Page 93 of Protected from Malice
The police were the ones who discovered the proof that Rickard tried to run me off the road in the form of paint residue left on the bumper of his truck. Rickard denied it, of course, claiming he never intended to hurt me. Which is impossible to believe considering he hired a random criminal off the dark webto abduct me. “We think he either intended to stage a rescue,” the police detective told me, “or he was following you and got over excited about it. Either way, the proof is there that he was responsible.”
So Rickard is out of the picture. There’ll be a trial, of course. But Rafe told me not to worry about the outcome. “He’s not getting off,” Rafe vowed with a dangerous glint in his eye. “With our contacts, we’ll make sure of it.”
Am I angry at myself for not noticing him sooner? Of course. After the assault, I thought I was being so careful. But Rickard was too. He only picked places to watch me where he could blend into the crowd, like a busy restaurant or a packed grocery store.
Rationally, I know it’s not my fault. That no one can be on alert all the time.
Actually, that’s not true. Rafe is. Indy is. So are Tyler, Ace, and Webb. But they’ve trained for it. I’m just a scientist who gets lost in her thoughts more often than not.
“Eden.” Rafe kisses my head again. He tugs one of my curls and releases it. “As much as I’d love to lay here all day, I have to get up.”
“Oh.” I lift my head from his chest and purse my lips in a mock-pout. “I was hoping we could have a lazy Saturday together. Breakfast in bed, maybe some trivia and a documentary, then—” I kiss his neck. “Another round of this?”
His lips curve up. “We can do all of those things. Except maybe make it brunch instead of breakfast.” Sitting up, he hugs me before setting me off to the side and tucking the blanket around me. “I have a meeting at the hotel with the guys. A virtual meeting, really. But it should only take an hour or so. Then I can come back and we can have our lazy day together.”
I watch—ogle, really—Rafe as he gets out of bed, admiring his naked body as he moves. “A meeting?”
Rafe stops halfway to the bathroom and turns. My eyes immediately jump below his waist and he chuckles. “Brain. You’re going to make me miss the meeting if you look at me like that.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” I tease. A beat later, I sober. “Of course, if you have a meeting, I understand. Is it about my case?”
He nods. “We’ll be talking to Cole about it, giving him the most recent updates. And he mentioned discussing some other things, as well.” He pauses. “I’m not trying to keep secrets from you. I’m honestly not sure what we’re going to talk about. When I know more, I’ll tell you.”
“It’s fine.” I don’t want to turn into that nosy, demanding girlfriend. I trust Rafe. Since we’ve been together, he’s been incredibly honest with me, even though I know it was difficult for him. “I’ll just do some cleaning while you’re gone.”
Rafe darts back over to the bed and captures my lips in a hard and fast kiss. “I’ll bring back some food from that all-day breakfast diner you’ve talked about.”
“Sounds good.” My heart jumps before I add, “You’re still staying for a couple weeks, right? Or—” I do a quick mental calculation, since it’s been three days since Rickard was arrested and we moved out of the hotel. “Eleven days?”
His hand comes to my cheek. “Two weeks for sure.” An unreadable expression flashes in his eyes. “Or maybe more. If you’re open to it.”
Warmth fills my chest. “More sounds good to me.”
At the firsttrill of my phone, my pulse jumps into overdrive.
From the distinctive tone of it, I know it’s not a call, but a visitor setting off the alarm system. Or, preferably, Rafe back early from his meeting.
Thanks to the modified security at my house, when someone comes to the front door I’m alerted three times. First, from the alarm that sounds the moment someone steps onto my property. Then, the second motion sensor installed on the front porch. And finally, the little video feed that pops up on my phone.
I’ll admit, it’s a lot when you’re not used to it. But I’m not complaining. Not in the slightest. After everything that’s happened, I’m glad for the extra protection.
And honestly, I’m not sure Rafe would have left me alone here without it, even though he knows the danger is over. Before he left, he made me promise not to go outside without him, saying, “I know it sounds like overkill. And it probably is. But it would make me feel a lot better knowing you’re inside and safe.”
Then he pulled out the big guns. “I’ll be worrying about you the entire time,” he added. “I can’t help it. I just want to know you’re okay.”
So I won’t go outside. Not today, at least. Next week, though? When the weather is supposed to hit record highs and we’re predicted to have a string of three sunny days in a row? When I’m itching to get all my patio furniture set up and invite all the guys over for a barbecue?
ThenI’m going outside, whether Rafe’s here or not.
Anyway, I’ve been keeping plenty busy inside, vacuuming and dusting and scrubbing. I’ve replaced all the blankets and sheets in the guest bedroom, in case Indy changes his mind about staying here once he checks out of the hotel.
Because Indy’s staying in Portland. I still can’t believe it.
“I’m done living across the country from you,” he told me yesterday. “I don’t need to be in Silver Springs. Not anymore. So I’ll look for a job here. An apartment?—”
“You can stay with me,” I offered immediately. “I’ve got plenty of room.”
But Indy just cast me a disbelieving look. “And have to worry about running into my best friend and little sister making out?” He rustled my hair, messing it up the way I always used to yell at him about. “I’m good with you two being together. Really. But I don’t want to worry about what I might hear at night.”
