The Bodyguard: A BWWM Bad Body Romance(53)

It had only been four days. It wasn’t like Hank had never been away for longer than four days. Once he’d been gone for almost a three week stretch and Juliet had been certain she’d pull her hair out with worry. In Solomon’s eyes, the untrustworthy were the worst offenders. If, by some chance, they found Hank out, she didn’t want to think about what they’d do to him.

And how much closer it would bring them to finding her.

If there was one thing Simmons insisted, it was that Hank knew how to do his job. While he had come back injured before, he always came back. When it came to saving his own ass, Hank was one of the best in the business.

Or so he said.

Somehow, that didn’t make her feel any better, but there was little she could do about it. Other than her walks around the woods surrounding the cabin, Juliet was restricted from going very far. While Hank tended to be more laid back about her wandering - he had his own way of keeping her nearby - Crowley and Bosh watched her like hawks - even insisting that she keep the door to her room open at all times.

Juliet supposed that’s what she got for siding with Hank against Crowley, but it was a small price to pay, really.

Just as long as Hank came back.

Without her privacy, she was left with an inordinate amount of free time alone with her thoughts, and Juliet did her best not to speculate. According to Simmons, this would be the first of what they hoped would be three final infiltrations. If everything went well, at the end of the third, they’d come back with Solomon in hand.

But Juliet was far from believing it was that simple. She knew there were far more factors involved in her ex’s capture than Hank’s skill alone. Now that Caesar was after his son, it was completely possible that he’d swoop in to fuck things up and take advantage of his son’s capture - or that he’d get to Solomon before the authorities did. Atop that, there was an army of muscle surrounding Solomon and any failed attempt would almost certainly mean capture.

It was enough to make her palms sweat with nervousness.

For the first time since she’d been put in the safehouse, she was overcome with the desire to leave it. To escape. All Juliet wanted was somewhere to go where she could be alone with her thoughts. Even if only for a few minutes.

When Bosh came to offer her dinner, Juliet merely waved him off. She had a hard time keeping her appetite up under the current circumstances. That, and she didn’t fancy the idea of eating across from an antagonistic Crowley. She’d be torn between throwing her drink in the man’s face and laughing at the swathe of bandages that graced his cheek. It really wasn’t that funny, but Juliet got a little tickle of pride when she remembered Hank slugging Crowley for something he himself had done on several occasions.

And her heart swelled when she remembered how he’d reacted to her song.

Juliet couldn’t remember the last time someone earnestly told her she had potential. Ultimately, Solomon and his family just told her to shut up and know her place most of the time. Her singing was for their glorification, not her own. Her voice was just another cage that they kept her in...until she sang her song for Hank.

He looked at her like he’d never seen her before. Like he’d transcended earth completely and was somewhere he’d happily remain for the rest of her life. And she’d caused that. She forgot what it was like to illicit that response from people.

And Hank had given it back to her.

If Juliet were honest with herself, Hank had given her a lot of things. Things she might never have imagined he had in him. The man was brusque and rough. He was terrible at conversation and even worse when it came to talking about himself. But, somehow, Juliet had come to understand exactly what he wanted to say - and that beneath all those tough layers, the man was really a huge softie.

She only hoped that she’d get to tell him that someday.

With a groan, Juliet drew her hands over her face. She really needed to get out of here. Even if it was only just outside the forest she was so used to meandering through. Maybe a change of scenery would give her some perspective on things.

Another thirty minutes or so passed before Juliet couldn’t take it anymore. It took another five to come up with what she thought with a suitable excuse and then a few more to bring herself to face Crowley.

“I want to buy some chocolate.”

When she announced her intentions to the men in the living room, both Bosh and Crowley looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.

“Chocolate.” The taller man deadpanned, his expression incredulous. “You want candy. Right now.”

“Talk to Simmons. He’ll get you some in the next shipment.” Crowley didn’t even look at her as he spoke. He was far too absorbed in what appeared to be a wrestling match. Juliet wondered if he knew that the vast majority of that crap was fake.

She had guessed, however, she’d get some pushback, but Juliet was prepared. “I’m on my period. Can’t you have a little mercy?” She’d never be able to understand why so many men seemed allergic to the idea of a cycle, but she was grateful that she’d always been able to use a perfectly normal bodily function to her advantage.

True to form, both Crowley and Bosh winced. Juliet decided to milk them a little more. “I’m bloated as hell, cramping like crazy...all I want is a chocolate bar. Please? I’ll leave you guys alone right after, I swear.”

Bosh was the first to fold. Frowning, he shot her a hesitant glance before speaking. “I can go and get it for you. It’ll be a minute, but I’ll be back.”