She snorted.“Yeah, because that’s easy.”
“I know we don’t know each other well, but trust me when I say I believe you.Everything you’ve been through in the last few weeks is too much.And I have a hard time thinking it’s not all connected.”
“Me, too, but no one seems to believe that.The break-in, the dead woman, now this?What is going on?”
Captain Patrick shook his head.“I don’t know.But we need to figure it out.I’d like to put you in protective custody.”
“What does that mean?”Harmony asked.
“It means I don’t think you should be alone.I’d like you to live at Shelter in the Storm until we figure all this out.”
“I don’t like taking up a room from someone else.”
“Ms.Gibbs?—”
“I think after all this you can call me Harmony.”
He smiled.“Please call me Marcus, Harmony.And the shelter is intended to be there for people who need somewhere safe to go.Right now, that seems like you.”
“I’ll be fine.I’m only here a few hours at night anyway.”
Marcus winced.“Yeah, about that.I don’t think you should be going anywhere.I think you need to be under protection around the clock.”
“What?No.I can’t do that.I’m so close to finishing my research and defending my Ph.D.I can’t walk away from it.That’ll mean it’s another year before I can finish.That’s not… I… There has to be another option.”
“Are you okay?”Damien asked from a few feet away.
Harmony hadn’t noticed him moving closer to her again.When he first arrived, he wrapped her in his arms and didn’t let go until the cops said they needed to question her alone.She did not want to step away from him, but the cops insisted, and he disappeared.
Hearing his rough, deep voice made her tremble again, but for an entirely different reason.
“I want Harmony to move into the shelter,” Marcus said.
“And not leave until this is all over,” Harmony added.
“You aren’t open to that?”Damien asked.
Harmony scoffed.“No.I have a job.I’m finishing school.I can’t just stop doing that.I need to go in.I need to be able to be in the lab, finishing my research.I’ve worked too long and too hard to walk away from it all when I’m so damn close.”
“What if you stay with me?”Damien offered.
The other man who arrived with Damien snorted.
Damien cut him a look.
“Uh… I… That’s not fair to you,” Harmony said.
“It’s literally what I do for a living.Protecting people,” Damien said.
“I don’t know.”
“If Damien is willing to do this, I would feel a lot better, Harmony.I know you trust him, and I do, too.This is a good option.”Marcus raised his eyebrows at Harmony, giving his approval of the idea.
“This is my partner, Jude Lyons.”Damien pointed to the other man, who waved.“He can stay with us at all times if you want.Between the two of us, you’ll be under constant protection and never alone.Our boss can call your boss and get permission for us to be in the building with you.We’ll stay out of the way when you’re doing research or teaching or whatever you’re doing.My place is secure and has a state-of-the-art security system.Or we can go to a safe house if you would feel more comfortable there.”
“No.I…” Harmony looked between the three men who wanted to keep her safe.She bristled at it.At being told what to do.But she was out of her element.They weren’t trying to take over her life because they were overbearing assholes who thought she couldn’t handle herself.They were trying to protect her because shit was getting real.Two people had been in her building, clearly targeting her, in less than twenty-four hours.Countless people had shown up at her work.She was followed on a date with Damien.
She was in danger.And it was time she started accepting that truth, and the help that was being offered to her.
