Gemma nodded at Braxton and he nodded back, confirming the move.
“Okay everyone, I think we have the move in place,” Braxton stated. “Lyric is going to ask one of his buddies at the station to look at the note and any cameras that may be around her apartment to see if they notice anyone acting suspicious around the time the letter was left.
And then a few of us will be having a word with Brett on our own to make it clear that if he touches her again or harasses her at all, there will be hell to pay.”
Gemma stood and all of us followed suit. “Thank you for your help. I know I should have asked a lot sooner.”
“We’re just glad you did,” Braxton said as Gemma started for the door. “Don’t forget one of us will follow you home in a bit so hang out here until someone is free. We’ll move some stuff around so you aren’t waiting long.”
I could tell she hated to feel like a burden. It was a look that crossed her face many times during the meeting that told me she’d been worried that was what her asking for help meant. But she was far from a burden to those who’d called her their little sister.
And while she was nothing like a sister to me, she was definitely not a burden to me either.
* * *
Protect.Protect. Protect.
I wasn’t sure if I’d made the right decision to be the one to follow Gemma home or if she was thrilled about it either, but my brain had been chanting to protect the woman from day one. And the more that I’d found out, the more powerful the need to watch over her became.
When I told the guys in a firm tone, leaving no room for argument, that I was following her home, they eyeballed one another and then started laughing.
“I knew it,” Lyric said.
“You don’t know shit,” I automatically fired back.
That just made them chuckle more.
“You think all of us don’t know what it looks like when someone is smitten?” Kace asked.
I wanted to roll my eyes like Gemma had numerous times while we spoke with her, but I refrained.
Looking at Kace, I shook my head and asked, “Smitten, seriously. Where do you get this shit?”
When I glanced at Braxton he wore a worried expression, I wasn’t sure what he was thinking. Maybe he was about to can my ass and send me packing. He and the others made it clear that Gemma was like a baby sister and she had enough problems. She didn’t need me sniffing around her.
Wait, is that what I was doing?
Nope, there could be no sniffing. But I was still following her home.
“Hey, you work here, she’s your friend too so you are more than welcome to follow her home,” Braxton had said, eyeing me for a reaction.
He was playing with me. Braxton wasn’t dumb and he heard loud and clear what Lyric and Kace had said. Being Gemma’s friend was a good thing. I just wished that was all my mind was telling me.
But that was all it could be.
“You guys have been hanging out with the women too much. You all are crazy, meddling, saps. I just don’t like what is happening and I aim to protect. Now, are we done here so I can do my job?” I kept my eyes on Braxton when I said it. If I looked at the other guys I probably wouldn’t be able to contain myself from smacking them all upside the head.
“Go.” Braxton pointed to the door. “I just don’t want either of you hurt,” he added as I was walking away.
I didn’t look back or respond. Braxton being worried about me when I was older, had been his superior, and as his friend left me at a loss on how I was supposed to feel. But one thing was for sure, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her or cause myself more pain.
* * *
We’d made it.
I pulled in next to Gemma in the apartment parking lot and got out of the car at the same time as her. She glanced over with a wary look on her face.
“You don’t have to follow me up, I’m okay from here.”
