Truth be told, this project gave her a purpose and a place to go every day. With all the strange things going on, The Link had become a safe haven for her as much as the kids.
“I’m grateful that you’ve let me run this event my own way. I’m hoping it will pay off.” She chuckled. “And if it doesn’t, I’ll beg for forgiveness.”
Chantal laughed. “I’m sure it will be spectacular.” She held up the pile of letters she’d walked in with. “Here, this came for you today.” She pulled out one of the bigger manilla envelopes and handed it to Vanessa.
Her name was neatly printed on the front, with The Link’s address below.
“Thanks,” she murmured, a warning chill snakingthrough her body as she took the envelope, immediately recognizing the familiar handwriting.
“If I don’t see you before the show on Saturday, let me say now, break a leg!” With a cheery wave, Chantal left the gym.
Vanessa was alone in the eerie silence as she tore open the envelope. The contents confirmed her fears, and a cold dread filled her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The air always shifted when Vanessa was scared. It cooled and thinned, becoming fragile like glass. Jordan was so attuned to it now that he dropped whatever he was doing and zeroed right in.
Across the gym, she had her back to him, head lowered as she stared at something in her hands, too still, too rigid. He was at her side in a few strides.
The blown-up photos were black and white. The camera must have been professional quality because the shots were taken from a fair distance, at different full-length angles, and all crystal clear. They were beautiful, candid, and…completely invasive.
“These are from h-here?” Her voice was a choked whisper, her hands trembling as she rifled through the photos.
Shots of Vanessa getting out of Anderson’s SUV, walking to The Link’s front doors. Another frame of her entering the building.
“They’re from yesterday. When I arrived to work on the stage.” She crushed the photos to her chest and turned to him, her wide brown eyes shimmering with fear andunshed tears. “He followed me here. He was h-here.” Her voice cracked as the first tears spilled.
Jordan tugged her close and held her. Fury coiled in his gut, a ferocious beast screaming to be let loose. She didn’t need to see or deal with his anger, so he tucked her in, shielding her the only way he knew how.
This fucker was too close. Too fucking close and getting closer. Whoever this was, whatever their motives, they were getting more desperate by following her to work. His anger morphed into a cold, clawing dread. This motherfucker knew her schedule. Did he have his sights on her every move?
This was his fault. He knew she’d been threatened, but he hadn’t kept a close enough eye on her. While a fucking stalker followed her, he’d been going about his day. If someone had hurt her, if they’d done more than take pictures?—
Never again. Fuckingneverwould he leave her unprotected. He would move heaven and earth before letting any harm come to her. His mind raced, formulating plans and contingencies, everything he needed to put in place to keep her safe.
“I feel sick,” she murmured against his t-shirt.
When he shifted, trying to assess her face so he could reassure himself she’d be alright, she clung to him tighter, burying her face in the fabric. Seeing her cry drove him crazy, but it also spurred him on. When he found whoever was doing this to her, they would pay.
“Come on. Let’s get you home,” he murmured, carefully taking the envelope and putting the photos inside it. Her fingers were icy against his, and without thinking, he wrapped his hand around them, keeping a firm hold as he grabbed their things and locked up the gym.
“Should I call Anderson?” Vanessa asked, her voice barely above a whisper, still clinging to him as they made their way along the hall.
“Yes. Tell him there’s a change of plans. We’re walking.”
She stopped in her tracks, her pupils flaring. “What do you mean, walking? We can’t walk! What if he’s out there? What if?—?”
“Look at me, Vanessa.” He kept his tone firm, pulling her gaze to his. “Nothing will happen to you as long as you’re with me, I promise. If this person is out there, I want him to see that you’re not alone. You’re protected.” He couldn’t resist brushing a strand of hair from her face. “It’s a twenty-minute walk over the bridge. I think we could both use the fresh air. You’ll be with me the whole time.”
She studied him, her expression cautious as she weighed his words. “Okay,” she whispered, but the trust was unmistakable, and he wasn’t taking that for granted .
Tugging on his beanie, he looked her up and down. “Are you going to be warm enough?”
She nodded. “This is a down jacket, and I have gloves. I’ll put them on if I get cold.” She squeezed his hand.
He stared at their intertwined fingers. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d held a woman’s hand. It might have been never, since he didn’t do relationships, but her hand in his was natural, easy. He might have even fuckinglikedit, and he couldn’t afford to. Not with everything going on.
After locking up The Link, they walked in silence for a while. Thankfully, there was no breeze, so the air wasn’t as cold as it could’ve been. Plenty of people were out and about, shops and restaurants open, cars passing by, but Vanessa glanced over her shoulder every few minutes.
