Page 17 of Keeping Her Safe

“Tomorrow? What about…” she begins before I cut her off.

“Nothing else matters. You, me, your brother and Franny. That’s all we need and you know it. If you want to have a ritzy party later, fine, but tomorrow you will be my wife. Say yes.”

“Yes,” she says, shivering.

“You cold?” I ask, taking my suit jacket off and draping it around her shoulders.

“No. So turned on. Do you think we..”

“Phoenix PD! Hands up,” someone shouts, coming into the room. We all do so, but I explain quickly that I am the one who called. After an exhausting three hours, we are finally able to leave.

Norman Sheffield was the man’s name. A quick search told us he used to work in the marketing department of Lipton Industries. He was fired about six months ago for sexually harassing an intern. Stacey did the firing, and that is when he became obsessed with her, according to the sick fuck’s manifesto, which was found on his phone. Detective Locklear assured us the matter was closed. The other two fuckers who kidnapped her were arrested and charged with kidnapping and assault.

Currently, I’ve got Stacey relaxing in a bath back at her place. While the police were interviewing us, I had security at her and her brother’s place updated. I had to be sure that she’d be safe when I brought her back home.

She may think she wants sex right now, but what she really needs is rest. I plied her with enough pancakes that her adrenaline has undoubtedly worn off by now. I help her out of the tub, dry her off, and wait while she puts some silky pajama shorts and a tank top on. She yawns as I help her into bed.

“You're staying with me, right?” she asks, grabbing my shirt.

“Hell yeah, baby. I am just going to grab a shower. I’ll be right back,” I tell her.

“Okay,” she says sleepily.

I take a shower, letting the tension from the day melt away. I could have lost her. I would never have been able to live with myself if I had. I pull some clean boxers on and get into bed next to her where she’s snoring softly.

I gather my whole world into my arms and breathe her in.

Keeping her safe is my only job, and I’ll go to the ends of the earth to do it.

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