4. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Blake
I came downstairs late Sunday morning knowing I’d missed breakfast but dying for a coffee. Listening to Priscilla recap the party and brag about how successful it was, knowing she hadn't done any of the work didn't sound like fun, so I decided to go to my favorite coffee shop and do some homework.
As I reached for the door handle, I noticed a small white envelope on the floor. I covered a yawn as I bent over to pick it up.
That's weird .
No name. I turned it over. Unsealed. When I lifted the flap, I could see thick card stock inside.
Maybe someone dropped it last night. I’ll just see who it’s for. I slipped the letter out and unfolded it. Scanning the first few words, I looked for a name. I didn’t intend to read the whole thing—until I saw my name.
Davenport, Your daughter Blake is captivating. It’d be a shame if something happened to her before she graduates. Honor your word and nothing will.
I gasped as I backed away from the door.
It’s a joke. A sick one, but still a joke.
I wasn’t laughing.
“Dad!” I yelled as I ran to his office. Expecting someone to jump out at me, I looked around every corner. My heart racing with every step.
I almost crashed into him when I rounded the corner.
“Why are you yelling?” Priscilla demanded from behind him.
Dad put his hands on my shoulders and stepped back so he could see me. I must have looked terrified because he asked, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
I shook my head. “No, but,” I looked down at the card clutched in my hand. “I found this.” I held it out for him.
“Seriously? All that for a card?” Priscilla dismissed me and went back to playing on her phone while my father took the now wrinkled paper.
He turned towards his desk as he pulled the paper flat. His abrupt stop told me he’d read it. His sharp intake of breath told me he didn’t think it was a joke.
Someone was threatening me. Us . But why?
Priscilla, engrossed in her phone, hadn't noticed his reaction, but looked up when she heard the fear in his voice.
“Blake, I don't want you leaving the house today.”
Any hope I had of dismissing the threat disappeared with his order.
“Yes, Daddy.” I couldn’t hide the worry in my voice. I wanted to ask if he knew who sent it, or what it was about, but Priscilla beat me to it.
“What’s going on, Steve?” Priscilla asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. Just a prank,” he said as he waved the letter around. “I’ll call Dallas PD and report it. Just in case.”
Priscilla relaxed, but his tone did nothing to put me at ease. It was easy for her to dismiss; she didn’t know what it said.
I’m the one being threatened.
I went back to my room and tried to focus on my case studies, but it was useless. I couldn’t stop thinking about the letter. The threat.
“I’m sure it’s just a prank, like Daddy said.” I muttered as I closed the file. My father was a District Attorney, so there were criminals out there who blamed him for being in jail. But why would someone threaten me? And what did they mean by “honor your word”?
Probably just some stupid joke one of his buddies thought would be funny.
By the time my phone buzzed with a text from Danny asking if I wanted to meet for lunch, I’d convinced myself it was a joke and was more pissed than scared.
Sorry, I can’t.
Why not? Daddy won’t let you come out?
He was teasing, but his words were irritatingly accurate. It sucked being stuck at home because someone was playing a prank on my dad.
Knowing he’d pester me with questions I couldn’t answer, I decided not to tell Danny what happened.
I have to study.
How about dinner tonight?
Sorry, I’m having dinner with my parents.
You’d rather have dinner with them than me? You don’t even like Cilla.
Danny was my friend, but his whining could be annoying.
We’ll have lunch tomorrow.
Okay, but it’s on you for blowing me off tonight. {wink emoji}
Okay.
We hadn’t made plans, so I wasn’t actually blowing him off, but I could afford to treat him to lunch. And it was easier than arguing with him.
My father refused to let me leave again on Sunday, saying he’d feel better if I stayed home. I hated being trapped inside all day, but at least I had plenty of time to read and start studying for my mid-terms.
During Sunday dinner, Daddy announced we had an appointment with a personal protection company first thing in the morning.
“What does that mean?” I asked, more from shock than ignorance.
“I’m hiring an executive protection detail for you.”
My fork clattered on my plate. “What? I thought you said it’s probably a prank,” I said.
“Be careful,” Priscilla warned me. I doubted the three-inch drop caused any damage to her precious china.
“It may be, but it’s better to be safe than sorry,” Dad answered. “I’m not willing to risk anything happening to you.”
Despite the anxiety in his eyes, I refused to entertain the possibility of the threat being real. Not after spending the last two days convincing myself it wasn’t.
“I don’t want a bodyguard,” I argued. I didn’t want some big, dumb guy following me around. What would my friends think? Would my professors have an issue with someone tagging along in the classroom?
“I know, Princess, but it’s only for a few days while we sort this out.”
“Do you know who sent the card?” I asked, letting my irritation seep into my voice. It was easier than feeling afraid.
He shook his head back and forth as he lifted his wineglass. “Not yet.”
“What about my morning class?” I asked, hoping he’d let me skip the meeting. “You know I can’t afford to miss a class this close to mid-terms.”
“I asked him to meet us early; with any luck you’ll still make your class.”
With any luck? That did nothing to improve my mood.
Neither did seeing the look of jealousy and irritation on Priscilla’s face.