Page 68 of Merciless Protector

“Have you thought about finding another job?” I asked tentatively.

Kelsey shook her head. “I love my job. And it’s not just about Griffin. I’m finally doing work that I’m passionate about. I don’t want to throw that away just because of my feelings for him.”

I could understand where she was coming from. It wasn’t easy to find a job that you loved. But at the same time, I didn’t want her to suffer in silence.

“Well, if you ever need to talk about it, I’m here.”

“Nothing to talk about. Everyone knows he’s a massive flirt. I’m just another in a long list of women he’s playing games with.”

I didn’t know what to say, as I didn’t know him well enough to contradict that statement. So I leaned back and stared at the cargo strapped in the middle of the open area and thought about my own situation with a man I was falling deeply for.

“What a pair we make,” I muttered.

“Seems to me your man has declared his intentions,” she said, lifting up my wrist where the bracelet lay.

“It’s just jewelry.”

Her eyebrow arched in silent question. “This isn’t just any jewelry. A man can buy you an expensive bracelet that means nothing. But a man doesn’t buy you a Cartier LOVE bracelet for no reason. He knew exactly what you would assume. And if he didn’t want you to think that way, he’d have bought a different bracelet at Cartier.”

Lizzy and Bailey had said the same thing. I looked up as the memory of him putting it on me replayed in my head. “You think so?”

She pursed her lips. “I know so.”

The rest of the plane ride, I tried not to relish the idea that maybe there was something real and solid between Shawn and me. I didn’t want to hope for nothing.

When we landed, Kelsey had arranged a ride home for me. Griffin felt it was okay if I went home, but I should be cautious. I think Kelsey had made it clear to him my intention regardless of his thoughts on the matter. Kelsey couldn’t come with me. She had to stay and make sure the equipment was unloaded and got to the right place.

I could have gone to the field office first, but I needed my car. I didn’t want to rely on a ride home from work not organized by Griffin’s team. They had already done so much. Plus, I needed to have answers to all the questions I would be grilled on when I revealed myself to my boss. So, home first. Field office later.

It was an odd experience when I arrived at my apartment. It was almost like seeing it for the first time since I hadn’t lived here long before I was taken that second time. The entire walk to my door, I kept looking over my shoulder.

Inside, I bolted the locks before I put my keys in the bowl on the side table near the door. I dropped my bag on the floor as I walked into the living room. All the window blinds were closed, so I couldn’t see outside, but I imagined the view. I swept the apartment as if it were an op. The only thing I didn’t do was call out clear after checking each room. The kitchen was small and there wasn’t really a hiding place other than behind the island. Once that was clear, I headed to my bedroom on the right.

The door was open as I’d left it, and the bed was still made. I made another right into the walk-in closet, which had been the deciding factor in taking this place. At the end was my bathroom. All was clear.

I relaxed and stopped in my closet on the way back. There was something I needed to get.

Racks were doubled on both sides. I stopped midway and reached to a shelf above my clothes. I pulled out an Aerosoles shoebox. It wasn’t a flashy name brand and one I assumed would be passed over by any intruder. Inside, under a woman’s platform heel sandal my mother claimed was perfect for evening and everyday dress, was my work phone. As expected, it was dead. I put the shoebox back and headed to my bedside table to plug the phone in.

As far as I could tell, no one had come into the apartment. I headed to the kitchen, where my landline phone was. One required by the building so the bell system downstairs could ring me for any visitors. I picked it up and dialed my mom.

Because she was on vacation with my dad and sister, I didn’t worry yet. Though Shawn hadn’t wanted me to call my family because Ruin could have cloned my personal cell phone, I was calling from a landline. I didn’t think Ruin had the capability or inclination to trace my calls from this line. Plus, my family wasn’t in town. I felt safe to leave Mom a voice message letting her know I was back and to call me on this or my work phone when she had a chance. If I didn’t hear back from her by tomorrow morning, then I’d worry.

Next, I checked my refrigerator. Just as I expected, it only held a few old condiments and a half-empty carton of milk. I sighed, knowing I needed to go grocery shopping.

I went back into my room and got my laptop to place a food delivery order. Knowing that I was going to work later and it would be a long day of answering questions, I placed a short grocery delivery order of the essentials to get me through the weekend and was able to snag the last delivery time today. If I wasn’t pregnant, I might have waited. But I was hungry all the time and going to the store seemed riskier than having something delivered.

When my food delivery arrived, I planted myself on the sofa with a bottle of water and my take-out boxes and settled in to stream a movie.

It felt lonely without Shawn next to me. I immediately nixed the romantic comedy trailer that was playing and went for a bloodbath thriller that boasted no romance.

When my landline rang, I hustled over to answer.

“Delivery,” the man said.

It was a little early, but I hit the button to buzz him in before little alarm bells went off in my head.

Most times, the delivery person would announce the company they were with. I wasn’t sure if it was the movie or something else, but I couldn’t shake the fact the man had sounded off.

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