Page 6 of Guarded from Danger

As I huddle against the wall, breathing in stuttering gasps, my mind threatens to shut down. To reject whatever is happening here.

But.

Xavier. He’ll realize I’m gone. He’ll come back from Houston and he’ll come looking for me.

Xavier and his team will do what they do best. Protect people. Rescue them.

I just have to hang on until he gets here.

CHAPTER TWO

XAVIER

Why didn’t I come back right away?

Why did I assume Lucy fell asleep after work, and that’s why she didn’t answer my call?

I should have realized something was wrong.

Lucy always answers. Even that time I called her at three in the morning after finding out one of the guys I served with was killed in action, she answered. She wasn’t upset that I woke her up. She said she always wants to hear from me, no matter when.

But I didn’t want to bethatguy. The overprotective boyfriend who freaks out just because his girlfriend had a long day and didn’t hear her phone.

As I sat in my hotel room in Houston, debating whether to call Lucy back, I reminded myself that she’s thirty-five years old. A woman who’s been living on her own for a long time. An independent woman who’s more than capable of taking care of herself.

Just because Lucy comes across as sweet and trusting and generous to a fault doesn’t mean that’s all she is.

She’s strong and smart and incredibly creative, coming up with incredible ideas that captivate her devoted readers.

She’s worked her ass off to get where she is, instead of relying on the wealth of her parents. Lucy could have easily used their money to support herself, to help advance her writing career, but she didn’t. She wanted to do it on her own.

And despite her sunny nature, she’s fierce when it comes to defending the people she cares about. Like when a customer made a derogatory comment about her boss, she didn’t hesitate to give the customer a stern talking-to.

I was worried about Lucy’s safety just hearing about it after, how she got right in the guy’s face and told him if he couldn’t behave respectfully in the store, he should find somewhere else to shop. That what he said was cruel, and he should be ashamed of himself.

The customer—who, according to Lucy’s account, was easily twice her size—could have lashed out at her. Even hurt her. But he didn’t. The guy shriveled under her glare and apologized to Remy. Then he said Lucy was an incredible employee, and anyone would be lucky to have her work for them.

Despite what the asshole said earlier, that last part was true.

Anyonewouldbe lucky to have Lucy work for them. Anyone would be lucky to know her.

I’ve never met anyone like Lucy, and that’s why I’ve been so desperate not to mess things up. It’s why I went against my instincts and waited until the next morning to call her back. And it’s why I didn’t race back to Seguin to see her the second my gut felt something off.

Now I could kick myself for it.

No. That’s not enough of a punishment.

I hate myself for not acting sooner.

Five days she’s been missing, and I’m losing my mind with worry.

Fear is a constant, a cold ache in my chest, an icy hand squeezing my heart.

Where is she?

Is she hurt? Scared? Wondering if I’m looking for her?

Is she?—

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