Page 48 of Elusive Surrender

They’re not even listening. “Let’s get going,” Liam directs, while Trent belts out a text.

I narrow my eyes at him, but if he feels their heat, he doesn’t let on or look up while we walk to the car. “I have no doubt Sheldon’s reading that message, right?” I huff.

Trent doesn’t say a word, just continues to stare straight ahead until we get to the car.

Well, if that’s what Sheldon is reading right now, and his security team is pissed, it serves him right. If he had called me, perhaps I would have told him the situation. Well, that’s not entirely fair, but he didn’t even care enough to call, so there’s that.

We're driving toward the salon when my phone lights up with Sheldon’s contact. I hit decline, turn the thing off, and shove it into my purse.There, take that.I am in absolutely no mood for him to chew me out for going against his damn protocols. I didn't ask for any of this. I don’t want any of these insanely intense bodyguards babysitting me, smothering me, or treating me like I’m a bother they’ve been saddled with.

I huff in the icy silenceof the car ride, but only for a few brief minutes because as annoying as it is to have all this security—and all the rules that come with it—that psycho is seriously bad news. And the thought of being his target and knowing what could happen to me causes my internal tantrum to tame as quickly as it flared.

I know they’re just doing their job and that Sheldon arranged it, and a pang of guilt hits me knowing that I just made everything they have to do today that much harder. Whatever plans they had to ensure my safety were abruptly changed again.

I glance at my watch and grimace, hoping that Glenda is late, even just a little bit so these guys can get in and do whatever it is they do. “If it means anything at all, I’m sorry. Really sorry. I know this assignment can’t be a picnic, and you may not believe it, but I did not intentionally mean to go against the rules about changes in plans. It just happened. She sounded so desperate.”

The uncomfortable silence fills the car while Liam continues to text back and forth with someone whose name probably starts with an S, and Trent focuses on the mid-morning traffic in New York, seemingly at ease with weaving the Caddy in and out of lanes to get us to our destination quicker.

“I’ll go in and check things out while Trent waits outside with you,” Liam tells me as we park.

“Not ideal, but it’s the best we can do with almost no notice,” Trent states.

He doesn’t say it meanly. He’s just stating a fact, and I get it. I really do, but not all the blame falls to me. “Certainly, the fact you are shorthanded men can’t be my fault too? I did say I was sorry.” I was hoping to ease the tension, but that just earns me more scrutinizing from Mr. Scowly in the rearview.

“Seriously? I was trying to extend an olive branch. Just never mind.”

Liam turns to me from the front passenger seat, his eyes softening just a bit. “This isn’t your fault, Alexis. It seems you’re not the only one who can’t seem to obey the protocols. Your friend Allie went for a run this morning without telling us. We had to pivot and put a couple men on her watch, which is why we’re left short. Otherwise, we would have already cleared the salon.”

“Ugh! I’m really sorry, guys. No wonder you’re all growly with me today.”

“Growly, huh? Do as we ask for the next few minutes, or you’re really going to see growly.” Trent smirks, the first genuine smile I’ve seen on his face since we met.

We get to the door, and I hand Liam my key, then take a step back to wait with Trent as instructed.

Liam turns the key, and the door swings wide open. My entire body goes numb with fear, and the high-pitched screams hurt my ears. They won’t stop, and they just keep going and going until I finally realize they are my own. I have the vague sense of being hefted into the air, carried to the Caddy, and placed in the back seat, but it’s like everything is happening in over-dramatized slow motion. “Alexis, look at me. You’re safe. Nothing is going to happen to you. Breathe, dammit!” Trent growls.

I can’t seem to catch my breath, but Trent talks me through it. The sobs are coming too fast, and the pictures keep flashing through my mind. There was so much blood. It was running down every single wall, all over my pictures, the pictures of me that no one but family should have. Pictures of me growing up as a teen, and of my graduation, pictures of me at a wedding, and pictures that less than a week ago were at home, secured behind plastic in a large photo album in my favorite bookshelf. But now they’re pinned all over the salon, slashed to pieces with blood running down each and every one of them and the walls they are affixed to. “We’re going to find this guy, Alexis,” Trent tells me, helping me get buckled into the seat belt.

Trent returns to the driver’s seat before Liam arrives, sliding into the front seat and turning toward me. “Sheldon wants to talk with you.” He speaks gently, handing me his phone as I continue to sob.

“Lex, you’re safe. I want you to breathe with me. Deep breath in, and then we’re going to exhale, and then you’re going to do it again. We’ll do it together, on the count of one,” Sheldon instructs, setting the pace that I immediately follow.

“I want you to pretend you’re back in Italy, lying on the cabana, looking out at the gorgeous sea-green view. You’re going to pick a spot out by the horizon, and you’re going to watch as it works its way toward you, and you’re going to breathe with me while you do. Take a deep breath, Lex. Let your lungs completely fill up. There you go. Hold it,” he directs before counting to ten. “Now, large exhale, and we’ll do it again.”

His voice is the calming balm I need, and when my breathing is finally under control Sheldon’s deep, husky voice continues to wash over me, soothing my tattered nerves. “I promise you, Lex, no one is going to hurt you. I’m so damn sorry you saw that. We’re going to catch this bastard, understand?”

I take the tissue Liam offers and wipe my eyes and nose, nodding as though Sheldon can see me through the phone, but it’s easier than talking past the lump that’s somehow lodged itself in the middle of my throat.

“Lex, you still there?”

“Yes.”

“We’re going to stop by your apartment for your stuff and have Allie picked up too. I’m going to stay on the phone with you until you get there. Liam will get Glenda’s number from you and let her know we had a break in. She’ll completely understand and will reschedule. If you give Liam the numbers, we’ll have someone contact all your clients and let them know you’ll call them to reschedule in the next couple of days.”

I nod in agreement. I can make Jan’s part of the rent with what I have in savings easily enough and deal with the rest later. “Lex, are you still with me?”

My voice comes out in a squeak. “I have it with me,” I reply, reaching into my oversized bag to give Liam the schedule with all the numbers.

“Good. Now, I want you to take deep breaths and then slowly inhale until you get home. Just focus on my breathing, Lex,” Sheldon commands.

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