I stepped back. “It’s Colton. And promise me, if you ever need anything, you call me.”
She blinked at me, clearly surprised, and I wanted to punch myself that I’d made this woman doubt my sincerity.
“I mean it.”
“Okay,” she said quietly. “Thank you, Colton.” With a flash of gold jewelry, she extended her hand to me. I took it immediately, letting my thumb steal a caress across the back of her hand as I did. Soft. So damn soft.
“Goodbye, Gia,” I said gruffly, dropping her hand and stepping back from her car.
I watched as the sedan backed away, turning to make its way back down to the main street.
And something kept me there, watching long after her taillights disappeared and my feet began to go numb from the cold. Something like regret making my mouth taste bitter.
After checking in with my greenhorn partner, Xander Grady, who was the only son and nephew of the two founders of my workplace, Lock and Key Security, I sat down by the television with two fingers of Scotch and a head full of trash.
I could rush over to meet Xander with our most recent client, but there was no need. They were only a day out from their site and had run into no issues. Instead of stressing about them, I quickly dialed the main line for Lachlan Grady, my long-time best friend and the “‘Lock”‘ in Lock and Key Security.
Lachlan’s phone rang and rang until finally it ticked me over to voicemail.
“Hey, Lock. I’m not sure you’re checking these while you’re on assignment, but I’m back home at the cabin. Sera’s nanny got sick, and I came home to help manage. Don’t worry. Your kid is handling it like a champ. Call me when you can, asshole. I’ve got questions.”
I punched the end button and was just standing to make my way to bed when the phone lit up again. This time with an unknown number.
I answered, assuming it would be Lock. “Took you long enough.”
“What?” The feminine voice on the other end was shaky. “Colton?”
My spine snapped straight. “Gia?”
“Colton, I’m sorry to call, but there’s something or someone…”
“What is it, baby?” I don’t mean for the endearment to pop out. It just did naturally, slipping out of my mouth as I moved back toward the door.
“When I got home, my front door had spray paint all over it, and there’ was a note. It says…”
My second phone was already in my hand, unlocked and ready to dial Lock and Key security or, if necessary, the police.
“What does it say?”
“It says they’ll make me pay.”
“Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. Give me your address. Then you’re going to go back to your car, you’re going to get in, bring the note with you, and come straight back here to the cabin. One of my guys is close by, I’ll have him fall in and follow you back. Don’t stop, and don’t stress. It’ll be one of my people. Do you understand me?”
I could hear her breathing, the crunch of gravel. She was following my directions, which made only the smallestimprovement to my anxiety. “Gia,” I growled. “Don’t make me come and get you, baby. I need to hear you get into the car.”
“I’m in.”
“‘Okay, good. Do you need me to stay on the line with you?”
Silence—only the quick, sharp intakes of her breath sounding down the line.
“Gia, how far away are you?”
I’ was typing into the other phone, talking to one of our office guys, who had already dispatched a local bodyguard.
“I live twenty or so minutes from you.”
I moved through the house, picking up my handgun and tucking it into the back of my jeans before returning to the door.Adrenaline coursed through my veins at the thought of her in danger. And I hadn’t been there.
