Page 10 of Broken Bodyguard
“I want to make sure you’re safe.” I reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze. “That’s all I care about.”
“Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you, Troy.”
“You’re welcome, Maddie.” My chest swelled, reminding me of the persistent ache that throbbed there. While I was aware of how much I cared for Maddie, pretty much from the second I laid eyes on her, I didn’t know how to process it. My life didn’t have room for someone like Maddie. “Where should we head to next? Plan B dinner?”
“I’m not even hungry anymore. He scared the hunger right out of me.” She rubbed her forehead. “I guess I should go back to my parents’ house. I just hope he doesn’t show up there again. He was sending me angry texts earlier about how I wasn’t at my mom and dad’s house when he stopped by.”
My insides tightened at her words. Multiple alarms were going off inside me, and I wasn’t sure if she realized how dangerous this guy could get.
“I don’t think you’ll be safe at your parents’ house either.” The bodyguard in me was already hatching a protection plan. And it involved me staying glued to her side. “It sounds like his behavior has been escalating. He went from manipulative to leaving bruises to showing up with a gang of friends with baseball bats. Maddie, I know he’s Grace’s dad…but this guy is officially a threat.”
She drew a deep breath, her chin trembling.
“I know it’s not what you want to hear, but we need to get you out of here. Someplacesafe.”
“But where?” Her voice sounded so small, so afraid.
I started the Jeep, enjoying the rumble of the engine.
Lucky for her, I had a plan.
CHAPTER FOUR
MADDIE
“Youdon’thavetoagree to this,” Troy started as he backed out of the parking spot, “but I’d like to personally escort you to your parents’ house so you can pack some things for a little trip. Grace, too.”
“Atrip?” Now hardly seemed like the time for a vacation.
“After what I’ve seen, I don’t think you’re safe staying without personal protection.” He paused in the parking lot as he switched to drive, but he didn’t move forward. Instead, he looked over at me. “It’s your choice. But I’m recommending three thousand percent that you get out of town so we can develop a security plan without him on our asses. A friend of mine has a cabin just outside of town that we can use. It’s far enough away that he won’t be able to find us. There’s no risk of him ruining another meal.”
My head spun. I’d gone from normal divorcee to the subject in a bad breakup film. Jericho’s friends were busting people with baseball bats now? Nothing made sense. Except for Troy.
He made alotof sense. His even-keeled, calm demeanor, even in the face of danger, felt like a warm, flickering fire in the middle of a cold night. I wanted to cozy up next to him and stay as long as he’d let me.
“I-I can’t just up and leave…”
He nodded, the first flash of doubt crossing his face. He looked genuinely torn as he studied the other cars in the parking lot.
“Do your parents have a spare room?” he asked.
I laughed, but I could tell he wasn’t joking.
“I’ve seen a lot, Maddie.” His throat bobbed as he looked over at me. The dim glow from the lights in the parking lot illuminated the handsome features of his face. His dark eyes drank me in, and for a moment the rest of the world fell away. “He’s upgraded to leaving marks on you. He showed up at a restaurant with friends ready to beat somebody down. And they tried. If I’d been anyone else who didn’t know how to handle the situation, I’d probably be headed to the ER right now. Based on his current behavior, I wouldn’t put it past him to hurt you—or Grace—next.”
His words sank into me, bringing the fear back to the forefront. I’d never worried that he’d hurt me, or Grace. But now? After tonight? I could see it happening. Even though I wanted to believe that he was ready to quietly accept the divorce and move on with his life.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, reaching for my hand again. He stroked it like we’d been together for years—not like we were two technical strangers. That was the dizzying affect Troy had on me. “I don’t mean to upset you. But this is the reality of the situation, and you need to know. This is part of my job.”
I nodded, allowing the truth to settle inside me. I was no longer innormal breakup territorywith Jericho. He’d pushed it into something sinister and scary. “You’re right. I’ll go back to my parents’ house and get things packed up.” I reached for the door handle, but he grabbed my wrist.
“I’ll drive. I don’t want you out of my sight right now.”
I sank back into the seat, his words warming me. He rolled into motion, and I gave him directions on how to maneuver through Louisville to my parents’ house. I had him wait in the car in the driveway, partly as a way so I could get my bearings. Was I really about to run away with this man I hardly knew? Surely I would be fine here with my mom and dad.
But maybe I didn’twantto spend the next few days without Troy.
I called Mercedes as I hurriedly packed my and Grace’s things. She answered on the third ring.
