Page 59 of Breaking the Rules of Love

What is she doing right now? Is she back at the house? Is she at work too?

If I had to guess, I’d bet she took on as many shifts as possible, not just for the extra money, but to avoidme. She probably still thinks that I’ll be trying to fight for her.

Sorry, Sadie, but that ship has sailed.

Now all I have to do is get used to the fact that I have to live next to her for the foreseeable future. That should be doable; all I need is a plan. But right now, I have to focus on what’s in front of me, and what’s in front of me is this job.

The Thortons.

“Focus, Jake. You have a job to do.”

41

Jake

The night goesoff without a hitch. Everyone at the museum seems impressed with the artist’s sculptures, and Ryan, Logan, and I do our jobs just like we’re supposed to.

The three hours we’re scheduled for does seem to go by a lot slower than it should, though, and I attribute that to how scattered my mind is and how hard it is for me to remain focused.

No matter how hard I try to think of anything else but her, Sadie keeps slipping into my thoughts. I try to think of my time in the service, old friends, old jobs, my favorite movies—but none of it helps. No matter how hard I try to deny it, it’s still quite clear: Sadie still has a hold on me.

I walk Paul and Rachel out the front steps to where Logan and Ryan already have the car waiting.

“Well, that went quite well!” Rachel says, smiling happily.

“It sure did,” Paul agrees. “And without a single incident, thanks to our friends here.”

“Oh, we can’t take credit for that,” I reply. “It’s not really a high-threat area–”

Just as the words leave my lips, there’s a blur out of the corner of my eye. I wheel and see a man lunging toward Rachel, coming at her from behind. His eyes are crazed, his mouth open.

“Sons of bitches!” the man cries out.

I have time to draw my pistol, but that’s a very conclusive move, and the man doesn’t look armed to me. Besides, Rachel is an art exhibit curator. Why would someone want to kill her?

“Rachel, look out!” I shout, leaping past her at the attacker.

I hear her say something in confusion as I slip past her and drive my elbow into the man’s solar plexus.

He lets out a grunt of pain as I spin around him and snatch his neck with my left arm, trapping it like a vise in the hinge of my elbow.

I kick out his ankle with my right foot and drop him to the ground, catching his right arm and pinning it behind his back. I hold it there with my right knee, immobilizing him as my team reaches my side.

“Any more?” Ryan calls out, immediately securing the man’s ankles.

“Clear!” Logan replies, pinning the man’s neck with his knee.

“Jesus Christ!” Paul cries out. “Who—who the hell is this!?”

I look up to see Paul standing between his wife and her would-be attacker, just as a husband should. He looks shocked but not afraid. This guy knows how to handle himself.

“Do either of you recognize this man?” I ask him as I secure his other hand behind his back.

Paul shakes his head. “No! Honey?”

Rachel shakes her head. “N-no.”

“R-rich…sons of…bitches…” The man is slurring his words and foaming at the lips as he speaks. “Rich p-pieces of shit.”

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