Page 8 of Broken Bodyguard
Anger licked through my veins. Sure, I’d love to kiss Maddie a thousand times over. But seeing this—bruises left behind by a weak man, the fear flitting through her eyes—had me only thinking about fucking up her ex.
“He got upset,” she said quietly, her gaze occasionally darting over my shoulder, as though keeping an eye on something. “I took Grace over to see him at his parents’ house after we got back from New York. But he didn’t like that we didn’t stay long. And then he started bitching about the whole entire trip to New York. When I tried to leave, well…”
I balled my hands into fists beneath the bar. When she looked across the room one more time, I asked, “What is it? Is he here?”
She nibbled on her bottom lip, nodding. Her gaze remained stuck on some point past my shoulder. “He just showed up with Mercedes’ ex-fiancé, Caleb, and two of their friends.”
She picked nervously at a cuticle while she gnawed at her lip. I angled myself toward her, reaching for the worrying hand. “Hey. You’re with me. You’re safe.”
Her hazel eyes connected with mine in a spark as she nodded. “Yeah. You’re right. And we’re in public, so…”
“Will you show me which one he is? Who did this to you?”
“He’s the one with the blue jacket.” Her voice came out a whisper. I twisted to look behind me, barely able to pick them out across the restaurant. A group of men sat at a table in the middle of the room, but one glance at their faces told me they hadn’t come for a meal. They were here to findher.
Maybe they’d already spotted her. Maybe they just knew she was somewhere inside. Either way, I didn’t want to take the chance.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said, reaching for her hand. I swiped my thumb back and forth, hoping to console her. She didn’t know it yet, but she had no reason to worry while I was with her. I had no problem taking down four douchebrothers in full view of the public. I’d gotten myself into—and out of—far dicier situations than this one. And from the looks of it, her ex Jericho would crumble with one well-placed punched to his nose.
Maddie’s worried gaze searched my face. “I didn’t even get my food yet.”
“We’ll go somewhere else,” I promised her. “I just need you far away from that guy.”
“Okay,” she said, but she didn’t look convinced. I leaned forward, cupping the side of her face in my hand.
“What did I tell you before? You’re with me. You’re safe.”
She rolled her lips in, nodding. “He’s just a piece of work. He and Caleb ruined Mercedes’ life. He barred Mercedes from going to their grandmother’s funeral. He and Caleb sent bomb threats…” Her voice broke and she shook her head. “I don’t want you getting involved—”
“Too late,” I said with a smile. “You kissed me. I’m involved. And for what it’s worth, a bomb threat isn’t enough to get me to back down. Now, are you ready?”
A small smile curled at her pretty pink lips. It was a small sign of progress, at least. I held her small hand in mine, surging to my feet. I was now the human shield between her and those idiots.
I dropped a $100 bill on the counter and led the way toward the door, keeping her close to my side. Given where the men sat, it was impossible to hide her fully without drawing even more attention. I kept an eye on the guys as we navigated through the crowded restaurant. Her ex scanned the room with a dark, shifty gaze. He just looked like he was up to no good.
We slipped out the door, leaving the dull roar of conversation behind. Outside, the crisp, late January air prickled through my lungs. I wrapped an arm around her slight shoulders as we walked to the parking lot.
“Do you want to go somewhere else? So you can get that dinner you were waiting on.”
“Yeah…” Her face fell. “I hate that he ruined this. I know it probably sounds like a pity party, but I’d been looking forward to this place.” She huffed as we approached what I assumed was her car, a simple silver sedan. She paused by the trunk, pulling something out of her purse. “I was telling Mercedes that all I wanted to do was go someplace nice and read this book at the bar by myself.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. Except I’m coming with you. I don’t trust that prick. So just think of me as a mute companion. I won’t even talk to you so you can read.”
She grinned up at me, a dimple in her left cheek flashing. That pretty grin and the wisps of brown hair escaping from her loose braid had me ready to follow her wherever she wanted to go, for however long she’d let me. I stepped closer, reaching for her hand again. It was a natural move, one that felt more intimate than protective.
“My paperback bodyguard?”
“Something like that.” I reached up to cup the side of her face but caught myself before I could. She’d kissed me out of sheer panic, that didn’t mean she wanted me moving in for more. It was too easy to play that part with her though; I’d felt the pull the second I met her.
But I didn’t want to think about that right now. I was here to make sure she stayed safe. Then I was heading to Ecuador to hopefully start the next chapter of my life.
“Maddie!” The rough bark of a male voice cut through the night air.
She gasped as her gaze connected with somebody behind me. I didn’t need to guess who it was. I turned to find Jericho storming out of the restaurant, his three friends close behind.
I registered the most important things first: the aggression leaking out of his closed fists. The fire in his eyes. The speed with which he approached us. All of these were signs to get Maddie to safety.
“Maddie, get in my car.” I fished my key fob out of my pocket and clicked to unlock. “Black Jeep, two spots down.”
