“Head over to the squad car, Brooklyn. Explain what’s happening,” Caden requested in that quiet, controlled Texas drawl.
This time, she followed his directions. “Officer, I have a restraining order against that man on the ground in New York. He came after us with a knife,” Brooklyn said.
“I saw it all, Officer. That man attacked them,” the manager called from the office. Several neighbors echoed her words. One even offered the videotape of the incident.
In a few minutes, Brent sat handcuffed in the back of the squad car. The out-of-control man’s shouts reached her as she stared in horror at his frantic motions that rocked the vehicle.
The image of his enraged face would show up in her nightmares. Only then, no reinforced glass would separate them. Warm hands turned her from the view. “It’s over, little girl. You’re okay. He can’t hurt you ever again.”
“You haven’t ever dealt with the justice system. He gets away with everything repeatedly. I’ll never be safe. He’ll keep coming after me,” she whispered and wrapped her arms around herself.
Caden pulled her close and held her tight. She melted against his powerful frame. He’d kept her safe.
“Thank you for helping me.” A thought popped into her head, and she took a step backward. “Did he hurt you?” She ran her hands over his body, searching for an injury.
“I’m fine, Brookie. He didn’t get anywhere close to me with that knife,” Caden assured her.
She shuddered as her mind replayed Brent’s lunge toward her. “I hit and kicked at you. DidIhurt you?”
“I might have a bruise on my shin and on my stomach tomorrow. You pack a wallop.”
“Oh, no. Let me see!” Brooklyn yanked up Caden’s T-shirt to check.
A loud roar sounded from the car. Caden tugged his shirt out of her hands and drew it back into place. “It’s probably better if you wait to undress me until your ex is gone.” Caden’s blue eyes danced with amusement.
“Don’t laugh. He’s unbelievable. I’ll get on the road and be out of town before they release him.”
“How long have you been running, little girl?” he asked, sobering immediately.
“Too long. A year, eighteen months maybe. We broke up almost three years ago. I stayed in New York, sure that the system would protect me. I got a lawyer and a protective order. He put me in the hospital the following week. I’d pissed him off.”
“He went to jail then, right?”
“Brent was out before I was. His parents bailed him out and then drove him to the hospital. My nurse heard me screaming and called security. That time, they kept him for two days. I convinced the doctor to release me the next day.”
“And you took off?” Caden asked, his face dark with anger. He turned to watch the squad car drive out of the apartmentcomplex. Brent’s yelling face still focused on them through the back windshield.
“He found me a week later. Brent had placed an AirTag on my car. That started it. This time, I lost him for a few months. I’d started to think it was over. He’ll never stop,” Brooklyn told him, brushing a tear away that tumbled down her cheek. “Thank for packing my car. I’ll be able to put some miles between us before they release him again. They never keep him for long.”
“I don’t like the thought of you out there alone, Brooklyn.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve survived this long. My folks send me money to exist on. I’ll go to a hotel somewhere tonight and update them. They keep track of me and all the charges filed against him. Maybe someday, Brent will rack up enough crimes to get thrown in jail for a few years.”
Brooklyn shook her head and walked over to her car. Caden paced alongside her. She loved it when he wrapped an arm around her. Standing close to him, she couldn’t imagine Brent daring to attack her. If only…
“You have another option, little girl.”
“I really don’t, Caden.”
“You could stay here with me. My team and I would protect you. Bullies like Brent usually choose another target when the one they’re focused on isn’t an easy victim.”
“I don’t want any of you to be targeted,” she said quickly.
“Everyone needs help, little girl. Let me finish this for you.”
“Why would you offer to get involved?” Brooklyn dug her hand into her pocket to pull out her keys as they reached her car.
“I’ve looked for someone special for many years. I think you might be the one I’ve searched to find,” Caden told her. He gently wrapped his hands around her shoulders and turned Brooklyn to face him.
