Page 61 of Protect Me
The world felt distant with Vikram close and safety tangible. The slipping of my rules made me feel like nothing was concrete anymore, and I couldn’t form an opinion either way.
“I think I’m handling it all right?” I shrugged. “Honestly, I’m . . . not sure.”
Kinoshi leaned forward, a pen in his hands that he tapped on a pad of paper. “With any luck, once this is delivered to Timothy as well, he’ll get tired of trying to avoid you and just move away. If either of you leave, it should be him, not you. It’s a small town. He owes it to you.”
A hesitant smile followed. “Thanks. Seems like too much to ask for.”
“I have . . .” he paused, as if deciding something. A little shake of his head came next. “I thought I heard word that he might be . . . spoken of in not-so-great circles around here and Jackson City. There’s a possibility he’s making trouble. A few rumors of drugs, maybe some stealing. It’s all through other cases and idle gossip in town. I work frequently with the county officers and sometimes get updates. People have reported seeing him near their garages at night after clear evidence of tampering, a few other things. Just . . . be careful?”
My gut clenched.
“Of course.”
Kinoshi held up two hands. “It may be nothing and there’s no proof against him, but getting out of prison is a desperate thing. It’s not an easy world to come out of, and we don’t have a lot of programs to assist people back to productive lives in the community. I’ve seen released inmates wallow in real life and eventually return to prison for good. While we never want that, we also don’t want your safety to be compromised. At the hearing, Timothy struck me as a bitter man who didn’t see his own guilt. I’d hate for that to come back on you.”
The reminder cooled some of my newfound gusto for life, but I appreciated the grounding. My happy life with Vikram had lulled me into a more secure place. One where I didn’t need so many rules, where my safety wasn’t solely my own concern. For the first time in weeks, I questioned whether any of that was real.
With Timothy at large, I had no way of knowing what he’d do in a desperate situation. Vikram couldn’t stay near me forever. Eventually, I’d have to protect myself.
But that time wasn’t yet.
I pulled myself out of the instant floundering with a little breath.
Kinoshi nodded to the folder. “Take it and stay in touch. I’m here if you ever need anything, all right?”
He stood, and I followed suit. “Thanks, Kinoshi.”
“Anytime.”
Sunshine warmed my shoulders as I stepped out of his office and headed down the street. Kinoshi wasn’t far from the Frolicking Moose, where my shift would start any moment now. The brief walk down the road gave my thoughts a chance to settle. I hugged the folder close to my chest and tried not to be too conspicuous as I surveyed the street.
The burning question wouldn’t be ignored, however.
When should I tell Vik?
When I arrived, Dahlia and Bastian sat together in his usual booth. He kept an arm curled protectively around her waist as he nodded to me.
“Shop is all yours!” Dahlia cried, with a bright smile. She tossed me her apron, which I caught. “Bastian is taking me on a date.”
“Go have fun, love birds.”
Leslie stood behind the counter, fulfilling a to-go order that pulled into the drive-thru. She waved as I set the folder on Leslie’s work table, grabbed an apron, and tied it around my waist. Customers shuffled into the store. I greeted them and stepped behind the counter, grateful to fall into familiar routines while my thoughts whirled around Timothy.
The hours eased by in small talk with Leslie. Her youngest son stopped in, and they took off to go shopping in Jackson City, leaving the shop to me. My conversation with Kinoshi left me on edge. Though I tried to loosen up, I couldn’t stop surveying the street every ten seconds.
“I’m safe,” I murmured, thumb to my palm. “I’m safe.”
Despite no evidence to the contrary, Kinoshi’s warning looped through my mind like a newsreel.
A few rumors of drugs. A bitter man who didn’t see his own guilt.The words conjured memories of the trial. Short, yet awful. My disbelief over Timothy’s surprise couldn’t be denied, though the rape kit made reality irrefutable. I grabbed the folder, gazing over the restraining order in a quiet moment. When another customer stepped inside, I set the folder down and attempted to stuff the implications away for later.
Not ever, if I could help it.
A few minutes later, a jingle on the door caught my attention. My head snapped up, breath caught, until my gaze landed on a jaw sharp enough to cut rock and a charming grin. Vikram pulled the aviators off his eyes. A white shirt stretched over thick shoulders and made my stomach catch.
He stepped closer, tousled hair tied hastily out of his face.
“Hey, lady.”
