Page 45 of The Bodyguard

Andi didn’t answer. She just nodded once. Then leaned into him like she didn’t have another move left. And Mitch knew, as he folded her into his arms, that this wasn’t the end of the game. It was just the opening move.

10

ANDI

She’d never seen Mitch rattled. Not when someone shoved a camera in her face. Not when he took down a stalker like he was swatting a fly. Not even when she’d pushed back against him hard enough to make lesser men walk.

But now, something was off.

He stood at the far end of the loft, the letter in its sealed evidence sleeve propped against the counter, his arms folded, jaw tight. And he hadn’t said a word in almost five minutes.

Andi watched him from the couch, the silence stretching long and sharp between them. She’d pulled on a sweater, grabbed a throw blanket, and even tried to distract herself by skimming through staff messages on her iPad. Nothing stuck. Her focus stayed locked on Mitch and whatever the hell had been in that letter.

She pushed the blanket off her legs and stood. Walked to the kitchen. Stopped just short of touching the envelope.

“Mitch.”

His eyes flicked to hers. Still calm. Still focused. But underneath it—beneath the control she was learning to read like a second language—was something else.

Something cold.

“Whoever sent this knows things they shouldn’t,” he said quietly. “They’re not bluffing.”

“Then let me read it.”

He didn’t answer. Just watched her.

Andi stepped closer and reached for the envelope. When he didn’t stop her, she peeled back the evidence seal and slipped out the paper. It was heavier than it looked. Expensive stock. Minimalistic handwriting. Just like the others. But this one wasn’t vague. It wasn’t about pressure or warnings or subtle intimidation.

It was personal.

You’re protecting the wrong woman.

Cerberus can’t stop what’s coming.

If you stay, you’ll burn with her.

You think this is about her career.

It isn’t.

We’ll take her when we’re ready.

And when we do, you won’t even see it coming.

She scanned the letter once. Then again. Her eyes snagged on the single line:

Cerberus can’t stop what’s coming.

And below that, barely legible, printed at the very bottom:

Southside knows.

Her stomach dropped.

She looked up slowly. “Southside?”

Mitch met her gaze, something flickering behind his eyes before he shut it down.

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