Page 19 of Betrayed

“Sure, just make sure they know not to sneak up on you.” At least he was looking ahead now, so he couldn’t see me roll my eyes.Is twenty-four too old to roll your eyes?I didn’t care.

“They know. And no hovering over me. I need my space,” I huffed at him.

Logically, I understood he was just doing his job, but it didn’t matter. I gave him attitude anyway. His smugness irritated me, and I hated needing a bodyguard.

“I’ll stay as close as necessary to do my job.” He made eye contact in the mirror. “I’ll give you privacy, but not at the risk of your safety.”

How the fuck am I supposed to argue with that?

I couldn’t, so I mumbled, “Fine. Whatever.” Acting more like a bratty pre-teen than a woman who was about to graduate from law school.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I said, “I’m sure you can protect me from a distance.”

“Not if I have to take a bullet for you.”

I jerked my head up. Seeing the commitment in his dark, piercing eyes crushed the fight out of me.

But it’s not real. It couldn’t be.It’s just a prank. If I repeated it enough, I’d believe it again. I had to. Because things like this didn’t happen in real life, at least not to me.

“Wait for me to open the door, please,” AJ said as he parked and cut the engine.

I waited, but ignored his proffered hand. My nerves were on edge as I looked around, expecting someone to charge at me from every direction.

“No one will hurt you, Blake. I promise.”

I don’t know if it was because he used my name for the first time, or the conviction behind his promise, but it short-circuited my brain. I tried to find a smartass response, but failed.

Not wanting to look weak or scared, I squared my shoulders and held my head high before nodding and walking away.

Knowing AJ stayed a few steps behind me should have been a comfort, but it wasn’t. His presence forced me to accept the reality I’d been doing my damnedest to ignore.

My life is in danger.

I tried to blame my rudeness on my exhaustion, but knew deep down it was because I no longer believed the note was a prank. And it scared me. Surely, the person who left it would have said something by now.Plus, my father’s acting weird.Not to mention the constant reminder of the tall, hulking bodyguard hovering all day.

The nightmare keeping me up all night was just the icing on the cake.

Unable to concentrate during class, I looked around. I kept expecting someone to jump out at me at any second. About thirty minutes into the lecture, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Concern written all over his face, AJ leaned in—close enough for me to feel his warm breath on my neck—and whispered, “Are you okay?”

You’re not supposed to be nice!“I’m fine,” I huffed as much as I could while whispering.

He nodded as he leaned back. I faced forward and forced myself to focus on the lecture.Fuck my life.

When class was over, I stayed in my seat until most of the students had cleared out. It wasn’t because I was nervous, I just didn’t feel like getting jostled in the rush.

I’m not even good at lying to myself anymore.

My favorite pub, where I was meeting Paige and Danny, was only a few blocks away from campus, so I usually walked.

But AJ insisted on driving, for my safety. Too tired to argue, I gave him the silent treatment instead.

I need a drink. Thankfully, I was done with my only class for the day, and was thinking I’d have more than one.Why shouldn’t I? It’s not like I’m driving.

Normally, I loved having lunch with Danny and Paige. Today, I dreaded seeing them, knowing they’d be upset I couldn’t ditch AJ.

Part of me wanted to avoid them.No. That’s not who I am.I could do this. I could put on a smile and get through the rest of the day. Who knows, maybe they wouldn’t say anything, and I’d enjoy having a beer with my friends. Something I desperately needed.

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