“I went out on some pretty bad dates.” She gives me a chagrined look.
“Did any of them pursue you after you broke things off?” Matrix asks.
“A couple of them tried to get me to go out on more dates, but I didn’t respond.”
“That’s the best way to get them to fuck off,” Reaper says.
“Yeah, they’ll find someone else to obsess about if you don’t reply.” Nitro nods.
“Usually, but not always. Some of them don’t get the message,” Scar says.
“None of that seems to apply to my exes or any of the guys I dated.” As she chews on her plump lower lip, the urge to kiss her is all I can think about. She’s so beautiful, but she doesn’t even seem to realize it. I can see how a man would become obsessed with her.
Frustration gnaws at me because we’re no closer to finding out who’s behind this than we were last night. The voodoo doll, which had seemed like a vital clue, is now essentially useless. I’m still going to give it to Daisy, so she can get her contacts to run the blood, but I have a bad feeling that won’t be helpful either.
“We’re going to have to wait and see if the stalker tries anything else. We’ve got nothing to go on right now,” Scar says.
“I’ve got to get to work. I’m already late. I texted my boss to tell her I was running behind, but I can’t take the day off.” She straightens her spine, and her tone is firm, but there’s no way I’m letting her go into the office today.
“Absolutely not,” I say.
“I agree. You shouldn’t leave the clubhouse.” Nitro shakes his head.
Reaper and Matrix both chime in with their disapproval as well, but Jessica’s stubborn and doesn’t want to give up.
“Listen,” she pleads, looking around the room.“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me, but I won’t let someone stop me from living my life. I need to go to work. It’s important.” Her voice wavers slightly, betraying her fear, but her resolve doesn’t falter.
“Dammit, Jess.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. I want to wrap her up in my arms and keep her safely hidden away from whatever threat is looming over her, but I also understand her need for normalcy.
“We can send prospects to keep an eye on her,” Scar suggests.
“I’ll go.” Even though I trust the prospects, I’m not going to rely on other men to keep her safe. That’s my job now.
“We’re coming with you,” Scar says.“We’ll make sure Jessica gets there safely, and then we’ll keep an eye on her throughout the day. You’ll be safe throughout your shift.”
“Thank you,” she flashes a grateful smile.
“We’ll have two guys tailing you at all times. One in front to clear the way and another behind, ready to step in if anything happens,” Scar says.
“I’ll keep an eye on the security cameras surrounding your workplace. If anyone suspicious shows up or tries to get close, we’ll know about it,” Matrix says.
“Sounds good. We’ll do everything we can to ensure Jessica’s safety. This meeting is adjourned.” Scar slams the gavel before setting it aside. He gestures toward me.“A word.”
“Sure, Pres.” I follow him out onto the back porch. It overlooks the stream that runs through our property. We lean on the wooden railing and stare down at it.“What’s up?”
“When you texted the club last night, you mentioned running into the stalker.”
“I almost had that fuck, but he got away.”
“Okay. I don’t like the fact that we don’t have a single clue about who’s behind this. Usually, it’s someone the girl knows, but what if it’s not?”
“We could be dealing with a complete stranger.”
“If you saw him again, would you recognize him?”
“I don’t know. It was dark, so maybe.”
“In which case, we’re going to have to wait for him to approach her again. It’s dangerous.”
