by Jodi Vaughn
“Then call for pizza.”
“What if the pizza guy leads the stalker to the house?” She arched her eyebrow.
“Then I’ll meet him a few streets over and pick up the pizza there.”
“So you’ll leave me here alone and unprotected.”
Jayden pressed his lips together and aimed the remote at the TV. He clicked it off and slowly turned.
“Are you being irritating for a reason?” He stood.
“I’m not trying to be irritating, Jayden. I’m just frustrated.” She sighed.
His expression softened and he sat next to her on the couch. “I’m sorry. I know this must be difficult.”
“It’s four o’clock. Can we not even go to the park for a walk? Anything to get out of this house.”
He opened his mouth and Haley knew he was going to argue. But then he promptly closed it.
“Let me call Braxton.”
“For what?” She frowned.
“I want him in place for backup. He’ll stay far enough away that he won’t be noticed if the stalker is around. He might even be able to identify who it is.”
“Did you ask Braxton for help?” Kate hadn’t said anything when they were in the kitchen having coffee that morning. After the dead pig, Braxton and Kate had arrived at the house fifteen minutes later.
“Barrett did. Braxton said he was wanting to join the Guardians since his move to Arkansas. Barrett said this would be a good way to break him in to see if he can handle it, or if he’s a good fit.”
She nodded. Braxton would make a great addition to the Guardians.
“Why don’t you get ready and I’ll give Braxton a heads up.”
“Okay. But where are we going so I know what to wear?”
“How about something nice but comfortable.”
“Okay, that I can do.” She stood and he grabbed her wrist.
“Oh, and Haley, don’t wear those red heels.”
She frowned. “Just in case we have to run?” The thought of being chased sent a chill parading down her back.
“No. I can’t seem to concentrate when you have those damn heels on. It makes me think of you naked.”
#
The sun was just going down and the buzz of the nightlife was just starting up. As with any college town, the crowds were worse on the weekend, with students and people visiting.
Jayden held Haley close while keeping his instinct on high alert for anything that seemed out of place. But with a crowd of college students it was hard to see anything out of place. He eyed a guy with a large red Razorback hat passing by with his group of friends.
Music wafted through the streets as people of all ages milled around.
Jayden glanced around seeing if he could see Braxton watching them. But the guy was a regular chameleon. This was saying something for a two-hundred-plus Were with sleeve tattoos and blue hair.
He’d have to let Barrett know that Braxton had his vote of confidence as a Guardian.
He glanced down at Haley who was snuggled close to his side. Her firm breast was pressed into his chest, making walking with an erection very difficult. She had one arm around his waist, her finger hooked in the belt loop of his jeans.
She looked gorgeous in a white tight skirt and fitted yellow shirt. She wore jeweled high heels that sparkled with each step she took. He’d even worn that damn pink shirt that she picked out, just to make her happy.
“What?” She caught him looking and frowned.
“I told you not to wear heels.” He arched his brow.
“They’re not heels, they’re wedges.” Her lips turned up into a pretty smirk.
He couldn’t resist. He bent his head and kissed her.
When he pulled away her eyes were glossed over, the same way she looked after he made her come.
He growled.
“Maybe you were right. Maybe we should just stay home.” Her raspy voice shot straight to his dick.
“We have all night for that. First I need to get some food in you.” He grabbed her hand and started walking. “You’re going to need all the energy you can get.”
She chuckled.
#
“We’re here.” He guided her up to the steps of the cozy restaurant. He’d asked Kate where to take Haley and she’d recommended the upscale restaurant.
“Wow. This is beautiful.” Haley glanced around taking in the modern but elegant layout of the restaurant with its dark interior and soft lighting. Each linen-covered table had a fresh bouquet of spring flowers in white and yellow and pink.
Jayden pulled out her chair for her to sit. He eased into the chair across the table from her. He suddenly wished he had taken her to a less swanky restaurant that had a booth and he could sit next to her.
“Have you been here before?”
“No.” He reached for his water.
Haley grinned. “Dana is always complaining how she wished her boyfriend would take her here. She is going to be so jealous when I tell her.”
Jayden couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. God, how she made his chest ache.
“I guess you miss being with her.”
She shrugged as sadness crossed her eyes. “A little. She was the first friend I made when I got here. She was always trying to get me to come out to eat with her and Mark. But I would never go. Didn’t want to be the third wheel.” Haley glanced around and leaned across the table.
“So is Braxton still tailing us?”
“Yes and he must be pretty good. I’ve not spotted him since we left the house.”
“Barrett will be glad to hear that then.”
The waitress returned with their drink orders of wine and took their dinner orders.
Jayden reached across the table for her hand. “When this is over, what do you see yourself doing?”
“I used to have this dream of opening up my own fashion line. I love clothes and all the well-known designers are located in New York or California. Why not start a designer line right here in the South?”
“That’ a really smart idea. “ He sobered.“Really?” She took a sip of the chilled white wine.
“Absolutely. I mean there are a lot of celebrities that vacation in New Orleans or Charleston. I bet if you could get them interested in your clothes you could really turn your fashion line into the next big thing. Plus if you opened a store down on the coast it would help the economy. Since Hurricane Katrina and the oil spill the coast is really hurting. You would be like the South’s own celebrity.”
Her blue eyes shone with excitement and then she shook her head. “I don’t think I would ever live in Louisiana again.”
“It doesn’t have to be New Orleans. You could live in Mississippi or Alabama. Or stay right here in Arkansas. “
She caught his gaze and he could tell she was contemplating the idea.
“Well, I guess we will see what happens when this is all over. No use making plans when the future is so uncertain.”
He took her hand between his palms. “You will get through this. You hear me? I won’t let him hurt you. I’d die first.”
“Don’t say that, Jayden.”
“Why? It’s true. I don’t want you to be afraid, anymore. I want you to think about the future.”She cocked her head. “What about you? What do you plan on doing when this is over?”
Jayden shrugged and looked away. The thought of not seeing her everyday rubbed at his heart like a pebble. “I don’t know. I guess I have to go on to the next mission that Barrett assigns me.”
She nodded and pulled her hand away. He felt the distance sag between them like an invisible thread. They didn’t have a future together. She’d go on and do great things, while he would continue on protecting the Pack. Hell, she’d probably end up marrying someone with a law degree and have five kids.
While his future consisted of nothing more than the next mission and protecting the Pack.
CHAPTER TEN
Haley stepped out onto the sidewalk with Jayden after a magnificent dinner
. She felt full and happy and content. Things she hadn’t felt in a while.
“Thank you for dinner.” She smiled up at him. She couldn’t stop the way her heart always tugged whenever she looked at him. He was gorgeous with those intense blue eyes and blonde hair. He was even sexier when he was naked and moving over her in bed with their bodies joined.
Music floated out from the bars as they walked down the sidewalk at an easy pace. Although Jayden looked relaxed she knew better. He was constantly on alert, assessing their environment and scenting any possible danger.
“I’m glad you let me take you out. “He bent down and kissed her lightly on her lips.
Her smile slipped as she frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head.
“Tell me.”
She stopped and faced him.
“I was just wondering about the pig.”
He pulled her to a private corner of a building. “What about it?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess I was wondering why he didn’t leave a note this time.”
“Because his notes aren’t working. So instead he sent the pig to scare you.”
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself.
“I don’t know. Maybe. I guess I always thought his notes were where he held his power to intimidate me so he wouldn’t hesitate to leave one along with the pig.”
“Barrett had the lab do an exhaustive search on your purse and they didn’t find anything. No note, no fingerprints.” He’d gotten that report from Barrett before they left the house.
“He’s taking it further, getting more personal. Getting closer.” She grabbed his hand and they started down the sidewalk.
“Haley . . .”
A shrill of his cell phone had him halting. He pulled the phone out of his jeans pocket.
#
Haley watched his face changed from relaxed to somber. He mouthed to her that it was Barrett on the other end.
She stepped away and turned to admire the window display at the cozy boutique. Whoever had done the display had done a great job, mixing the colors of spring into the outfit spotted on the mannequin.
“Hey, you’re that girl.”
Hayley turned at the male voice. It was two college guys dressed in sweatshirts and jeans. Their gazes went from her back to their phone.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re the girl on the advertisement.” They both looked at each other and grinned. “So how much?”
“How much for what?” She frowned as her gut tightened. She glanced at Jayden, but his gaze was fixed on the ground attentively listening to whatever it was that Barrett was saying.
“How much for one hour?”
Haley whipped her head back to the two guys who were suddenly only a couple of feet in front of her. She backed up. Her skin crawled, her private space suddenly invaded.
Jayden must have sensed her fear, because he was suddenly there, stepping between her and the two guys. By this time a few more students had stopped and pulled out their phones. They looked from Haley back to their phones.
“What’s going on?” Jayden asked her over his shoulder.
“I have no idea?”
The two dudes laughed and held out their phone. “Man have you been hitting that? It says she charges by the hour.”
“What the fuck did you just say?” Jayden growled so loud that Haley thought he was going to shift right in front of everyone.
“I want to know how much she charges.” One of the college guys looked over Jayden’s shoulder and winked at her.
Jayden punched the guy in the face. The guy fell back like a tree.
“Hey man, what did you do that for? He was just asking how much she charged. It’s on the university’s Facebook page of things to do.” The other college guy shoved his cell phone in Jayden’s face.
Jayden snatched it out of his hand. Haley peeked around Jayden’s shoulder and looked.
It was the university’s page with a provocative picture of her and an advertisement for sex. Blood drained from her face as a rush of nausea washed over her.
“I never took that picture. I haven’t been on Facebook since I moved here,” she whispered.
“Call Braxton now.” Jayden shoved his phone at her. With trembling fingers she pulled up Braxton’s contact info.
“You need a little help?” Braxton shoved his way through the crowd and stood on the other side of Haley. Braxton appeared before she even dialed. “I was watching.”
Jayden shoved the college guy’s phone at Braxton whose face became serious.
Jayden faced the crowd of college students that were gathered and now gawking at her. “This is not Haley. And she sure as hell didn’t put it on Facebook. Her account and the university’s have been hacked. And the next asshole that says something to her about it will have his dick ripped off and shoved down his throat. So you need to make sure the word gets out. We clear?” The group of college students stared at Jayden wide-eyed and nodded furiously. They all quickly backed away.
“Call Barrett and tell him to get someone to check out the university’s account as well as Haley’s. He should able to track back to see if he can find the stalker.”
Braxton kept Haley positioned between them while he dialed Barrett and Jayden stood in front of her as a shield. The group quickly dispersed.
Tears burned behind her eyes and she fought not to cry. Not now, not in front of everyone. Somehow she knew her stalker was out there in the crowd watching and waiting for her reaction. That’s what he wanted. A reaction.
She would not give him the satisfaction.
Jayden turned and looked at her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
“Let’s get her outta here, man,” Braxton said in a low tone.
Jayden pulled her close to his muscular chest and she sighed against his warmth and his strength, her legs threatening to buckle.
They hurried back to his car, with Braxton staying close behind them.
The temptation to cry was overwhelming. But it wasn’t fear she was upset over. It was anger. Anger at how a stranger had taken her control away.
“Fuck.”
Jayden stopped short and Haley almost stumbled. She looked up and followed the line of his gaze. Right to his car.
“Oh my God, Jayden.” Her stomach lurched.
“Motherfucker.” Braxton added his sentiments as they all stared at Jayden’s black Mustang, completely destroyed.
Every window had been bashed in along with the hood and doors. The tires had been slashed and the black paint job had been marred with white spray paint with vindictive words like bitch and whore written for everyone to see.
Jayden spun her around and tugged her into his chest, blocking her from viewing the car.
Her stalker was now trying to hurt Jayden.
She buried her face in his chest and sobbed.
#
Jayden gave his report to the police as he kept his eyes on Haley. Braxton stood a few feet away and nodded, assuring him that Haley was safe.
Jayden had never wanted to kill anyone more in his life than he did right now.
He glanced over at his ruined Mustang. He’d only had her less than two years and now she was ruined. But that’s not what really bothered him the most. He was most bothered about the reaction he had seen on Haley’s face.
She had looked utterly terrified.
He narrowed his eyes at the cops as they took pictures of the damage.
He wasn’t sure who had called them, but he didn’t like it when humans interfered in his business.
A loud rumble, like an eighteen-wheeler echoed through the near empty parking lot.
An oversized truck that resembled a tank came rumbling to halt in front of him. It looked like an RV on steroids with massive tires and bulky exterior.
The driver’s door opened and Barrett Middleton climbed out. Barrett nodded in Braxton’s d
irection before heading over to Jayden.
“I got here as quick as I could.”
“Which is pretty fucking quick. We called you less than an hour ago.” Jayden checked his watch.
“I was on my way when you called.” Barrett cast a worried look in Haley’s direction. “How’s she doing?”
“Terrified. Aside from a psycho leaving her notes and a dead bloodied pig in her purse, he’s now moved his game up to cyberbullying her on Facebook. Now the entire campus thinks she’s a prostitute for hire.”Barrett turned his glare on Jayden. “I got Zane tracking her account as well as the university’s. He put a block on both accounts to prevent anyone from accessing or posting anything on her page. I also made sure to send out a warning that her account had been hacked to the entire university student body. And if they knew who did it they needed to contact the number I left.”
Jayden nodded in appreciation. Hopefully that would stop a majority of the students from harassing Haley. And if it didn’t, he’d tear their fucking heads off.
“Why are you wearing a pink shirt?” Barrett sneered.
“It’s not pink. It’s coral.” Jayden shook his head. He picked the perfect night to change his wardrobe.
Jayden arched his brow at Barrett’s ride. “What the hell is that thing? Looks like it needs to be in the military.”
“It’s the Behemoth. It’s a specialized expedition vehicle. It will go anywhere in the world, desert, jungle, mountains, you name it. Most importantly it has a space for my Harley.”
“And it’s here because?”
“Because I had to bring some company with me and there are not enough bedrooms in my house.” Barrett’s mouth thinned just as the familiar thunder of approaching motorcycles filled the parking lot.
The sound made him long for his Harley, especially now since his car was wrecked.
Jayden followed Barrett’s gaze as five Harleys pulled up behind the Behemoth.
He immediately recognized his fellow Guardians, Damon, Zane, Lucien and Jaxon and another rider with the signature Harley Breakout. He would have sworn the fifth Harley was his, if it wasn’t for the goofy-looking sidecar.
His gut tightened as the occupant in the sidecar took off the bug-eyed goggles and helmet, revealing gray hair and wrinkles.
