“Look, I don’t date. I haven’t for a very long time.” He blew out a breath.
“And I haven’t had a date in over six months either, but it’s not like I’ve written off ever finding someone, or given up dating.” She shrugged. “Maybe you’ve just gotten picky. Maybe what you used to like isn’t what you want anymore.”
What he wanted was her. Naked and in his bed with his face between her sweet thighs. Jayden’s breathing increased as his body hardened with overwhelming lust.
“That’s not all of it.”
“Then what is it?” She cocked her head, waiting for an answer. For someone who’d been stalked for months she certainly wasn’t scared of him.
“I don’t date because I…” His voice trailed off, the words refusing to come out. A cold sweat popped across his skin as his thoughts turned to that night of torture.
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Jayden. You don’t owe me anything.” Haley stepped around him.
He stood there for a second, trying to shove the memories away and lock them down.
He shook his head and followed after her. He caught up to her as he stood at the hood of the Mustang.
“Look, I…” The words trailed off as he met her pale face and wide eyes.
Jayden followed Haley’s frozen stare. On the windshield stuck under the wiper was an envelope with Haley’s name sprawled across the top.
“Shit.” He dropped the bags and reached in his boot for the concealed gun he always carried. He sandwiched Haley between him and the pickup truck parked next to him.
“Get down.” Jayden searched the parking lot, hoping to catch a glance of the stalker. He only spotted one elderly couple getting out of the car and heading inside.
Squatting down in front of her, he met her scared gaze and caressed her cheek. “Are you okay?”
She looked from him to his hand. “You have a gun.”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t tell me you had a gun.” She trembled as her eyes widened.
“You didn’t ask.” He quickly checked his car, making sure it was safe from explosives before unlocking the door. If someone had tried to set an explosive or tried to place a tracking device on the Mustang, the car would have alerted him via his phone. It was one of the many perks for working with Barrett and his Guardians. They always had the latest technology, far beyond what the public had access to.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” He helped Haley into the front seat and buckled her in before going to his side.
“Don’t forget your bags,” she murmured as he opened the car door.
Jayden growled. He didn’t give two shits about the clothes but thought it was better not to argue with her. He was just relieved she wasn’t in shock. For a second he thought she was going to pass out on him.
After shoving the bags in the backseat and swiping the envelope off the windshield, he got in and peeled out of the parking lot. He turned on the street headed out of town.
“Where are we going?’
“We are going the long way home. Just to make sure we are not being followed.” He cast a glance at her.
She nodded and clenched her purse like a shield to her chest. Her gaze was glued to the envelope sitting on the console. She angled her body away from the offending paper, scared to even touch it
“You’re safe. I’m not going to let him get you.” Jayden put the envelope on the backseat and out of her line of sight. He reached for her hand. Her cold fingers tightened around his.
He would protect her no matter what.
“I know, Jayden.” She met his gaze, humbling him with her utter trust in him.
This time he wouldn’t let her down.
This time he would kill before he would let harm come to her.
#
“He left the note on my fucking car, Barrett.” Jayden glared across the back deck of the house as he fought to keep his wolf side under control. Anger surged through his veins and he wanted nothing more than to shift so he could run all this hatred off.
“How’s Haley?” Barrett asked.
“She’s shook up. She wanted to know what the envelope said. I think she’s pretty pissed that I wouldn’t let her read it.” Jayden forked his fingers through his hair. “She’s in bed now, asleep.”
“Good call. She doesn’t need to know what it says. All it does is feed the stalker’s ego and his need for attention.” Jayden could hear the tap of Barrett’s fingertips on his keyboard. “What did the note say?”
Jayden growled as he recited the vile words. “I’m coming for you, Haley. I’m coming to take you to our perfect paradise where no one can find us. I’m going to tie you up and fuck you until you scream my name.” That’s not all. Put some gloves on before you open the envelope.”
“I doubt he’ll leave finger prints.”