again. “She’s staying with me.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but how can I be sure this is a safe option for her?” Curtis questioned.

“Because I would die before I would let anything happen to her.”

Chills ran up my spine as he reached for my hand and squeezed it.

“Sorry for interrupting,” Jackie said, stepping closer. “I just wanted to assure you that we take care of our own in Sugarplum Falls. You don’t have to worry about Makayla’s safety. I’ll work on letting everyone in town know to be extra cautious with any outsiders they encounter, and I’ll help keep an eye on her. Aiden and I both carry, and I have yet to miss my mark.”

“Well, shit. Maybe I should up and move to Sugarplum Falls... Sounds like a safe place to me.”

“Thanks for the update, Curtis. I’ll keep you posted on whether I need anything.”

“Sounds good. I’ll note that you’ll be staying with Aiden, but when you get a chance, send me his info so I can get in touch if needed. I know you don’t want it, but I’m still going to send a few guys out there, just to be safe.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” I objected, not wanting to tell him that I, in fact, would not be staying with Aiden.

“But it is. Stop trying to plot things behind my back. I know you better than that, Makayla,” Curtis warned.

Before I could say anything, Aiden snatched my phone out of my hand and walked off as he rattled off his info for Curtis.

“Guess you have a new roommate,” Jackie teased, setting her stuff down on the counter behind the bar.

“So it seems.”

“Want me to make you a drink? You seem a bit frazzled.”

“Do you have anything strong enough to handle living with Aiden?”

She looked past me to where he was standing in the corner, arms folded over his chest and brows pinched together from whatever it was Curtis was telling him as he held my phone out in front of him.

“Honey, I don’t think there’s anything in the world that’s strong enough to prepare you for living with him. But we can try.”

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