Page 30 of Hunted Hearts
Almost made him forget that he wasn’t here tofeel.
His hands flexed at his sides, curling into fists when the phantom sensation of holding her surged up his arms. The weight of her pressed against him back at the venue still lingered on his skin. Her breath trembling against his neck, the tremor in her frame, the way she’d melted against him when she had nothing else to cling to.
It burned, piercing and hot, and he had to grit his teeth to shake it off. No more close calls. Not with her. Not with anyone. He refused to live through another night like this.
While Theo and Juliette stood with her team, Denver made a quick run to the local convenience store for drinks. He handed off paper cups to everyone gathered. Juliette’s team accepted with quiet murmurs of thanks.
They were all shaken and quiet, but most importantly, safe. They all clutched their coffee like it could anchor them back to their version of normal, which to anyone else, was pretty far from normal.
Theo accepted his without comment and scanned the line of pale faces.
“Time to pack it in.” His voice carried on the breeze. “We’re done here. No more concerts. No appearances. Everyone goes home.”
A murmur rolled through the group, but what he took note of was the way Juliette’s fingers tightened on her cup.
He dragged his gaze away from her. “You all lie low for now, check in once a day. And keep my number handy. It’s Juliette this person wants to scare, but if you’re even the least bit concerned, I want you to call. No matter what time, day or night.”
“We can’t just cancel—” Rachel started to argue, but Theo cut her off with a look.
This wasn’t up for debate.
Juliette’s fingers tightened on her cup so much that he feared the hot liquid would spill over her slender fingers.
“Canceling everything?” Her voice was an echo, almost too soft to pick up over the wind blowing through the valley.
“Yes.” He turned his gaze on her, steady and immovable. “We’re going to the ranch. Your team goes home. No one’s in immediate danger, but we’re not leaving doors open.”
Her chin trembled, but she lifted it, meeting his eyes. “Theo. I can’t just quit the tour.”
“You’re not quitting—you’re postponing it. No concerts are worth your life, Juliette.”
Her pouty lips pulled into a straight line. It made him want to step up close to her and brush the pad of his thumb over them.
“It’s not about the fame,” she tried again.
He exhaled slowly. “Yeah. I know that now.” His tone softened, the edge in it dulling for the first time since the alarms had gone off. “It’s about the kids. The charity. But you can’t help them if you’re gone, Juliette. And if we don’t lock this down, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She stared at the asphalt like it might give her a new argument.
Rachel stepped up to her and pulled her into her arms. “Jules, Theo’s right. We should all go home, and you need to stay safe.”
He could see her struggle in the red streaks mottling her throat, but she hugged her publicist and stepped back, reaching for the others next. One by one, she embraced them all. As they took their leave of each other, Theo nodded to his brother.
“You see them safely to the airport. Make sure they get where they need to go.”
“Copy.” Denver held out his fist, and Theo bumped it with his own. “See you when I see you.”
“That will be soon. I’m taking her to the Black Heart.”
Denver gave him an amused look. “Paint peeling off the walls, brother.”
“Shut up. This is purely about safety. And there’s no place safer.”
“I won’t argue with that. See you at home, then.”
In minutes, Theo and Juliette were standing side by side, watching the SUV filled with the people they both cared about driving down the road.
He turned to her. The breeze caught a tendril of her hair and made it dance around her pretty face.
