Page 11 of Broken Bodyguard

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“As okay as it can be, considering your unhinged brother.” We tried to make it a joke that she was related to him, but the soft sigh told me the joke hadn’t landed like it normally did.

“I was worried about that. Is Trojan there with you?”

“He is. He intercepted Jericho and Caleb and two of their friends in the parking lot outside the restaurant. They brought a baseball bat and Troy took a couple blows. But he scared them off and now we’re heading out of town.”

“Oh my God. You were right about the unhinged part. Where are you guys heading?”

“I don’t know yet. It’s some place Troy suggested.” I nibbled on my lip as I assessed the quick suitcase I’d thrown together. “Am I crazy to go with him? We’re going to pick up Grace once I get everything packed.”

“Honestly? No. I’d trust that man with my life. He and Seven are the smartest, most trustworthy men I’ve ever met.” Mercedes added off to the side, “Of course except foryou, Bear. I’m talking to Maddie about bodyguards.”

I laughed softly. “Tell him not to worry, we all know he’s your number one.”

“Now that I’m pregnant he’s extra territorial,” she said with a little giggle.

“Believe me, I noticed.” I zipped my suitcase, cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder. “Well, as long as you don’t think I’m crazy for running off into the night with a man like Troy, then I think that’s what I’m about to do.”

“That man helped save Trace and his brothers from prison time. Trust me when I say: you have the green light, fromallof us here in New York.”

I hung up the phone and pocketed it, feeling a particular sort of sadness. Part of me wanted to be back in New York too. But it just didn’t seem possible. My entire life was in Kentucky. What reason would I have for moving to New York that made any ounce of sense?

Maybe just because you want to.

I pushed the thoughts away, checking the bedroom one final time to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything important for Grace or myself. As soon as I stepped out the front door, Troy practically tumbled out of the car to relieve me from the hassle of the suitcase.

“I’ll take this,” he said, easily plucking it from me.

I thanked him and slipped into the passenger side of the Jeep, thinking about our next steps when I realized something important: we didn’t have Grace’s booster seat. It was still in my car at the restaurant. Once Troy was back in the driver’s seat, I told him, “I made a major mistake. I forgot to grab Grace’s booster, and we need it for her to ride in the car. Can we go back?”

My insides clenched waiting for his response. All I could hear was Jericho’s voice in my head:what a fucking waste of time! Why didn’t you think of this before? You couldn’t have told me before?

Instead of echoing what I heard in my head, Troy just nodded.

“Of course. That’s easy.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Such simple words that dissolved my anxiety. Did he realize how helpful he was?

I looked over at him, watching the shadows shift across his face as we drove through traffic. “Thanks, Troy.” Thanks wasn’t strong enough of a word, but I wasn’t sure how to convey to him just how grateful I was.

He cast me an easy grin. “It’s my pleasure, Maddie.”

The drive back to the restaurant was unnaturally quick, likely due to all the thoughts careening through my head. When we pulled into the parking lot, he swore under his breath as he slowed to a stop behind my car.

“That fucker,” he muttered.

“What?”

“Look at your tires.”

I connected the dots as he was saying the words. My car sat lower than normal, thanks to the four slashed tires it now sported. I covered my mouth as I stared out the window.

“He’s never gone this far before,” I whispered.

“Even more reason for you and Grace to not to be anywhere he might be able to find you.” He sighed heavily, putting the car into park. “Is the booster in the back seat? I’ll go grab it, just unlock the door for me.”

“I can get it—”

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