“Shit, man. Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s doing fine, but you should call in on her later. Look, the reason I’m calling is I was wanting to get the details of your landlord so I can talk to him about installing some security cameras in the building. I’m happy to supply them and have my company install them of course.”
“That won’t be necessary, man. The girls actually don’t know this, but I own the building. I’m definitely upping the security. I’d appreciate it if you could organize the install?”
“Oh... right. Good for you. I was thinking top of the line. There’s a new range with facial recognition software, I wanted to get it for the office, but there’s too many people coming and going for it to be a practical option.”
“How does it work?”
“So basically, the software picks up on people’s faces, you set it to safe for the people you know, the tenants and staff, and then once you’ve set that, anytime a new face is recognized it sends an instant alert to you. You could set the alert to my phone too if you wanted.”
“Sounds bang on. I want the girls safe. Set it up.”
“Thanks, Reeve. Look, I’ve got to go; I don’t want the girls wandering around on their own. I’ll call you tomorrow for the install.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for this.” Reeve sounded happier now he knew something was being done – he wanted the girls safe as much as I did. I grabbed my bag and jacket and headed up to intercept El and Q.
43. Ellerslie
Quinn walked into my office. “You ready, girl?”
I’d done bugger all work this afternoon, I’d been expecting Lawson to come back and wrap me in cotton wool – but he hadn’t been back at all. I’d resisted the urge to call him. He needed time to calm down and to realize that we weren’t in any immediate danger.
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.” I shut up my office and said goodbye to the employees I saw on our way out. I glanced at Quinn. “We need to talk, Q. Have you heard from Lawson today?”
She looked at me with confusion and shook her head. “No I haven’t. What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath as I pushed the call button for the elevator. “I’ll talk to you about it when we get out of here.”
“Oh hell. What’d that dipshit do now?”
I laughed. “He’s done nothing. It’s something else.”
She nodded. “Okay, whatever you say. Do you want to go get a drink and we can talk?”
I nodded. “Sounds good.”
The elevator doors slid open and I nearly gasped at the sight of Lawson leaning up against the wall. He looked stressed. I could tell he’d been running his hand through his hair non-stop; it was all disheveled and sexy. He gave me a smile when he looked up and saw me standing in front of him.
Q and I stepped into the lift and he instantly pulled me to him and kissed my forehead. “Ells,” he breathed.
He released me and gave Quinn a hug. “Hey, sis. I thought I’d walk you both to your car.”
I rolled my eyes.
Here comes the cotton wool.
Quinn spoke before I had a chance. “Thanks, Law, but El and I are heading out for a drink.” She narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion. “We need to have a little girls’ talk.”
I lightly whacked her arm and laughed. “I just told you he’s not the problem. Stop looking at him like that.”
Lawson ignored our exchange. “Uh uh. I don’t think that’s a good idea, pretty girl. Why don’t you just talk at home?”
“Maybe he is the problem,” I muttered under my breath. I fixed my gaze on him. “We’ll be fine, Lawson. I’m not going to live like some caged animal.” I braced myself for an argument, but when I looked up, he looked defeated. I was expecting him to go nuclear – start pacing the space and yelling about my safety. I wasn’t prepared for him to grab my hand and look at me with such pleading and sadness in his eyes.
Dammit, Lawson.
“Fine.” I caved. “We’ll go straight home.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Of course you are.” I sighed. I hated the fact that he was keeping me hidden away like this. But I couldn’t deny that spending the evening with him sounded like heaven.
“Okay. One of you better tell me what the hell is going on here,” Quinn demanded. The doors opened into the parking garage and Lawson walked us to my Jeep. She pointed at Lawson. “You’re being extra obsessive.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “And you... since when do you act like an obedient dog?”
Good old Quinn. Calling shit as it is.
Lawson gave Quinn an anxious glance. “El can explain in the car.” He turned back to me. “I’ll follow you, okay?”
I nodded my head at him and rolled my eyes as soon as he turned his back.
Overprotective fool.
I climbed in the Jeep – Quinn was giving me a look that said ‘spill now’.
I launched straight into the story, telling her every detail and what happened during our meeting with the detective. “I was going to call you into my office, but I figured I’d let you get your day’s work done first. Mine was already pilling up and I got next to nothing done this afternoon.”
“Holy shit, El. This sounds serious. Like, why would someone send you stuff like that unless they had more planned?” I hadn’t really thought too much about what might happen next. But it made sense. I didn’t like the chances of this being their only contact. “I can see why Law is having a bit of a freak out.” She chuckled. “He’s going to drive you bat-shit crazy. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I’m sort of getting that impression,” I huffed.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see new security and cameras at the office tomorrow.”
I groaned. “You don’t think he’s going to make me get a bodyguard, do you?”
Quinn laughed. “I wouldn’t put it past him, girl. But I doubt he’ll go that far yet. No one has actually threatened either of you. He’ll probably just watch you like a hawk.”
Just bloody great.
I looked over at Quinn as we pulled up to a red light. “Can you please help me out with him? I can take care of myself. I don’t want his hovering to ruin whatever the hell it is that we have going on.”
She shrugged. “I’ll do my best, but I make no promises. Lawson is a little out of his mind with you, so I doubt he’ll listen to a word I say anyway.”
We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. I could tell Quinn was thinking it all through.
“Who do you think it is?” she finally asked.
“I really don’t know,” I answered. I knew Quinn didn’t know about Piper, and it wasn’t my story to tell. Besides, Mark didn’t seem to think it was anything to do with her.
I was going to have to find out if Lawson planned to tell Q about her or not. It wouldn’t be long before I accidently said something I wasn’t meant to.
“And Lawson?” she prompted. “Who does he think?”
I let out a giggle. “Baxter.”
Quinn laughed loudly. “Oh god! There is just no way.” She thought about it for a second and burst out laughing again. “I guess, in Lawson’s defense, he’s never met Baxter, so he doesn’t know what a spineless little weasel he is.”
I nodded – she made a valid point. “I told him it wasn’t Baxter. He just doesn’t have the balls.”
“Not even close,” Quinn agreed.
We pulled up to our building and keyed in the code. Lawson drove in behind us and we parked. Quinn jumped out and pulled Lawson into a hug when he approached. “I’m really sorry, Law. I don’t know why anyone would want to mess with the two of you.”
Lawson threw an arm around her shoulders and tucked me under his other arm. “Me either. Let’s go upstairs.”
We’d been inside our apartment for about ten minutes when Reeve appeared and pulled me into a hug.
“I guess you’ve talked to Lawson?” I asked.
“He called me earlier. We’ll sort this out, sweetheart.�
��
I backed up. “I’m fine. Really, I am.”
Reeve looked at me with his eyebrows raised in disbelief.
“Yeah, it’s creepy, but I’m fine. I feel perfectly safe. You and Lawson both need to calm down.”
“Not going to happen, pretty girl,” Lawson growled in my ear. He stood behind me and slipped his arms around my waist. “You might not have said the words yet, but you’re mine. And I protect what’s mine.”
I had to admit this fierce protective warrior gig was a turn on. I knew I was going to get pissed as hell with being smothered, but it was nice knowing that I was protected – that I wouldn’t have to rely solely on myself.
I spun in his arms. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll allow this alpha male act you’ve got going, because frankly, it turns me on. Not because I think I’m in danger, or because I need protecting. Are we clear?” I whispered against his ear so Reeve wouldn’t hear.
He swallowed slowly and smirked at me. “You are just full of surprises, Miss. Rush.”
I winked at him and mimicked his words from a few days earlier. “Oh, you have no idea, cowboy.”
I was enjoying this banter. He’d relaxed since we got inside the apartment and I felt bad knowing how stressed about my safety he was. I’d have to try and remember that the next time he drove me nuts by stopping me from leaving the office. I already knew there was going to be a next time.
Reeve and Lawson went and sat on the bar stools and pulled out some documents. I didn’t even want to know what the hell they were up to now. I decided to go and take a shower instead.
***
I heard Lawson’s voice in the hallway when I stepped back out of my bedroom. I’d had a long hot shower and thrown on some sweat pants and a jumper. My hair was piled on top of my head and my face was clean.
He was leaning against the wall, talking on his phone. “I didn’t expect there to be any. Thanks anyway, Mark. I’ll be in touch.” He turned and faced me as he hung up his phone. “That was Mark. No prints on the envelopes, the photo or the note.”
I knew there wouldn’t be.
“I’m not surprised.” I shrugged. “I guess we just wait now.”
“I’ve got him working to trace where the photo was printed. So hopefully that will give us something to go on.”
I nodded at him. “Are you staying here the night?”
He shook his head. “I can’t. I don’t have the stuff I’ll need for work tomorrow.” I was a little disappointed but I brushed it off. I knew I shouldn’t get used to waking up with him next to me every day.
“But I want to pick you up in the morning, okay?” He pushed himself off the wall and moved to stand directly in front of me.
I shivered slightly as he ran a finger softly down the side of my face.
“I’m sorry if I’m being overbearing, Ells. But I don’t know what else to do – I feel like a sitting duck, just waiting to see what will happen next.” He looked into my eyes. “I’m a man with a plan, I think you know that by now. I figure out what needs to be done, I make a plan and I do it. I’m not sure how to deal with this wait and see bullshit.”
I could see it was driving him crazy. “Well, how about you try your hardest to relax, and you plan what we are going to do on Friday night?”
He grinned a boyish grin. “I think I can manage that.”
His grin disappeared and he frowned again.
I used my thumb to smooth out his frown lines. “I’m fine, Lawson. I’m safe. You’re safe. Don’t let them win.”
“I know, pretty girl.” He tugged on my hand and pulled me down the hall. “Come on, I need to finish talking to your brother about the new cameras.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. But for God’s sake, ask the landlord first, okay?”
He just laughed at me.
With Lawson and Reeve working together, I knew I had no chance of changing their minds. We were getting new cameras, whether I approved or not.
44. Quinn
Reeve and Lawson had lingered around like a couple of guard dogs all evening. I’d eventually lost my shit with the pair of them and sent them packing.
They knew I had a valid point – whoever has sent those things to El and Law were obviously connected in some way to the office building. If they knew where El lived, they would have sent it here. It would have been a lot more threatening being sent to her home. But they hadn’t. My logic was sound. We were more than safe here, and if we needed anything, Reeve was a ten-second lift ride away.
“Thank god they’re gone. I couldn’t handle the hovering,” I moaned as I flopped down onto the couch.
“You have no idea. I hope I never see another one of those envelopes ever again. Imagine how bad they’d be if someone actually made a threat to hurt one of us.”
I nodded in sympathy and took a big gulp of my wine. “God I know. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s coming from the best of places... I guess I’d feel a bit crazy if I thought something might happen to either of them.”
El cocked her head to the side and I could tell she was thinking about what I said. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Lucky your brother is built like a brick shit house.” She sniggered. “I’m pretty sure he can handle himself. And besides...” She shrugged. “I’m not opposed to killing a bitch.” Her face was dead serious.
God she’s good.
We stared at each other for a beat longer before we erupted into a fit of laughter.
“Have you told Colt that we’re on lock down?” El asked when we both got our breath back.
“Ah excuse me? You’re on lock down. I’m free as a bird.” I smirked.
“I guess you’re right. Make sure you let your brother know when you’re all set to leave me alone.” She returned my smirk with one of her own.
“Ugh. Damn you. Okay so we’re on lock down.” I gestured between the two of us. “And yeah, I called him earlier when you were showering. He said he’ll come and stay whenever we want. That might get Law off your back. I’m actually really surprised he didn’t insist on staying the night here himself.”
El sipped her wine and tucked her legs up under her. “I did ask. He said he didn’t have any clothes and stuff for work tomorrow. Plus I kinda made a fuss about not needing a babysitter.”
We slipped into another comfortable silence. I was thinking about what I could wear when I went to visit Colt at the club. I was planning on going on Friday night, since I knew El was planning on staying the night with Lawson.
“Q.” El spoke quietly.
“Yeah, babe?”
“I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I don’t want to look back one day and wish I’d been braver. I’ve realized I’m all in. With him I mean. It’s just like he said... I’m his and he’s mine. I want to look back in fifty years and think fuck you, bad experience. I didn’t let you win.”
Well thank god for that.
“You are the bravest, strongest person I know, El. You don’t have to be scared. I read this quote the other day and thought of you, I don’t know who wrote it.” I brought up the screenshot on my phone and tossed it to her. It read ‘Love didn’t hurt you. Someone that didn’t know how to love hurt you. Don’t confuse the two.’
I watched her read and re-read it over and over again.
“Lawson knows how to love, El. I know he loves you. You don’t have to be scared.”
“I’ve just got to put on my big-girl pants and tell him, don’t I?” She crinkled up her nose.
“I think you’ll feel better when you do.”
“God, what shitty timing. If it weren’t for all this stalker bullshit I could have told him tonight.”
“I think you should tell him on Friday night. You’ll have the whole night together – alone. It’s a perfect opportunity.”
El sat up straight and squared her shoulders. “You’re right. It’s perfect, I’ll tell him Friday.”
“Pinkie swear?” I wiggled my pinkie finger at her.
“Pinkie swear.” She grinned as
she hooked our pinkie fingers together and stamped our thumbs to seal it.
45. Ellerslie
Wednesday was a good day – Lawson picked Quinn and I up and talked us through the new camera system being installed in our building, and the increased security at the office. He walked us to our doors and waited as I sorted through every piece of mail I had. There was no envelope.
Thank the lord.
I caught up on my work, Quinn joined Lawson and me for lunch and then he drove us home at the end of the day.
Today had been a repeat of that.
Lawson had to head to the other side of the city first thing tomorrow morning so we wouldn’t be taxied to and from work. Colt was spending the night and I could tell Lawson was relieved.
He really was very sweet. He was attentive, thoughtful and kind. He’d brought me a beautiful bunch of flowers today. The card simply read ‘I want us to make each other better.’
Motherfucking swoon.
I knew he was feeling helpless, and I loved him all the more for wanting to jump in and save the day. Luckily, today hadn’t needed saving.
***
Friday morning was all clear from stalkers too and I had significantly relaxed. We hadn’t heard from Mark again and I was looking at it as though no news was good news. Lawson had come into the office late morning, checked his mail, which was also clear, and come to check on me.
“Maybe it was just a silly prank from one of the women you bonked and bounced,” I teased him.
“Very funny.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. But the extra security isn’t going anywhere anyway.”
“I’m having lunch downstairs at the café today, are you coming with me?”
“What’s wrong with eating in here?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Nothing. But today, I’m going downstairs. It’s your choice if you come with me or not.”
“Stubborn woman,” I heard him mutter.
“What was that?” I asked with amusement.
“Nothing,” he grumbled. “Let’s go.”
***
God I felt so much better for the change of scenery – I was getting some serious cabin fever. I hadn’t been out for a real-life run since before we went away and I needed one soon. I absently wondered if Lawson would go for a run with me when we woke up at his place tomorrow morning.
Love like Yours Series Box Set: Books 1 - 4 Page 20
