Page 16 of Saving Her Heart
"I need privacy."
"You need to be safe."
She turns to face me fully, and I can see how exhausted she is. There's paint in her hair—probably from her car—and her shoulders slump like they're carrying the weight of the world.
"The board meeting's in two hours," she says quietly. "None of this will matter after that."
"It matters to me."
The words slip out before I can stop them. She looks at me for a long moment, then disappears into her apartment without another word.
I stand in the hallway, staring at her closed door, until my phone buzzes.
Unknown Number: Stop protecting her or you'll regret it.
I screenshot the message and forward it to Declan. Then I knock on Kendall's door.
"What?" she calls through it.
"You need to see this."
The door opens a crack. She reads the message on my phone, and I watch the color drain from her face.
"That's not... that's probably just..."
"It's a threat. And you're going to take it seriously."
She opens the door wider, and I can see into her apartment. It's exactly what I'd expect—organized, professional, but with touches of personality. Photos of her with the Hooplas gang at various events. A blanket that looks handmade thrown over the couch. And on the coffee table, a red dress hanging out of its shopping bag.
She catches me looking. "Mrs. Patterson said red makes men stupid."
"Mrs. Patterson's not wrong."
She almost smiles. "I should get ready. The board meeting..."
"I'll be there."
"You don't have to?—"
"Yes, I do." I head back to my apartment before I say something else I can't take back. "Lock your door."
"Jax?"
I turn back.
"Thank you," she says softly. "For... all of it."
I nod, not trusting myself to speak, and retreat to my apartment. Through the peephole, I watch her door for a moment before forcing myself to focus on the case.
Someone's targeting Kendall and they're escalating. I have less than two hours to figure out who before she walks into that board meeting.
My phone buzzes again. Hudson.
Hudson: Kate says Kendall needs backup tonight. We'll be there.
Then Kane.
Kane: Grace is coming too. Nobody messes with our people.
