Qualify: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)

by TL Mayhew

  At that Kye is off the couch and pulling me into his arms.

  “Dammit, Berkleigh, you could’ve been seriously hurt, or…” He can’t finish the sentence, but I know what he was about to say and he’s right. It could’ve been considerably worse.

  I did intentionally leave out the part about the man in Josh’s office. I’m not sure why, maybe because I’m trying to convince myself the two things aren’t related. Or maybe I don’t want a reminder of earlier today, I’m not sure.

  “Go get your things, you’re not staying here. Not until we find out who this person is, and they are caught.”

  “But I’ve no place else…”

  He turns me around, directing me toward my room. “I have plenty of room at my place, you’re staying with me.” Then he pulls a cell out of his pocket and heads down the hall.

  “Yeah, Grady…” he starts, but his voice fades as he lowers his tone and heads farther away from me.

  Standing in the middle of my room, I look from the closet to my dresser. I’ve no idea what I need or how long I’ll be gone. I’m scared. I’ll admit it, and having Kye around could be just what I need, but staying with him isn’t the answer either.

  It’s not about anyone else knowing, it seems we’ve crossed that bridge; it’s more about holding my own and knowing I can do so. Intent on telling him as such, I step out into the hall just as he’s coming for me.

  “You’ll be safe at my place, I promise,” he says, pulling me against him and smoothing a hand down my hair. “Now where are your things?”

  The sudden change in the way this day is playing out has my mind spinning, but I’m not letting the stalker win. “Kye, I can’t stay with you.” I tell him, stepping out of his reach because I know if I don’t it’ll be that much harder to explain.

  “Berkleigh,” he warns, “…this is not the time for worrying about me being your boss. This is your life we’re talking about.”

  On a huff, I drop to the bed. “I know, and I’m not worried about any of that right now.” Tears sting my eyes as emotion takes over. “This is about me and my ability to take care of myself. I can’t let him win, Kye. If I do, I’ll never get the memory of what he’d done to me out of my mind.”

  His long legs carry him the few steps that separate us and he lowers himself until he’s balancing on the balls of his feet, now eye level with me. “There’s something you’re not telling me?”

  I nod. Ashamed at not telling him sooner.

  He takes my hands. “I’ll do whatever I can to keep you safe, Berkleigh, but I’m unsure how I can do that if you keep things from me.”

  “My last week at Dragoo’s, there was a man in Josh’s office. I saw him through the window in the door.” A rogue tear streaks down my cheek. He swipes it away with a thumb. “It was him, Kye, I know it. He had a different name but I’m sure it was him.”

  Without a word, I’m pulled into strong arms and we sit in silence for the longest time. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I do know this, right here, is a place I could stay. Not his place or mine, but in his arms where spicy cologne sets my soul at ease.

  After a beat I pull back, just enough to swipe more tears away and meet his eyes. “If I leave, break my routine, then he’ll have won.”

  Kye gives me a knowing nod and retrieves his phone from his pocket and taps the screen. “Grady, change in plans. We need a security detail set up at Berkleigh’s apartment…” He pauses, listening to whatever Grady is saying. “Mmm-hmm, as soon as possible. Thanks, man.”

  Turning his attention back on me. “We’ll have someone keep an eye on your place. Grady was one step ahead of me. He found an empty apartment on your floor and will have someone housed there as long as needed.” He takes my hands in his once again. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay until our guy is settled.”

  His asking permission warms my heart, much different than his earlier demands, and it’s easy for me to agree.

  Chapter 26

  Kye lets Robert know, with as little detail as he can get away with, that neither of us will be in for the rest of the day. When he disconnects the call, the room fills with an awkward silence.

  We’re both seated on the edge of the bed and although my tears have mostly subsided, the unease of knowing someone is after me remains. I’m exhausted and want so badly to crawl under the covers and sleep for a week.

  Recognizing my state, Kye takes my hand and leads me into the living room where we take a seat on the couch and he pulls me against his side. I rest my head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart, and before long I’m drifting off.

  I’m awakened to the smells of garlic and a hint of Italian spices. I stretch my muscles from beneath a blanket still on the couch, realizing then Kye is no longer next to me.

  Sleepily I wander over to the half wall where I find him in my small kitchen. I watch as he expertly tosses a sauce of some sort in a sauté pan, I received as a housewarming gift from my family. Up until today it has never been used.

  “That smells amazing,” I tell him, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

  He smiles over his shoulder and checks a pot of boiling water before dumping some type of pasta in it. “You didn’t have much for food and I thought you’d be hungry, so I had some things brought over. Did you sleep well?”

  I step around the wall and lean against it, watching him move about my small kitchen as though it’s second nature to him. “I did, thank you. And look at you, a man of many talents.”

  He tosses the sauce once again, then gives the pasta a stir before stepping over to me and placing a kiss on my lips. “I’d say you have no idea how many talents, but I think… you do,” he says with a wink.

  I’m unsure why, after what we’ve been through this far, but his comment makes my cheeks heat. Turning away from his gaze, I notice he’s set the small two-person table, including a couple of glasses of wine. “How long have I been asleep?”

  He follows my stare. “About five hours. After we eat, I’ll introduce you to Lawrence, your new security man, who’s just down the hall.”

  Five hours. It’s no wonder I’m feeling rested, I’ve slept most of the day away.

  “Have a seat, and some wine. This will be done shortly,” he tells me, turning back to the stove.

  I do as he asks, taking a sip of wine and watching the view. It’s not long after he’s serving bowtie pasta with a meat and tomato-based sauce spooned over the top. Once he places the pans back on the stove, he joins me at the table.

  We eat mostly in silence, which I’m thankful for, because not only is the food delicious but also because I’m talked out. In the time it takes us, I can pretend like my life is normal and this is just a dinner between… whatever it is we are to one another.

  Once we’re done, he swallows down the last bit of his wine and picks up our plates. “Are you ready to meet your new best friend?” He smiles, extending a hand. I nod, placing mine in his.

  Just as he said the security guy’s apartment is only two down from mine. When we approach, the door opens before Kye has a chance to knock. I take a step back when the large man fills the open frame.

  Kye places a hand on my lower back. “Lawrence, this is Berkleigh.”

  His kind eyes crinkle at the corners as a perfectly white smile, in contrast to his otherwise dark skin, lights up his face. “Hello, Miss Shaw. It’s very nice to meet you,” he says extending a hand, which I take without hesitation.

  “Please come in, I’ll show you the placement of all the security cameras and let you know what all my job entails.”

  Once we’re inside, Lawrence leads us over to a large table filled with monitors and various laptops, each showing different angles of the hall, outside the complex, and even one in my living room.

  He rewinds the last one showing the footage from when it was installed, and the next five hours of me sleeping on the couch and Kye moving about my place. It’s uneventful but gives me a good idea of what area it covers and I�
�m aware so I’m not walking around dressed inappropriately.

  Lawrence mentions that from today on he’ll be my shadow. When I’m with Kye he’ll be with Kye’s security detail, and when I’m alone, he’ll either be driving or following me.

  After a couple of hours of going through the technical details, we say our goodbyes and Kye walks me to my door, while Lawrence looks on from just outside his own apartment.

  “You really didn’t have to do all of this,” I tell him, waving in the direction of the newly rented apartment.

  He backs me against the door, caging me in with his hands on either side of my head. “I can’t very well have anything happen to my best mechanic, now can I?”

  I scoff at his compliment and open my mouth to protest but he uses it as an invitation. Leaning in, placing his mouth on mine, with a kiss so deep it curls my toes and heats my skin.

  Just when I move my hands over his chest to his shoulders, wanting more, needing more, he takes a step back and tips my chin up. “If I don’t leave now, Lawrence may get the wrong idea about our relationship.”

  We both turn, glancing down the hall where the big man still stands in the frame of the door. I giggle and he shines a bright smile from down the hall. “You don’t think he already has?”

  Chapter 27

  Much to my dismay, Kye did go home last night and was headed into Kingston’s early this morning, which means I’ll be heading there with Lawrence. I feel as though something switched with him after the practice track. He’s treating me like a delicate piece of glass when what I really want is for him to ravish me.

  I’m sipping on a cup of coffee when there’s a knock on my door. Checking through the peep hole I see Lawrence’s large frame filling the space just on the other side. Gathering my things, I flip the four locks and step out into the hall where he waits, while I secure the door before escorting me to his awaiting car in the parking garage.

  We both do our due diligence of scanning the area, before I slide into the backseat of the large SUV.

  If someone is watching they’d see I wasn’t alone.

  Once we’re out on the road the ride is filled with a comfortable silence. Lawrence keeps his eyes straight ahead and I watch out the window as traffic crawls over the busy interstate.

  My stomach turns as each mile brings us closer to Kingston’s. It’s not the job that has me unsettled though; it’s knowing Kye will be there. I realize I can’t be so easily drawn in by his charms. Things will be different than the last time I was there. Otherwise, I’m screwed.

  We’re pulling in front of the warehouse closer to nine. I move to open the door, but Lawrence asks me to stay seated until he comes around the car. When he does, I take his outstretched hand and step outside. Suddenly aware of the curious stares from other employees who see me getting out of the black SUV.

  “You’ll get used to it,” he says, recognizing my unease, flanking my side as we approach and enter the building.

  Once we’re inside, we’re greeted by a new face. She’s a pretty brunette, with deep brown eyes and bright red lips that curve into a wide grin when we approach. “You must be Berkleigh,” she says glancing at Lawrence, who nods his confirmation. “I’m Rhonda, I fill in sometimes for Alicia when she takes time off.”

  I nod tentatively, surprised by her knowing who I am, when I have no idea who she is.

  “Well, you are just as pretty as Mr. Kingston said you were.”

  My cheeks heat at her overbearing personality. Much different from my first interaction with Alicia. I’m curious where the moody blonde is but don’t feel it proper to ask, so I hold my tongue.

  “Mr. Kingston is waiting for you in his office.”

  “Are you sure? I was supposed to go over the statistics with the team from his test run yesterday,” I ask, glancing at her curiously.

  She smiles apologetically. “Those were his orders.”

  Lawrence and I walk toward the elevators, where we ride in silence to the second floor. He escorts me to Kye’s door, and we step inside.

  “Thank you, Lawrence, you can go,” Kye says, his eyes solely on me.

  The large man nods, then turns to me. “I’ll be waiting outside, and just a phone call away, should you need anything.”

  I offer him a warm smile and thank him, before taking a seat in front of the desk. Once he’s gone, I turn a hard stare on Kye. “Why am I here, Kye? I should be with the crew reviewing the stats from your test run. There’s little time before the race and I need to know…”

  “That’s what the team is there for. They’ll fill us in on whatever they find,” he grits out.

  “Kye, I am part of the team, remember? I can’t let them think I’m getting special treatment because… well, because of whatever is going on between us.”

  He comes around the desk and sits on the edge. “Berkleigh, there’s someone stalking you. They’ll understand.” When I cross my arms, not showing sign of backing down, he lets out a long sigh. “Fine, I’ll have them meet us in the conference room and we can all go over the statistics, good enough?”

  “Fine,” I counter, before standing and taking the step between us, where I position myself between his legs, and cover his lips with mine.

  For a moment I’m in control. The kiss is teasing yet tentative, but he’s not having any of that and quickly takes over. There’s some level of frustration and a lot of passion mixed up in the kiss. I’m not sure what has set him off but I’m not complaining.

  I relax into him, twisting my fingers in his hair, and let him take what he needs.

  After a beat, he pulls away, bending just enough that our eyes are level. “You, sweetheart, will most certainly be the death of me.”

  Running my palm over the stubble on his cheek, my eyes dance between his. “I hope not.”

  He chuckles at my response and drags me over to his office chair, sitting me across his lap as he takes a seat. I rest my head on his shoulder and he squeezes me tighter against his chest before patting my ass. “Okay, I need to make some calls.”

  “But I don’t want to move,” I whine.

  “Baby, if you don’t, your boss will end up doing some inappropriate things to you in this chair, and I can’t risk an assault charge.”

  His suggestion encourages me to make a move. I rise off his lap as if to take a seat in one of the other chairs but reposition myself so I’m straddling him. I hover my lips just over his ear. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

  It’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back. “Fuck,” he growls out, before planting his lips on mine and placing his hands on my shoulders, thrusting upward, letting me know he’s ready to claim more than just my mouth.

  This is the reaction I’ve been waiting for. The one that tells me he’s still interested. Not wasting a beat, I fumble with the buckle of his belt, but just as I get it unfastened someone’s knocking on the door.

  “Not now,” Kye says, ordering whoever it is away.

  “I’m sorry sir, but this can’t wait.” Rhonda clears her throat from the other side. “Your, um… Grandmother is here.”

  I’m off Kye’s lap like a snake has just struck me in the ass. After straightening myself, I hurry over to one of the chairs in front of his desk, where I hope I look relaxed enough when she enters.

  Kye, on the other hand, strokes the outside of his pants, giving me a hard stare. As if it’s all my fault he’s in the state he’s in.

  I cover my mouth, hiding my amusement, when he’s scrambling to refasten his belt and adjust himself at the same time before the door opens. Giving up, he rolls his lower half under the desk.

  “Hello, Grandmother,” he acknowledges her as soon as she walks in.

  She walks over to greet him, but he doesn’t stand, “You remember Berkleigh, right?” he asks, redirecting her attention to me. I guess this is what it feels like being thrown under the bus.

  I pin a narrow stare on him before standing, outstretching a hand, and offering her my biggest, warmest smile. “H
ello, Mrs. Kincaid, how are you?”

  She dismisses my question and reaches for my hand with the tips of her fingers, giving me a delicate handshake. Thinking back to her expression at Dragoo’s the first time I met her, I decide to try another tactic. “How is your car running?”

  This draws a warm smile. “It’s running quite well,” she says before waving a hand over the empty seat. “May I?”

  “Of course,” I say, and we both take a seat.

  Her expression stays straight as she glances between us. I can almost see the wheels turning in her mind. Why wouldn’t they? I’m here in his office instead of doing what I should be, like reviewing stats with the team.

  The man on the other side of the desk finally chimes in. “What can I do for you, Grandmother?”

  Her expression creases with confusion. “They found something on the after-hours video footage. It may be the missing parts. Didn’t security tell you?” she asks.

  Kye glances at his phone. “It seems they didn’t.”

  Tapping something on her phone, she stands and raises it to her ear, making a path in the carpet as she paces in front of the frosted glass wall overlooking the catwalk.

  I steal a glance at Kye, he looks as confused as I am. Why wouldn’t they have told him what’s going on?

  There’s a ring of a cell and then a man’s voice can be heard just on the other side of the glass. “Hello, Mrs. Kincaid,” he says, still talking into his phone when he strolls into the office with a laptop tucked under his arm.

  She lowers her phone and takes his offered hand. “Emmanuel. It’s good to see you.” He nods but doesn’t waste any time on formalities with Kye or me. Instead, he sets up his equipment on Kye’s desk. And in seconds there’s a still image of a side door to the building.

  It’s dated the day before Josh’s interview, and the time shows late into the evening. We’re all huddled around the small screen watching intently as Emmanuel presses play.