I slowly raised my head and peeked out the window. Then I swiveled around to see the back car window shattered and glass everywhere. My terrified gaze veered to Paxton.
“I will never be safe,” I whispered right before I dissolved into a puddle of tears.
ChapterFour
PAXTON
My sister was right.
It looked very much like Capri needed rescuing, I just hadn’t realized it would be so soon. I’d also done a shit job so far protecting her.
During my time in the Air Force and on rescues, I’d learned to be vigilant and aware of my surroundings. To not get caught off guard or distracted.
But Capri was a distracting woman.
When she got frightened I wanted to comfort her and was focused on calling 911, but what I should have done was pull away from the store first. Instead of my eyes staying on the bakery, my gaze had settled on our hands and I was hyper-aware of how her soft palm felt against mine.
I was a protector by nature, but the gripping need to keep Capri safe was far more intense than it had been with anyone else. It had thrown me for a loop and cost us precious minutes.
If the intruder had been faster or Capri hadn’t noticed him move toward the door, who knows what would have happened.
I couldn’t make mistakes like that.
Not when it could put Capri in jeopardy.
And from her whispered words and the terrified look etched across her face, I could tell she was running from something that she feared would one day catch up with her.
Has that day come?
Was the guy in the bakery tied to Capri’s past? Or was it a random break-in?
Turning in my seat, I ever so gently placed my hands on Capri’s cheeks. “I’ll keep you safe, but if there’s something I should know, you need to tell me so I can be prepared.”
She shook her head back and forth frantically. Her eyes shimmered with tears, a few still making tracks down her soft skin and then fear sparkled in them. I wasn’t going to push, it wasn’t the time.
“We’ll talk later but you need to breathe for me, sweetness, before you pass out.”
I hated to lose contact, but I needed to make another call so I dropped my hands. “I need to call Braxton,” I told her as I searched for my phone that I’d dropped on the floor. Once in hand, I dialed.
Capri was so quiet as Braxton and I spoke that I wasn't sure if she’d paid attention to the conversation or was lost in her head. I hated to head back to the bakery—the guys were headed there— once we got the all clear that the intruder was gone, we’d have to return to give a statement.
I explained that to the woman next to me, who didn’t dispute what needed to be done, but I wasn’t sure when she heard the rest of it that she’d be so easy to agree with me.
“After we talk to the police, I’ll wait while you grab some of your things and then we’ll head to the condos.”
And there it was.
A little spark flared in her eyes and fire simmered in her glare, which was directed right at me.
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” I said, throwing both hands, palms up, in the air. “Not that I don’t agree, but Braxton insisted that you use the condo right down the hall from me until we see what’s going on.”
If being mad at me, Braxton or whoever had her angry instead of upset, then I would gladly take it. Seeing her cry and scared did something to me I didn’t know how to explain.
What was it about this woman that was so different from any other woman I’d encountered in my life?
Just as she opened her mouth, probably to lay into me, my phone rang. I answered and listened on the other end for a few minutes, then hung up.
“Lyric spoke with someone at the station while they were headed to your shop and there was nobody there when the cops pulled up, but they’re waiting for us now.” Having been a cop previously, Lyric still had a lot of connections which was great.
