Protect My Heart

by Judy Corry

  Arie had been shot.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  EMMA

  I GROUND a path into the carpet of the hospital waiting room as I waited for someone to tell me what was happening with Arie. Last I’d heard, they were taking him into emergency surgery. Was he going to be okay? No one would tell me anything. I had no idea how serious his gunshot wound was—whether it had hit any major organs or anything. I also didn’t know what had happened to Jason or Sophie, and why Arie had shown up alone. Had they both been killed in the condo?

  While I didn’t know where my friends were, I did know that I was safe. Fenris was dead, I knew that for sure—the image of his crumpled body on the cement with blood seeping from his head would be burned into my mind forever. Damian was also dead. He’d received a bullet wound to his chest that had killed him almost instantly. And Mr. Lund, the good-bad guy, was seriously injured and had also been taken to the hospital.

  But I still didn’t know what had happened to my friends.

  “Are you Emma?” A nurse walked up to me, breaking me away from my thoughts.

  “Yes.” I nodded, bracing myself for the worst. Please let him be okay. Please don’t let him die. I’d already spent the last few hours thinking he was dead. I could not live in that reality.

  “I have instructions to bring you to Mr. Blackwell’s room.”

  I followed the nurse down the hall, my heart pounding like an angry hammer the whole way.

  “He’s waiting for you in there.” The nurse smiled and gestured for me to walk inside.

  I opened the door and stepped in, not sure what condition I would find Arie in. But I took the nurse’s smile as a good sign.

  I walked into the dimly lit room and found Arie lying in bed with a big bandage covering his abdomen. He was propped up on several pillows, with machines beeping all around. A smile spread slowly over his tired face when he saw me.

  “Are you okay?” I rushed to the seat beside his bed, noting he wasn’t nearly as pale as he’d been earlier. “No one would tell me anything. I thought I’d lost you again.”

  He held an arm out. That was all the encouragement I needed to hug him—gently, of course. “I’m going to be fine,” he mumbled into my hair. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  A sob I’d suppressed for hours escaped my throat. “Did this happen at the condo when you were slumped in the street?”

  “No.” A faint smile lifted his lip. “If that were the case, I never would have made it to you.”

  Of course.

  “Then when did you get it?”

  “When I got to the building where Fenris was holding you, I had just snuck through the door as Fenris pulled you onto the stairs. I tried to make it to you without his men seeing me, but one of them shot at me before I made it through the door.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I said. “This is all my fault.”

  “No,” Arie said, his voice firm. When I looked him in the eyes, they were soft and understanding. “This is Fenris’s fault. He’s the reason for all this.”

  I nodded. My throat tightened as I thought about my next question. I didn’t know whether I wanted to know the answer. But I needed to know.

  “Where are Jason and Sophie?”

  Pain formed behind Arie’s eyes, and it took him a while to answer me. “Jason was shot at the condo. When I came to, I ran in and found Sophie crying over him at the bottom of the stairs.”

  “Oh, Arie,” I said, hugging him tighter with my head against his chest, crying for the kind man who had secretly watched out for me for most of my life. It wasn’t fair that a good man had died today all because of Fenris’s greed.

  “I felt horrible leaving Sophie there alone. Leaving my dead friend there.” His voice quavered. “But I had to find you.”

  I lifted my head off his chest. Moisture filled his selfless blue eyes. He was in so much pain. Physical and emotional. And he felt guilty for leaving our friends, when it was that action that had saved my life. I stroked my thumb along his cheekbone. “Thank you,” I whispered as I leaned my forehead against his. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  He nodded and touched the bracelet on my left arm. “If it wasn’t for your tracking device, we never would have found you in time.”

  I covered his hand with my other hand. “This small piece of metal around my wrist may have helped save my life, but the real heroes are Jason, Sophie, the police, and you.”

  “Mom! Dad!” I called as I ran across the airport toward my parents. I threw my arms around them. “I missed you so much!”

  “We missed you, too.” My mom squeezed me.

  “We’re so glad you’re okay and that this is finally over.” My dad kissed my head.

  “Me too,” I said, hugging them a little longer. I needed this. I had needed my parents so badly the last few months. I didn’t want to be apart from them like that ever again.

  My brother and sister, Carter and Lily, joined in on the hug, too, once they realized my parents weren’t letting go anytime soon.

  Arie was standing behind me when the family hug ended.

  “Mom. Dad. You remember Arie.”

  “Of course we remember him.” Dad held a hand out, which Arie shook. “Last time we talked, I recall advising him not to date my daughter.”

  Arie’s mouth went slack.

  “Dad!” Lily gasped. “You didn’t.”

  My mom gave my dad a dirty look before wrapping Arie in a hug. “Thank you so much for saving our girl.”

  Arie awkwardly bent over to return her embrace. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I was able to find her again.”

  The whole ride home, my parents kept glancing back at Arie and me, as if worried I might disappear on them again. I guess I couldn’t really blame them after everything we’d gone through.

  We had a quiet family dinner that night, which my parents were kind enough to include Arie in, since he was on his own now. After Jason’s funeral, Sophie had packed her things and flown to France where her family now lived. It broke my heart to see her life ripped apart. Her husband had sacrificed his life for me, and there was nothing I could do to make her pain go away.

  The doorbell rang. I looked to Arie with wary eyes, still not used to the fact that I was safe now and that I didn’t have to worry whether the person ringing the doorbell was just waiting to kill me.

  “I’ll get that.” My dad got up from the table. As he opened the door, we heard squeals.

  Maya and Kathryn burst into the dining room a moment later.

  “Emma!” Maya wrapped her arms around me before I could even stand. “You’re back!”

  I stood clumsily and hugged her. “Yes, I’m finally back,” I said, and then I gave Kathryn a hug, too.

  “Did you guys elope or something?” Maya peeked at Arie once our giggling and hugging calmed down. Then she eyed my stomach as if expecting to learn something from it. “You don’t look pregnant or anything.”

  “Maya!” I gasped, feeling my cheeks flush. “Of course I’m not pregnant! I can’t believe you thought I went away because of that.”

  “See, I told you she wouldn’t do that,” Kathryn whispered to Maya.

  Arie chuckled behind me.

  “Well, Arie is irresistible.” Maya grinned. When she saw me shake my head, she said, “What else was I supposed to think when you both mysteriously disappeared the same weekend? Then we thought for sure the rest of the family went to save you from an imprudent marriage. Kind of like a whole Lydia and Mr. Wickham thing.”

  I had to laugh. Though I really did not like being compared with my least favorite characters in Pride and Prejudice.

  “So if you’re not married, then where in the world have you been?” Maya asked.

  I glanced at Arie for a second, then back to Maya and Kathryn’s waiting faces. “Where do I start . . .”

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  EMMA

  I WALKED into the crowded arena where the commencement ceremony was to be held in less than th
irty minutes. The floor below was cluttered with several of my classmates wearing the silver caps and gowns they’d waited so long to wear.

  “Emma, get your butt over here,” Maya called when she spotted me, waving me over to where she stood with Kathryn and the rest of our friends.

  “I’m coming,” I hollered back, squeezing past a group of proud parents snapping pictures of the soon-to-be graduates.

  “You may be a rich heiress, but graduation in Maplebridge waits for no one.” Maya giggled as I stood beside her, smiling as cameras and phones flashed at us.

  “It should. I am pretty amazing,” I whispered, placing my hands on my hips. I was joking, of course. I was more than happy that only my friends knew the truth about why I disappeared for a few months this school year.

  Just a few months ago, I’d been sure I’d celebrate my graduation from high school miles away from here, with no loved ones close by to support me. I was so thankful that things had turned out quite the opposite.

  The graduation ceremony lasted about two hours, full of speeches from fellow classmates—some reminiscing on the past four years of high school, others speaking about the future. I received the diploma I had worked so hard for years to earn, amazed at how one little piece of paper could be so valuable.

  With diploma in hand, I beamed as I strode toward the most important people in my life.

  “We’re so proud of you!” My mom had tears in her eyes as she pulled me into a tight hug.

  “Yes, we are,” Dad said, embracing me after my mom let me go. “You looked beautiful up there.”

  “Thanks, Mom and Dad.” I smiled at them. “I never could have done it without you guys.” I pulled away from my parents and gave my sister and brother each a hug before coming to stand in front of Arie. He held a bouquet of roses, which he offered to me with a wide grin.

  “Aw, they’re beautiful! Thank you,” I said, taking the flowers and sniffing them. I hadn’t been expecting him to get me anything. It was just like him, though, always thoughtful.

  “You’re welcome.” Arie leaned over to give me a hug. Then he whispered in my ear so no one else could hear. “Now that you’ve officially graduated, I can stop feeling like I’m breaking the law dating you.”

  I giggled and tapped his chest. “You know, I was eighteen before you even kissed me.”

  “Yes, but it feels like you’re a little more legal now.”

  Later that night, after all the graduation festivities, Arie and I sat on the porch swing, moving back and forth. It was a peaceful spring evening, and the moon was full. I nestled into Arie’s side, resting my head on his chest, enjoying the comfort of having his arms around me as we gazed at the stars. I didn’t think I could ever get tired of cuddling up next to the amazing man I was lucky enough to call my boyfriend.

  “So,” Arie said, breaking the silence. “I finally told my mom what I’ve been up to for the past nine months.”

  “You mean she doesn’t think you’re an intern for some senator anymore?” I laughed. “How’d she take it?”

  “She sorta freaked out.” He shook his head. “She said she was catching the next flight over here so she could inspect my wound herself and make sure I was really okay.” He sighed. “I had to tell her all about us visiting her next week, to keep her from running to the airport. So much for our big surprise.”

  “Do you think she’ll ever be okay with the idea of you working in such a dangerous field?”

  “Probably not. That’s why I’m waiting to tell her about my training in person. Then at least I’ll be able to help revive her if she hyperventilates.”

  Arie had heard back from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and had been accepted for the ten-week training program that started in the fall. If he did well, then he would move on to the Special Agent training course near Washington, DC. I didn’t like the idea of being separated from him once summer was over. But I didn’t want to hold him back from his dreams, either. And honestly, if he would ask, I’d follow him to Washington, DC, in a heartbeat. I didn’t care where I was or where I went to school, as long as I was near him. Some people might think I’m a lovesick teenager with her head in the sand, but sometimes you just know. And I knew Arie was the right guy for me. The only one.

  But he hadn’t asked me to come.

  “And you’re still okay with my backup plan, right?” he asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Backup plan?” My chest contracted against my heart. What was his backup plan?

  “Yeah, I always like to have a plan B. I figured if this whole Secret Service thing doesn’t pan out, I could always have you be my sugar mama.” He winked.

  So he was just playing around right now. I drew in a breath and got myself into the headspace where I could play along with his light mood.

  “Is that what I am to you?” I poked him in the chest. “A paycheck?”

  He covered my hand with his. “Of course not. Though I have to say, you are the best boss I’ve ever had. I mean, my boss at the landscaping company was nice and all, but you kiss way better than him.”

  “Ack. I hope you don’t actually know from experience.”

  Arie shifted me in his arms so I faced him. “Okay, so you’re the only boss I’ve kissed.”

  “And let’s keep it that way.”

  “Sounds good to me,” he whispered before pulling my lips to his. Even though he’d kissed me like this more times than I could count in the past couple of months, his lips still had the same effect on me as they had the first time. My stomach muscles still tightened, and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

  But when Arie pulled away, there was a hint of anxiety slipping into his expression. “Emma, I know you’re excited to attend Maplebridge University in the fall and be roommates with Maya.” He hesitated. “But I’ve been thinking a lot about that.”

  His serious tone made it hard for me to breathe. “Yeah?”

  “And, well . . .” He leaned away and rubbed the back of his neck. “I . . .” He looked away and shook his head as if deciding not to continue with what he’d been trying to say.

  “What is it?” I took his hand between mine. “Arie?”

  His eyes searched mine, asking questions I couldn’t hear. “This is going to sound really selfish of me,” he finally said. “But I hate the idea of us being apart for so long.”

  I nodded, sparks of hope flitting around my heart.

  “I just wanted to know if you’d ever consider going to school somewhere else?” He looked down at our hands and cleared his throat before looking back up at me. “What I mean is, would you consider coming to Washington, DC, with me?”

  My heart leaped. “Do you really mean it?”

  “Of course.” He ran his thumb down my temple as his fingers slipped through my hair. “I love you. I don’t ever want to go more than a few hours without seeing you.”

  I wrapped my arms around him. I didn’t even have to think about it. “I’ll move there in a heartbeat. I love you, too.” I sighed as the last puzzle piece of my life fit into place. Everything was finally right with my world.

  The back door opened a few minutes later. My mom stepped onto the deck, looking somewhat alarmed.

  “Emma, there’s someone here to see you.”

  I pulled myself out of Arie’s arms and got up. “Who is it?”

  “Just come.” My mom waved me over. “Quickly.”

  Arie stood on high alert. Why was my mom acting so weird?

  We walked into the house, and a moment later, we were standing in the living room with my parents and a woman I’d never seen before. She appeared to be in her early forties and had wavy nut-brown hair and light-blue eyes.

  “Sorry to show up like this,” the woman said in an accented voice, much like Sophie’s. “But it was finally safe for me to come.” She smiled at me nervously, her eyes moist. “I’m Adelle.”

  THE END

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Word-of-mouth is crucial for any auth
or to succeed. If you enjoyed PROTECT MY HEART, please review it on Amazon—even if it’s just a sentence or two. It makes a huge difference and is very much appreciated.

  Thanks!

  Judy

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  BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT PROTECT MY HEART

  First off, THANK YOU for reading my book! It has been great to finally see this book get published.

  Do you wanna know why I started writing YA Romance? It’s because my marriage is the product of a high school romance that actually worked out (eventually anyway. . .we did have a couple years apart. . .but hey, we’ve been married for eleven years now). So, I write YA Romance because I’m a total believer in being able to find your future spouse when you are that young.

  Fun fact: Did you know that the first scene where Arie and Emma meet in the grocery store is loosely based on my embarrassing real life experience? (They say you write what you know, right?) Anyway, the backstory: My husband (Jared) and I dated when I was a junior and he was a senior in high school. The summer after he graduated, our relationship kind of fizzled out. We weren’t quite ready for forever yet, haha. So we were “friends” that summer, though I was pining for him like crazy when he started dating someone else. (You want what you can’t have, right?) Summer ended and I started my senior year of high school. Then Jared moved to Italy for two years.

  Life went on. I crushed on more guys, graduated high school then went to college. But Jared was always at the back of my mind. In the winter of my freshman year of college, I met a guy who looked so much like Jared that I could not help myself from crushing hard. It was ridiculous.

  One day when I was walking out of the grocery store with my cart, I saw him. Jared’s-Look-Alike. I tried to act cool, not stare and make it obvious that I liked him. We passed each other as he came in (he totally didn’t even notice me) and I was almost out the big sliding glass doors when I turned my head for one last, longing look. Then BAM, I crashed my cart right into a glass door and knocked it out of its guides. As you can imagine, I was horrified. How had I done something so stupid? Luckily for me, the guy didn’t seem to notice, though all the other shoppers chuckled as I tried to fix the dang door. I wanted to die! Tell me I’m not the only one who has done something like this because they were distracted by a good looking guy. It can’t just be Emma and me, right?