Page 2 of Let Me Love You

A stack of photos covers the words. I pick up the pictures and find Summer at daycare, Summer at Cutesy’s Coffee Shop, Summer and me walking from my Jeep and up to the front door.

“Serenity?” Elias’ voice is distant. “The security cameras picked up movement outside your home. Harmony and I are heading over now.”

I don’t reply. Instead I place the pictures down and read the words. You have one week to pay us $50,000. If you don’t, next time, I’ll take the girl.

***

I’m sitting on the couch with a rigid spine and my rifle still in my arms when the front door swings open. My hands instinctively tighten around my gun even though I know my sister has a key to my house. Harmony and Elias rush inside. Her wild eyes search my living room as if a bad guy will pop out at her.

Those bastards are threatening my sweet, innocent child. If only I could bring back my husband just so I could shoot him. I’d gladly go to prison.

Harmony rushes to my side and sinks down on my sofa. “Why do you have murder eyes?”

I motion to the coffee table with my head but keep my grip on the rifle tight. “Look at it.”

She picks the pictures up as if they’ll shatter if she’s too rough and flips through each of them. Her copper eyes widen as she studies the last picture of Summer and me walking up to my condo. “Those fuckers.”

The swear sounds foreign coming from her lips. I’ve always been the one with a sailor’s mouth.

Summer being in danger is all my fault. Maybe if I had paid more attention to our surroundings, I might’ve noticed the suspicious behavior. I don’t even look at my phone when we’re outside. So, how did this slip my notice?

“Can I have a look?” Elias asks, and Harmony hands the pictures over. He used to be a bodyguard, so he may pick up on something we missed. He studies each one for a few minutes. “And you need to pay them fifty grand within a week?”

I nod.

“I might be able to—”

“No,” I say sharply, cutting him off. “You won’t give me any money. I know you’re trying to revamp Cutesy’s.”

“But they’re coming after Summer,” Harmony says as if I don’t already know. “Let us help.”

I shake my head. “Then you two will be in danger again.” After what they both just went through when Harmony was being threatened by her ex-fiancé’s board member, and then her being kidnapped … I can’t do that to them.

“What if you go stay with Sully? I can call him right now.” Elias pulls his phone out of his pocket. “I know he has a good security system set up. And he may act like a grumpy old man, but he’s still more capable than most young bodyguards.”

I open my mouth to protest again but hesitate. It will at least hide Summer the next time they come around. And I’m out of options at this point.

Chapter 2

Victor

Never did I imagine I’d find myself back in Granite Falls, New Hampshire after my ex-fiancée, Harmony, fled from our reality TV wedding and ended up getting back together with her ex-boyfriend.

Talk about baggage.

But now, she’s become one of my best friends, and I’m here for her birthday party. Who am I kidding? She’s one of my only friends, other than my best friend I met in university, Sebastian.

I’d be lying to myself if I denied I had any other ulterior motives for returning to Granite Falls. My mind drifts to Serenity. Thoughts of her fierce green eyes that can cut through even the most hardened businessperson during negotiations make my heart do something strange inside my chest.

“Are you nervous?” my driver, Jay, asks from the front seat, pulling my attention to him. He has worked for me since I became CEO of Barlowe Technology, the company my grandfather founded.

“Why would I be?”

As we turn away from downtown, the street is swallowed up by huge pine trees. No matter which direction I look, I can’t see more than five feet without the line of trees blocking my vision. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to my usual view in the city.

He laughs. “You’re avoiding my questions, so yes, I’d say you are.”

I glare at Jay, but he remains unfazed. He knows me well enough by now to see I’m not mad. I rarely ever am. “I’m not nervous.”