Fever (Breathless #2)(38)

“You look like professional wrestlers,” she blurted. Then she felt like a complete moron and she dropped her gaze to stare at her and Jace’s linked hands.

Kaden chuckled, forcing her to look back up. He had a really good laugh. Not at all mean sounding. It was soft and vibrated over her ears. It was . . . nice.

“It helps in my line of work, ma’am.”

“Oh yeah,” she muttered.

Jace squeezed her hand and then directed his attention toward her security team. She felt ridiculous calling them that. The whole thing seemed so utterly bizarre that she couldn’t wrap her head around it.

He glanced back at Bethany, his eyes serious. “Kaden and Trevor will accompany you everywhere when I’m not with you. They’ll shadow your every move—and I do mean every move. When you’re here, they’ll be here. If you go out, they go with you.”

Her eyes widened. “But why? I don’t get it. Jace, this is crazy. I’m nobody. Nobody cares about me. I have nothing, so no one has any investment in me. There’s nothing to gain by kidnapping me or God knows what else you’re thinking.”

Jace sighed. “Do you forget that a day ago those bastards had you on the ground? That they kicked you and threatened you? They gave you a week to respond. What do you think’s going to happen when that week comes and goes, Bethany? Think they’re just going to forget about you because they suddenly can’t find you where you usually hang? I’m going to make sure they don’t get anywhere near you and part of doing that means Kaden and Trevor here are going to stick to you when I can’t be with you. Which means that you go nowhere without them. You understand?”

“You really think they’ll find me here?” she whispered.

“Let’s just say I’m not taking any chances.”

Kaden cleared his throat. “Ma’am,” he said politely. “Men like that don’t give up easily. They have a point to prove. If they don’t make those points, they lose street cred. If it’s perceived they wimped out on collecting a debt, it means more people will decide not to pay up. They operate on fear and intimidation. If people cease to fear them, then they are rendered ineffective and they go out of business. They aren’t going to let that happen, so yes, they will make the effort to come after you. Trevor and I are going to make sure they don’t succeed.”

Her mouth formed a silent O and she stared wide-eyed at Jace.

“You understand now?” Jace asked quietly.

She nodded but she was still reeling from all the sudden changes in her life.

Jace’s driver brought in a small bag and handed it to Jace. It wasn’t one she recognized, though there’d been so many that she lost track of them hours ago.

Jace pulled out a box, opening it to reveal a brand-new cell phone. He popped the battery in, powered it up and then fiddled with it for several long minutes. Then he pulled out his cell and punched buttons before finally tossing the phone toward Kaden.

“Program your numbers into her phone. I want her to have you on speed dial in case anything ever goes wrong.”

Bethany’s eyebrows drew together as Kaden and then Trevor rapidly punched buttons before returning the phone to Jace. Then Jace handed her the phone.

“I programmed my number in. It’s number one on speed dial. Kaden is number two and Trevor is number three. My office number is four and my apartment is number five. Carry this phone on you at all times, and if you don’t want me freaking out thinking you’re in an alley dead somewhere, then you better damn well answer when I call. Got it?”

Numbly, she nodded. Holy shit but her head was spinning in circles. She could barely breathe and her head was starting to ache horribly. Fairy tales didn’t happen for girls like her and yet she’d walked right into the middle of one. But this one wasn’t destined for a happily-ever-after. That only happened in fiction. She was too well acquainted with the way things worked in real life. Real life sucked. But it was real. It was unapologetic. It made no excuses. It just was.

Jace leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ve got to run into the office. I have a meeting I can’t miss, but I won’t be gone long. Kaden and Trevor will stay with you until I get back. Groceries will be delivered soon as well. Make sure one of them answers the door and you stay out of sight until they give you the all-clear. And whatever you do, listen to whatever they tell you. Their job is to keep you safe. Make it as easy for them as possible by cooperating. Okay?”

“Okay,” she murmured.

“If you need anything, call me. I’ll have my cell on me even during my meeting.”

She nodded mechanically.

He kissed her again. “We’ll go out for dinner. Wear one of your new outfits and be sure to bring your damn coat. It’s supposed to snow tonight. Then we’ll spend the night here so you can get acquainted with your new apartment.”

She marveled at how arrogantly he assumed he would be staying with her. She also marveled at the fact that she didn’t correct him. Didn’t offer argument. And she marveled at the relief that surged through her blood when she knew she wouldn’t be alone.

Lost. Already she was lost in him. So completely immersed that she wasn’t sure she’d ever find her way out again. When he decided to walk away, it would break her in a way nothing else ever had. Her life. Her addiction. Her f**k-ups.