Page 52 of Let Me Protect You

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After John came to pick up Spot and Rex, Elias and I arrive at Blooming Hotel, three towns over, an hour later. What I don’t expect is a scowling Victor waiting inside.

I glance around the well-lit lobby, but no one pays us any attention. An elderly couple is sitting on a love seat, watching the news on the large TV. A family of five is at the counter checking in while the small children toddle around the area. A plethora of people walk in and out of the automatic doors.

I march over to Victor and hiss, “What are you doing here?”

His normally light blue eyes seem to darken a shade. “Why didn’t you tell me someone is threatening you because of me?”

I look away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to give you guilt on top of having to clean up after I left you at the altar.”

I peek up at him, and his face softens. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s never been the type to get mad, and I’m so thankful for that.

“All of that doesn’t matter now.” He waves his hand as if saying goodbye to our past. “I’m not mad at you, but this is something I need to know.” His tone is soft and gentle but firm at the same time. “You’re in this position because of me. I want to help you.”

“I just hoped that if I left and had nothing to do with you, it would go away.”

“Harmony!” A familiar high-pitched voice echoes through the mostly empty lobby. “Elias told me what was happening, and Patrick convinced me that I had to come.”

I turn to Elias. “Why did you tell her?”

Instead of him responding, Abigail interrupts. “I might have threatened his treasured man parts if he didn’t tell me why you couldn’t come in to work for a week, and then I had to threaten his precious coffee machines if he didn’t tell me where you were staying.”

I rub my forehead where it pulses. “You are too much. All you had to do was text me, not threaten Elias.”

Taking in Abigail, who’s normally perfectly styled hair is messed up and she looks like she only put on half of her makeup. I can’t imagine how she feels. We finally reconnect, and I have all this drama and threat circling me.

Someone beside her grabs my attention. He looks familiar, but I can’t quite place him. “Is he with you?”

“Oh, this is Patrick. You met him at the club.”

He reaches out a hand for me to shake, and I comply. “I’m sorry. Some things are still really blurry, and others I don’t remember at all. Nice to meet you, Patrick.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” His hold on my hand lingers a few seconds longer than comfortable. Then he finally pulls back and wraps an arm around Abigail’s shoulders. “Sorry for intruding. Abby and I were about to go to the movies when someone called. I didn’t want her to fret the entire time, so I suggested we come.”

Turning back to Abigail, I say, “You two can go enjoy your movie. I’m going to stay here where it’s safe until everything goes back to normal.”

“I brought you a few supplies for your hideout.” She holds up a backpack stuffed so full it looks like it’s about to explode.

“We can help you carry it up so you don’t have too much,” Patrick suggests with a smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes.

“Uh, sure.” Then I turn to Abby. “Thank you for thinking of me.”

“It’s no problem.” She looks between Victor, me, and Elias and says, “We’ll wait for you by the elevator. When you’re done, come find us.”

Once the two of them walk off, I turn back to Victor. “Please go back to New York.”

“I will when I know you’re safe.”

“You can go, and the bodyguard can stay. You have a company to run.”

Victor reaches out to touch me, but a growl makes him back away. We both turn to Elias who has the most serious look on his face that I’ve ever seen. Is this like marking his territory because if it is … he’ll have hell to pay later.

Elias shifts so that he’s partially in front of me. “What if someone is here watching? If you touch her, it will look bad.”

Good cover. Jealousy was never attractive to me, but for some reason, right now, it makes liquid heat pool in my stomach. Get ahold of yourself before the men notice, I scold myself.

Victor nods, pulling my attention back to him. “I’ll go stay at another hotel nearby, but I already paid for your room.” When I open my mouth to argue, he holds up a hand. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t need to get a hotel room. Please, just accept it.”