Page 22 of Unguarded

“Don’t move.” The command in Cash’s voice is both terrifying and calming in my ear.

I remain frozen, unable to instruct my limbs to shift. He approaches the bed, leaning down to inspect it. I turn away, refusing to watch.

“What do they say?” I ask in a hoarse whisper.

He doesn’t answer immediately. I shut my eyes, feeling the tears start to pool.

His voice is clear and even as he reads it.

My perfect little kitten.

I let out a sob, clutching my throat. My legs grow weak. I see Cash take his phone out to snap a picture of the bed before he turns around right when my vision blurs and my body collapses.

My poundinghead is the first thing I notice when I wake up.The second thing is the scent of cedar and leather. I inhale, wondering where the delicious smell is coming from.

Then, I remember.

Up close and personal creepy pictures on your bed.

Obvious, terrifying threat on your life.

I suck in a ragged breath before opening my eyes. A faded memory from my childhood leaks into my mind. I had a fluffy little pet kitten when I was around eight. Her name was Lemon. I loved her so, so much. She was a stray who wandered up to our back porch. I poured her the last of the milk, and my mom yelled at me because it was all we had left for the week. A month later, Lemon got run over by my mom’s boyfriend. A sob escapes me as a tear streams out of the corner of my eye.

I suddenly ache for my mom. Our relationship is complicated, at best. She prefers to keep her life separate from mine. She’s never liked battling her daughter for attention. Our relationship has only crumbled more as my career has soared and I’ve gained more fame and notoriety.

Maybe it’s time I got a pet. Maybe I need the companionship.

I travel so much that I’ve never gotten one, but I’m realizing now that it’s more than that. Maybe there’s some trauma I’ve buried deep down that’s made me fearful of owning and loving an animal again. Eventually, they’d leave me too. A deep, gaping hole of loneliness nearly swallows me.

The lamp beside the bed is on. I look around, recognizing the hotel decor, but not the room.

The bodyguard’s room.

I slowly sit up, spying the cowboy boots on the floor and the Stetson on the TV console.

Voices outside of the room begin to rise. I swing my legs over the side of the bed just as the door opens slowly.

Cash is standing there, a storm raging in his green eyes. His gaze flickers for a moment as his jaw tics. He’s wearing the same soft-looking black T-shirt and black Wrangler jeans he had on earlier today.

Even he’s only here protecting me because I bribed him with an obscene amount of money.

His eyes sweep over me before he speaks. “You didn’t fall. I was able to catch you. You’ve only been out for about ten minutes.”

I blink at him, my limbs feeling heavy. Before I open my mouth to speak, Ember and Fidel rush into the room, frantic and wide-eyed.

Ember’s high-pitched voice races to speak. “The hotel staff claims they have no security footage to even review. The elevator cameras somehow malfunctioned.” She pauses and lowers her voice before adding, “They’re changing out all the bedding right now. Are you okay?”

Fidel’s face is grim, his mouth in a thin line. His phone is pressed to his ear. My stomach churns with nausea, and I catch my eyes roaming Cash’s face. He’s unreadable, but his eyes never leave Fidel’s face.

I swallow over the lump in my throat. “So, it could’ve been anyone?” My voice is hoarse as I focus my eyes on my manager.

Fidel nods. “We’ve determined that increasing securitytomorrow night is non negotiable. But you have the final say in whether or not we involve the local police.”

I suddenly feel like a small child. I have no idea what to say or do, and I just want to curl up into a ball and let someone else make these calls for me. I inhale a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I count to three and slowly blow it out. Canceling tomorrow’s show isn’t an option. I know that, even if my stalker has clearly followed me halfway across the world.

I finally open my mouth to answer, but Cash beats me to it.

“The first thing we need to do is secure Miss Blue. This location has been compromised.”

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