Page 44 of Hiding Rose
“Breathe, Rose,” he ordered, his hand strong on my head. “No one is going to hurt you. We won’t let them.”
“I’m okay,” I said from between my legs, and he lifted his hand so I could sit up.
Gideon dug out his phone and held up a picture of the flyer they had made. “Was this the guy?”
The kid shook his head. “No, not even close. The guy who gave me the note was in his fifties and twice the size of him,” he said, motioning at the phone with his chin.
Gideon put the phone away and stood, hand on hip. “Is he still at the resort?”
The kid sighed. “No, he checked out this afternoon. That’s all I know, man. Seriously.”
Gideon held out his hand. “Where’s the note?”
“Left front pocket,” he answered sullenly.
Gideon dug in the pocket for the note. When he had it in his hand he motioned for Mike to take the cuffs off. The kid rubbed his wrists while Gideon leaned in close to his face. “I’m going to call and confirm your employment at Akoni. What’s your name?”
“Kana Peni,” he answered. “I don’t want to get in trouble with them for agreeing to do it. I thought it was okay. He said he didn’t have time to deliver it before his flight left, but she would want the information. I thought I was being helpful.”
Gideon already had the phone in his hand and rolled his eyes at me. “Sure, you were being helpful. How much did he pay you?”
Kana sighed again. “A hundred bucks. I thought it would be the easiest hundred bucks ever. I didn’t know delivering a note would be so dangerous.”
Gideon took a moment to confirm with the Akoni Hotel the kid was on the up-and-up. Since he was only trying to make a quick buck, and didn’t know what he was getting into, I refused to press charges. He pulled the kid up by his uniform. "Get out of here. Don't let me see you back in my hotel."
"Yes, sir," he yelled as he ran for the door.
Gideon shook his head in disgust. "Tell me what happened. Were you on your way back from the kitchen when you saw him, Sawyer?"
Sawyer swallowed and suddenly I was glad he put his pants back on before Gideon walked in. "Uh, no, actually, um..."
"I asked him to stay last night," I answered softly. "The contact from Jarrett freaked me out and now I'm afraid to be alone."
Gideon glanced between us and rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Please, you two. I wasn't born yesterday. I've seen the look on Sawyer’s face before. I used to wear the same expression when I was worried about the woman I loved." He swiveled to me. "And I've seen the look on your face before, on Kate when she was scared and alone. I'm not your moral judge or your daddy. I don't care if he stays here with you for whatever reasons two consenting adults have."
I shook my head, already sputtering. "It's not what you think."
Sawyer slid over on the bed next to me and laid his lips on my temple. "Relax. I know you're upset and worried, but we aren't going to let anything happen to you."
Gideon tucked the note in his pocket and picked up his phone.
"What does the note say?" I asked. "You have to tell me what it says."
Sawyer's head barely twitched. "Not a good idea, Rose. Why torture yourself?"
"Tell me what it said," I demanded, standing so abruptly my leg gave out.
Sawyer caught me, lowering me to the bed. He held his hands out in the calm position. "Okay, but don't get up again. I don't want you to fall and get hurt."
I threw my hands up. "I can't hurt it any worse!"
Gideon laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed, reminding me I wasn't alone. "Take a deep breath, Rosie. I know you’re scared, out of sorts from being awoken by danger, and angry, but I won’t read you this note if you don’t settle down.”
I did as he instructed, taking a deep breath in and out, then nodded. “Okay, I’m ready.”
He kept his hand on my shoulder. “It was another poem. It said, "Ring around the Rosie, we're gonna get cozy. Drinks and dinner. Then you're dead."
I sat in stunned silence for a beat. "He's a terrible poet," I quipped.
Gideon laughed once, but Sawyer wasn't amused.
"He's off his rocker. He used to be normal,” I whispered.
“Something happened between then and now. He’s gunning for you, but we aren’t going to let it happen. Don’t forget, you’ve got all of us and this resort. All he’s got is his crazy self.” Gideon took a step toward the door. "I'm going to get this to Niko in the morning and have him try to trace it, but I doubt we’ll get far." He pointed at Sawyer. "Stay tight with her and if you have to leave, call security to escort her to work. Got it?"
We both nodded in unison and he left, snapping the door closed behind him. Sawyer rearmed the alarm and stopped by the fridge. "Could you use a drink?" he asked, until he saw my face.
My bravado had crumbled and I struggled to hold back the tears. "I could use a hug," I cried while he gathered me in his arms.
He lifted me and straightened me out on the bed before he lay down and rested me on his chest. "I've got you, and I'm never letting you go, beautiful."
