Page 41 of Damsel in Defense
“No, I mean really.Be careful.You and I can weather any storm together, and if we have to, we can find another way to get your image back on track without Mason.But I can’t fix a broken heart.And from what I’m looking at in today’s paper…your heart is one beat away from being his.”
“I’m guarding it.I promise.”
There’s a long pause as we both take deep breaths to control our emotions.
“Back to being your manager.I think I should hire a security detail for the next little while.At least until this fire situation is cleared up.”
I blink.Sitting up straighter, I hold the phone tighter in my hand.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying it just doesn’t add up.You don’t drink.You don’t burn candles.And you sure as hell don’t leave flammable liquid puddled on your floor.”
My skin prickles.
“How do you know those details?”My voice is shaky, and my body begins to tremble slightly.
“My ex.Ricky was a detective, remember?I called him, asked to know the details in exchange for a future favour.”
Oh, right.I’m being stupid thinking for one second that Cece would be a part of something like this.I’m starting to lose it.
“It is strange,” I whisper.“I’ve been trying not to think it.But…what if it wasn’t an accident?Do you think a member of the press would go so far as to light my place on fire just to get a damaging headline?”
“I don’t know.I wouldn’t put it past some of those slimeballs, but your building’s secure.It’s one of the reasons the label chose it.I’m going to do a bit more digging with Ricky, but you need to take care of yourself for the next little while.No going out alone.I’ll work on getting that security detail.”
“That sounds extreme.”
“Well, the situation calls for it.I’m sure if I didn’t do it, Mason would.”
I press my lips together because I know she’s right.
Before I can say anything, there’s a knock at the door.
“Someone’s here,” I whisper to Cece.Slowly getting off the couch, I tiptoe to the door.As stealthily as I can, I squint into the peephole.Three men are standing outside my door, dressed in all black and looking very serious.
Keeping the security chain in place, I crack open the door.I can hear Cece yelling something, but I ignore her.“Can I help you?”
“Miss Westwyld, my name is Falcon.Your boyfriend hired us to be your security team from this point forward.If you wouldn’t mind, we’d like to come in and make sure the apartment is secure.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“I knew it!”Cece screeches over the line before I hang up on her.
I can’t believe this.“Can you give me one second to—” The words die on my lips as I see a text from Mason flash on my screen.
MASON:Don’t freak out.If I can’t be there to protect you, I need someone I trust to watch out for you.Let Falcon and the boys in.I’ll call as soon as I’m in my room tonight.
He ends the message with a red heart.
I don’t know whether to be mad, impressed, or nervous that Mason has gone over the top and hired a security team to watch me.What I can decipher is that knowing he’s thinking about me, even as he’s supposed to be focusing on an important upcoming season, has tingles racing down my spine.
“Well, you better come in.Make yourself at home, as Mason would say.”I close the door, quickly unlatching the chain and then opening it up again.“I better put on another pot of coffee.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MASON
The sound of my blade hitting the ice sends a crack through the air that reverberates in my chest.
