She swallowed as her gaze hardened. “I don’t trust you.”
James furrowed his brow. “That’s okay. You don’t have to.” He held her gaze.
She closed her eyes for a second and then nodded. “I hope I don’t regret this.”
“It’s just a ride to the airport,” James said.
She sighed and shook her head. “With Juan, it’s never just a ride to the airport,” she said as she turned away from him.
Realizing that they were done talking, James glanced over at her one more time before he cleared his throat and forced down his emotions. He made his way over to the elevator only to hear Olivia call out his name. Not wanting to talk to her again, he just waved his hand in her direction. He needed to change and get out of here while he still had a semblance of control. He had a feeling that once he was back in Layla’s presence, things were going to change for him whether he liked it or not.
Chapter Two
What was she doing? Was she crazy?
Layla stared down at her purse that was stashed in the far locker of her the studio. She felt confused and worried as her mind kept going back to James and his sudden appearance. Why had she told this stranger that she would go with him?
For so long, she’d tried to shield herself from Juan and his mess. She was trying to move on, but agreeing to go with James was not accomplishing that goal.
“Everything okay?” her business partner, Olivia, asked.
Layla turned and shrugged, forcing down all the emotions that had bubbled up inside of her. She needed to keep a level head. Olivia was great, but she was cutthroat. Any indication that Layla was a mess and she’d take it straight to the owners of Dragon Designs. And the position that she’d worked so hard to create was not something Layla was willing to give up.
She patted her cheeks and smiled at Olivia. “I’m fine. Just excited and a tad exhausted.”
Olivia stared at her through her glasses. “Does this have anything to do with that sexy meat slab who’s trying to pass himself off as a model?”
Layla’s gaze flicked over to the elevator. “No. Everything is fine.”
Olivia narrowed her gaze as she stepped threateningly toward Layla. “I swear, if this has something to do with that no-good ex-fiancé of yours, you’re done. The last time that guy came around…” Olivia let out a low whistle.
Layla shook her head as she mustered her courage and faced Olivia with what she hoped was the same amount of ferocity. “Leave my personal life out of this. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.” Then she swallowed, knowing that what she was about to say could ruin her chances of a fulltime designing gig. “I have to leave town for a few days…my aunt died.”
Olivia raised her eyebrows. “Your aunt?”
Layla nodded. “Yes. And since I haven’t taken a vacation in years and I covered for you when your grandma died, I figured you could give me the same curtesy.” She hated that she was calling in this favor—one she’d been hoping to use when she had the baby. But it felt prudent to leave her job in good standing.
Olivia’s pencil-thin eyebrows rose as she studied Layla for a moment. “Fine. But if I get a whiff of any indecent behavior, I take this straight up the ladder.”
“I understand,” Layla said just as her phone chimed. Olivia glanced at the phone and then nodded her head as she turned her attention to Serge, the photographer. He was complaining about something.
Layla tuned them out. She pulled her phone out and glanced down. It was a text from Juan. Her stomach sank as she swiped her phone on and read his text.
Juan: I know things are bad between us. But you have to go. James is good. He’ll protect you.
An all-too-familiar lump formed in her throat as she read his words. It was one of frustration and sadness. Sadness that her life had come to this. Sadness that she was allowing herself to get mixed up in whatever was going on with Juan.
She suppressed a groan as she typed a message back.
Layla: Why? What is going on?
She hesitated, waiting for a response. But none came.
Instead, Olivia’s shrill voice cut through the deafening silence that was surrounding her. Layla glanced over and then grabbed her purse, stuffing her phone into it. Even though she was worried about what might happen with James, she knew she needed to go with him. If Juan sent him to get her, who knows who he’d send if James wasn’t successful. The last thing she needed was Juan’s thugs showing up here.
So despite the warning bells sounding in her mind, Layla shouldered her purse and headed down to meet James, the man who had now become her protector. Hopefully.
Ten minutes later, Layla took a deep breath as she stepped out of the building and into the late afternoon New York air. Her heart was racing, and her stomach was pitching from side to side as she replayed Juan’s text in her mind.
She needed to leave. She’d trust James to take her to the airport, where she was supposed to meet her ex-fiancé so he could protect her.
She shook her head as she muscled down the emotions that had risen up inside of her. It was the same feeling she got every time she thought about Juan. A dull ache. Not of love—she’d cut that tie—but of fear and frustration.
Frustration that she ever let herself care for him.
Pressing her hand against her stomach, she forced a smile at James. One of confidence—which was a lie. When it came to Juan and his mess, she wasn’t confident of anything.
She’d thought she loved Juan and that he loved her back. But not anymore. Not when two months ago she’d walked into a “business meeting” that consisted of a man bloodied to within an inch of his life. All at the hands of her fiancé. She’d immediately realized that their soon-to-be marriage was never going to work and that she needed to get out.
The best thing she could do was walk away, especially when she found out a month later that she was pregnant with his child. There was no way she could bring a baby into that life. Not when she was pretty sure that Juan had no interest in keeping it. It was better to let him live the life he wanted, without her or the baby.
Just when she was finally starting to gain confidence in her ability to live her life as a single mom, this large and mysterious man showed up at her studio, busting a hole in her plan. Now she was about to get into a cab with him. What was she doing?
Frustration boiled up inside of her. Why had she believed either of them? What was the matter with her? She eyed the man who, in a moment of stupidity, she’d decided to trust. When was she ever going to learn? Everything that involved Juan was coated in deceit.
She held her purse to her leg and she felt the bulge of her mace bottle there. If he tried to pull anything, she’d be ready.
James was standing next to the street with his hand up. He waved at a few taxis, but they just passed by him, honking as they went. He glanced over at her and shrugged.
She took that moment to study him. He didn’t look dangerous. And when he’d met her gaze and told her he had no idea she was Juan’s ex, she’d believed him. And maybe it was because she could see the hint of pain that could only be attributed to him realizing he’d been lied to by someone he cared about. Something she knew all too well.
James smiled back at her as a taxi pulled up next to the curb. He slipped his luggage into the trunk as Layla made her way over to the back seat. He hurried to open her door for her, standing next to it while he waved her in. Layla inspected him as she slipped into the seat. She wasn’t used to a man acting this way. Juan for sure never did.
James informed the driver to head toward JFK. Layla just kept her lips pinched shut as she studied the cars that packed in around them. There was no way they were going to get anywhere fast, and it just so happened that her apartment was right on their route. If she was leaving for an extended period of time, she might as well pick up some of her belongings.
“I need to stop by my apartment,” she said, glancing over at James. She saw his jaw muscles twitch as he stared ahead.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ve got someplace to be, and Juan said to get you to the airport as soon as possible.” He glanced over at her. “A pit stop probably isn’t wise.”
She shook her head. “No, I have…medicine there that I have to have or I’ll get very sick.” Well, they were just prenatal vitamins, but he didn’t need to know that.
He quirked an eyebrow. “Really? You’ll die if you don’t have it.”
She stilled her expression. “Yes. And besides, it’s on the way.”
James got a contemplative look on his face before he sighed and leaned back, waving toward the driver. “Tell him where it is, then.”
Layla let out her breath as she nodded and leaned forward. After giving her address, she settled back. It wasn’t long before her gaze made its way back over to James. What was his story? Was he involved with the same things Juan was?
“How long have you known Juan?” she asked.
James cleared his throat as he shifted on his seat. He shrugged as he glanced over at her. “Over a year. We met…” His voice trailed off as he dropped his gaze down to his lap.
“When he saved your life?”
James fisted his hands and nodded. “Something like that.”
“So are you going to tell me that story? Heaven knows Juan never will since he decided to keep your existence from me.” Anger coursed through her veins. She really shouldn’t be surprised that Juan had other lives that he’d never told her about. He was skilled at the art of deception.
James leaned toward her. “I got into a stupid fight and he bailed me out. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I owe him a debt and I will repay him.” His gaze slid over Layla and heat pricked the back of her neck. He seemed so confident. So sure of his loyalty to Juan and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. “If that just means getting you to the airport, I will.”
She studied him. “And I have no say in this?”
James pulled back. “Why would you take the chance?”
She sighed as she stared out the window. Truth was, she wished she could go back in time and un-see the things that she saw. Un-know the things that she knew. But that wasn’t a luxury she could afford. Juan was always going to be a thug. “You don’t know him like I do.” Her words came out softer than she wanted. She hated feeling so weak.
Before James could respond, the taxi pulled over. Ready to get out of the car, Layla pulled on the door handle and stepped out. She needed the freedom the outside air gave her. She felt as if she were about to suffocate in that car, surrounded by a past she’d been trying to forget.
The sound of a door shutting behind her caused her to glance back. James had gotten out and was leaning against the open window of the passenger door. He was saying something to the driver about being just a minute.
Frustrated, Layla made her way across the sidewalk and up the front steps of her apartment building. She reached into her purse and grabbed her keys. Her hands shook as she located her building key and slipped it into the lock. Maybe if she was fast enough, she could get away from this stranger.
As she pulled open the door, a hand appeared in her periphery. She yelped. Her nerves were already fraying. Turning, she saw James peering down at her. He had a confused look as he stared at her. His arm was inches from her body as he held the door open.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
Layla cleared her throat and forced herself to calm down. “It’s not a big deal. I’m fine,” she said, turning on her heel and marching into the stuffy lobby of her complex. She didn’t wait to see if James was following her as she made her way over to the elevator and pressed the up button.
She wanted this nightmare to be over. She wanted James gone and Juan out of her life for good. Why was she letting herself get sucked into this vortex again?
The elevator doors dinged and she boarded, turning to hit the third-floor button. She tried to ignore James, who boarded beside her. He had his hands shoved into his front pockets and his shoulders were slumped. She peeked over at him as the elevator whirred to life.
He didn’t look like an everyday Joe. He had muscles—she could see them through his tight, black T-shirt. A purple scar peeked out from under his shirt sleeve. She studied it, wondering how he got it and how big it was.
Then she shook her head. She shouldn’t be imagining anything about his body. He was on team Juan and that meant the more distance she kept between them, the better.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Layla stepped out into the hallway and made her way toward her apartment at the end of the hall. It was eerily quiet in her building. Most of the tenants worked in the daytime, leaving this place a ghost town.
She fiddled with her keys as she approached her door. Once she was inside, she could figure out her next plan of attack.
A few feet from the door, she stopped and stared at the lock. Something wasn’t right.
“Stop,” James said, grabbing her arm and pulling her against the wall. Her heart pounded in her ears, but she didn’t fight him. Instead, she did as he asked, staying still as he sandwiched her against the stained paint.
“What happened?’ she asked. She couldn’t see anything. Fear coursed through her as she shifted her purse until she could slip her hand into the pocket to grab her mace. Whatever was going on, she’d be prepared.
“Someone’s tampered with your lock,” he said under his breath as he inched closer to the door.
He pulled out a gun, and Layla pressed a hand over her mouth as she stifled a yelp. What was happening? Why did James have a gun? And why the heck had she decided to trust this man? Was she stupid? It wasn’t only her life that was at risk now, it was her baby’s too. And she had willingly led herself into danger. Wow. She was going to make an amazing mom.
James didn’t seem to be panicking like she was. When he glanced back at her and pressed his fingers to his lips, he looked as calm as the eye of a storm.
He nodded toward the door and stepped closer. After slowly sliding the door open with his foot, he raised his gun and stared into the apartment. Then he glanced back at her, made some motion with his hands that she figured meant you stay here, I’ll go check, and disappeared into her apartment.
Layla’s heart hammered in her chest. Seconds felt like hours as she stood outside her home, waiting to see if her life had truly been turned upside down.
Her phone chimed, and she jumped. Shushing her phone, she pulled it from her purse and stared down at it.
It was a message from Juan.
Despite her pounding heart, Layla brought it up.
Juan: I may have gotten in deeper than I should have. People are coming after me to collect what I owe. Please don’t hate me for involving you. It’s just safer to get you out of here than to stay. I’m worried they’ll think I was hiding it with you.
Layla stared down at her screen. Typical Juan. She shouldn’t be surprised that he finally ticked off someone enough for them to come after him. Reading his message just solidified how right it had been for her to leave.
The only response she could think of was a curt, “Fine.” Then she shut off her phone and buried it deep in her purse.
A few minutes later, James returned. His gun was gone, and she could only assume he’d tucked it back into the band of his pants. She raised her eyebrows as he studied her.
“Whoever was in there is gone now,” he said as he scrubbed his jaw. “But—”
She wasn’t listening to him. She pushed open the door as James muttered something. Two steps into her apartment, she knew what he was trying to tell her.
Her apartment had been ripped apart. A sob escaped her lips as she glanced around. Everything was pulled down from her shelves. Her couches were ripped apart and overturned. Everything had been pulled from her cupboards and fridge.
She turned around to see James’s sympathetic gaze. But that didn’t make her feel better. If anything, it made her madder. Gathering her courage, she raised her mace. James w
as involved with Juan, and Juan was the reason her apartment was torn apart.
It may not be rational, but right now, James was the closest thing to Juan for her to blame.
“What did you do?” she asked, stepping back. She needed to get some distance between herself and this stranger.
James’s eyes widened as he moved closer to her. “I didn’t do this,” he said as he slowly raised his hands.
“Stop moving,” she said. She wished her voice came out stronger. That she was stronger. She hated that her words wavered with the fear coursing through her.
“Who did this, then?” she asked, nodding toward her trashed home.
James shook his head. “I don’t know. I told you. For as long as I’ve known Juan, I thought he was your brother. Whatever is happening here, I don’t have a part in it.” His brown eyes turned warm as he held her gaze. As if he were hoping to convince her that he was a good guy.
Just as she parted her lips to speak, a phone rang. Layla’s gaze dipped down to his pocket at the same time James’s did. When he glanced back up at her, he shrugged. “Can I?”
Layla’s arms were hurting from holding them up so long. And she felt like she was going to be sick. None of this made sense. Why would someone think she had anything to do with Juan anymore? That she would actually help him?
Hoping there were answers on the other end of the call, she nodded.
James looked relieved as he pulled out his phone. His expression told her all she needed to know. It was Juan on the other end. James pressed talk and brought the phone up.
“What is going on, man?” he asked.
The silence felt as if it were going to consume her. She studied James, hoping to gain some answers from his stern expression.
“Yeah, I have her.”
Silence.
“I took her to her apartment, and it’s trashed.” James grew quiet as he listened to whatever Juan was saying.
“I’m confused.”
More silence.
“Okay. Yes, I will.” Pause. “You’ll call us when you know more?”
Her Protector: A Braxton Brothers Romance Page 2
