“Protection. Right?” I was angry for a whole different reason now. “I don’tknow how many times I have to tell you, but I don’t need you, or your company, or any kind of protection. I am fine on my—is that a fuckinggun?”
His eyes dropped to where my attention had slipped to, the thick holster at his side, before bouncing backto mine. “Yes?”
Confusion drowned me. “Little dramatic don’t you think?”
His bottom lip slipped between his teeth as his head shook, holding up my phone. “Have youforgotten that you just ran out of there? Because of this?”
Touche.
My shoulders squared in defiance. “I just need to calm down. I’m fine.”
Marcus found that hilarious, apparently. “You didn’t exactly look like you werefine when you were running out of here like someone had just started a fucking fire.” I didn’t have time to react before he took a step closer, eyes looming over me like a hurricane. “Louellen told me not to come tonight, but I’m glad this is the first time I didn’t listen to her.” He shrugged, his tongue making his mouth stretch as his lips glided open. “If you had run out of here before I grabbed you, whatever piece of scum sent you this would have just been waiting for the perfect time to snatch you and do whatever the fuck they were planning to do with you.”
Fear began to creep up my spine at the thought, but I kept my shoulders tight,my lips pinned down, and my eyes firm against his.
Marcus came closer, enough for me to spot the stars in his eyes. “I came forthis exact reason. You can’t protect yourself like I will, Miss Holland. And like it or not Iwillbe protecting you.” His eyes went back to the phone. “Especially given what’s just happened.”
As much as I wanted to slip from under him and run, scream in his face that Iwas more than okay making sure no lowlifewould so much as breathe near me… I couldn’t. And though I hated to admit it, he was right. What would have happened if he wasn’t there to stop me leaving? What if he was right and whoever had text me was just waiting on the other side of the doors, knowing I’d be there?
The last of the fear trickled from me as I said a silent thank you that that wasn’tthe case. That I was safe.
Thanks tohim.
I lifted my eyes to meet him, his eyes still glued to my phone. I swallowedbefore gritting out. “What happens now?” His eyes were on me as I pointed at my phone. “What do we do about—”
“There’s nowein this.” His stare hardened. “Iwill be taking you back home.Iwill be finding out who this is.Iwill be the only one making decisions about how you’re kept safe.” His body didn’t budge. “AndIwill be your shadow regardless of how hard you push. Is that clear?”
No.
Not a fucking thing about any of this was clear.
I didn’t know this man, but suddenly I was supposed to trust him with my life?
It was too much. Too soon.
My eyes latched onto his. “The last time I put my trust into someone theyattacked me.” Sincerity flooded his stony face. “So tell me why I should just trust your word when your word means nothing to me, because, as I made clear yesterday, you’re a stranger.” My eyes fell up and down his body. “A stranger who is very capable of ruining me like the last strangerdid.”
Every hard surface of his face softened as my words settled in the spacebetween us, like I’d struck a nerve that connected his brain to his water ducts. He looked almost… sad, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Wasn’t sure if I could trust it.
Eventually he took a step back, as though the air had become too thick and hecouldn’t breath. A sigh flew between his lips as his eyes, soft, genuine, rose to mine.
“We started my company because of an incident very similar to the one you wentthrough. That’s the long and short of it and all you need to know to sleep easy knowing I am nothing like Jamie fucking Radcliffe.”
I could almost feel the rage coming off him as that bastards name left histongue.
“My priority is your safety. And it always will be.” His dark eyes settled backon me, and as I tried to snuff out the lies, tried to see behind the onyx shields that kept the truth, I couldn’t. And something in my gut told me, something about the tone of his voice and the way he stood around me instead of over me, that he was telling the truth.
It was going to take time for me to trust again, I knew that. But if that text wasreal and the threats I’d brushed under the rug before were getting more real with every passing day, I had no choice but to trust. For now.
“Okay.” His eyes softened as I lifted my head to his, nestling myself behindthose shields. “You can be my shadow.”
The feeling that settled over my chest was one I couldn’t pick apart.
Either this would be the best thing I ever did for myself, or the end of my lifeas I knew it.
chaptereight
privacy? i don't know her anymore
