Page 14 of Fierce Hope
“I’ll come down,” she managed, already standing. Her legs felt unsteady as she smoothed her pencil skirt, checked her reflection one more time in the window. The woman staring back looked caught between fight and flight.
The elevator ride to the lobby felt endless. Her mind raced through possibilities. Had someone seen her researching her past? Had she tripped a surveillance algorithm? Had?—
The doors opened, and there he was.
Deke’s broad shoulders and tactical-casual attire stood out among the suits and ties populating the lobby. He turned at the sound of the elevator. His expression made her pulse skip. Concern. Determination. And something else she couldn’t quite name.
“Mr. Williams.” She kept her voice steady, professional. “This is unexpected.”
His dark eyes tracked over her face, missing nothing. “Got a minute?”
Becca and Lindsay pretended not to watch them. Several other employees lingered nearby, poorly disguising their interest in the former SEAL’s presence.
“Of course.” Jade gestured toward a small conference room off the lobby. “This way.”
She felt his presence behind her like a physical weight as she led him to the room. The space was meant for client meetings—all glass walls and modern furnishings. Not ideal for whatever conversation was about to happen.
Deke closed the door behind them, and suddenly the room felt too small, too exposed. He didn’t sit. Neither did she.
“I heard about last night,” he said quietly.
Three words. That’s all it took for her carefully constructed composure to crack.
“What?” She fought to keep her voice level.
“The police call to your condo.” His jaw tightened. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”
Jade’s mind raced. Of course he’d found out. He probably had contacts throughout local law enforcement. She forced her shoulders to relax, aiming for casual dismissal.
“It was nothing. Mrs. Leland next door thought she heard something. She tends to be ... overcautious.”
“Overcautious enough to call 911?” His voice remained quiet, but intensity radiated from him like heat. “Come on, Jade. What’s really happening?”
She shifted, too aware of the glass walls, of curious glances from passing coworkers. “Really, it’s fine. Everything’s fine.”
“That why you look like you haven’t slept? Why you’re jumping at shadows?”
Her pulse spiked. Was she that transparent? “I appreciate your concern, but?—”
“My team can help.” He stepped closer, voice dropping. “Whatever’s going on, whoever’s bothering you—we can handle it. Quietly.”
Part of her wanted to accept, to let someone else carry this weight. To feel safe. But the rest of her knew better. Knight Tactical meant investigations. Background checks. Questions she couldn’t answer.
“Thank you,” she said carefully. “But it’s probably just a disgruntled client. Corporate accounting isn’t always exciting, but sometimes people get upset about their tax bills.” The lie tasted bitter, but she pushed on. “I’m handling it.”
Deke’s jaw clenched. She watched the muscle tick there, watched him wrestle with frustration. “You shouldn’t have to handle it alone.”
“I’m not alone.” Another lie. “I have good neighbors, security cameras. The police are aware now.”
He shifted closer, and suddenly she could smell his aftershave, something clean and masculine that made her pulse skip for entirely different reasons. His hand came up, touching her arm with surprising gentleness.
“Let me help,” he said softly. “Please.”
The warmth of his touch burned through her sleeve. She stepped back carefully, maintaining her professional smile even as something in her chest ached.
“I’m okay,” she insisted. “Really.”
He studied her for a long moment, and she felt stripped bare under that gaze. As if he could see straight through her carefully constructed facade to the terrified girl underneath. Finally, he exhaled sharply.
