Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
GUS
G us was burning.
He had known about the stalker thanks to the brief, but seeing both the evidence of it and Brittany’s reaction to the latest ‘gift’ left Gus wanting to slam his fist through a wall. The note alone was something he never wanted Brittany to read, and knowing that she had been getting notes like that from some creep for a year…
Gus gritted his teeth and turned his focus back to the situation at hand. The note had mentioned Brittany’s new ‘boy toy’ which meant the guy had been watching her and seen her with Gus. Not the best circumstance, but Gus didn’t mind. He’d prefer the asshole to know Brittany had someone watching her back. Maybe he’d think twice about whatever sick plans he was harboring.
Brittany was on hour two of her meet and greet and gave no sign of slowing down. Her smile was big and genuine, and she freely hugged the fans who came up to her for their turn, listening patiently at whatever they were saying and making sure to get a smile out of them. She was good at this, Gus realized. No wonder she had such a strong following.
Against his will, his gaze trailed down to Brittany’s legs. She had put on her signature knee-highs, this time made of some sort of glittering nylon material. Gus couldn’t remember paying that much attention to what women wore on their legs, but Brittany, well. She was hard to ignore.
The latest group approached her, a couple of men who said something to make Brittany laugh, a welcome sight after the drama of the green room. Gus had the number for the delivery service in his pocket, and he was waiting for the event to end so he could go ask them some questions, see what kind of trail this guy left behind. According to Brittany, previous packages and gifts had all arrived at her apartment with no mailing address, and not by her mailman. Which meant her stalker usually hand-delivered things. Him using a delivery service this time was a unique deviation, one that Gus was hoping would give him a clue to who this guy was.
Brittany jumped away from the two men, reacting to something, and Gus snapped out of his reverie, already moving toward her.
In the seconds it took Gus to reach her side, the men had moved closer to Brittany, talking fast… faster than an innocent person would need to talk.
“We paid for the meet and greet. Just relax.”
He shrugged his shoulders like whatever happened wasn’t a big deal, but Brittany looked ready to shove dynamite in his mouth. She stood her full height—which was taller in heels, but probably only up to Gus’s shoulder, and pushed herself into the guy’s space, her outrage clear.
“A meet-and-greet is just that—meeting and greeting, and a picture. That does not give you permission to put your gross hands on my ass.”
Gus glanced around, noticing the cameras out already, filming the scene, and decided to wait until Brittany said her piece. She was a hothead, but she tended to have a point, even when her temper took over like it had in this moment. Sometimes, people needed to be yelled at.
Still, the guy tried to play it off, reaching his hand for Brittany’s shoulder in a move he probably thought would calm her down.
“Baby, look, you’re blowing this way out of proportion.”
“I said don’t put your fucking hands on me.” In the blink of an eye, Brittany grabbed the guy’s hand and twisted it in a way that Gus knew would hurt like hell but not cause permanent damage. “Consider your meet-and-greet canceled. Get the fuck out of my face before I make you bleed in front of the whole internet.”
Gus was impressed. Brittany angry was always a sight, but she must have extra fuel in her engine from the flowers. And right now, in her knee highs and heels, she looked like an avenging goddess ready to smite those who would oppose her.
Unfortunately, the guy was an idiot. His face screwed up with the rage of unrequited lust, and he attempted once again to grab Brittany.
“Listen, you bitch—”
Gus was moving before he could finish, grabbing the guy and hauling him away from Brittany in a move he learned during his old bouncing days. He shoved the guy into the arms of the waiting security guards at the door.
“Get this guy out and revoke his pass.”
The guards nodded, taking the asswipe away, his face contorting as he realized his time at Kickoff was completely over. Gus turned back to Brittany to make sure she was doing alright and then realized he shouldn’t have worried. She was already smiling with the next group, posing for a picture while one of the women told her what a hero she was. Gus shook his head at the sight. Brittany was a scrapper, and he couldn’t help but admire her for her ability to bounce back.
Her eyes wandered to him just then, and Gus felt a shock through his entire system. The kind of feeling when you’re falling asleep and suddenly jolt awake—like your body was slowly dying without you realizing, and now you finally had what you needed to survive. The air practically crackled with tension and Gus couldn’t look away, drawn into her in a way that he didn’t want to end.
The whole moment was maybe a second long before Brittany snapped back to the people she was talking to. Gus found himself shaking his head, trying to make sense of it without actually thinking too hard.
His sugar was low. Or maybe he was dehydrated. That must be it. He sure as hell wasn’t finding himself attracted to his brother’s ex, who had only dated him for clout. The one who had used Robbie for followers and then sabotaged his game system when he called her on it.
Gus shook his head again, trying to clear out the cobwebs that were forming around his thoughts of Brittany. He was there to do a job, so he would do it. Keep her safe and whole and then get the hell out of her sphere. Because if this weekend had taught him anything so far, it was that he sure didn’t belong there.
When the meet-and-greet was finally over, Gus was waiting for Brittany outside the curtained-off green room while she changed back into her sneakers. When she emerged, she looked all the levels of tired she hadn’t wanted to show to her fans. He held up her water bottle.
“I filled it up.”
She nodded, taking the bottle without saying much, tapping her fingers on the side in a distracted way. Clearly gearing herself up for a question.
“What did you find out about the flowers?” she finally asked.
“They were sent from a local florist. I’ve already left a message saying I wanted to meet about a private matter. I’ll go talk to them after I drop you off at your hotel room.”
Brittany was already shaking her head, lifting her chin with the stubborn tilt that he knew spelled trouble.
“I want to come with you.”
“You just spent three hours putting on a show for people. You’re exhausted. I’m going to walk you to your hotel room, you’re going to rest, and then I’m going to check the florist.”
“I’ll let you know when I need to rest, Gus. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“On the contrary, killer,” he said, leaning toward her, purposefully getting in her space. “As long as some asshole is sending you notes saying he wants to fuck your throat raw, I’m calling the shots. When your safety is on the line, I’m not going to cater to your ego. Yell all you want, but the guy could be hanging around the shop waiting to see if you show up. Fuck, he could be one of the employees there. And you’d do nothing but feed his obsession in those short-shorts and bite-me lips. So I’m going to walk you to your hotel room, and you’re going to rest while I go ask some questions.”
They were in a standoff, Brittany’s arms crossed over her chest, pushing her breasts up in a way that Gus wished to god he didn’t notice. She was pissed, but there was a flicker of heat in her eyes that was making his breath come faster than usual.
Finally, she relaxed, and he could sense victory.
“Fine,” she said. “But you have to tell me if you find anything. Don’t keep me in the dark because you don’t want to worry me or scare me. He’s been sending me shit for a year now, I can handle whatever you find.”
“Fine by me. It’s better you’re informed and cautious than stupid and reckless.”
He bent down, scooping up the backpack she had dropped on the floor when they started arguing. He threw it over his own shoulder before gesturing toward her.
“Stay close.”
That was the last they spoke as they made slow progress back to Brittany’s hotel. The crowds of the convention were still present as everyone settled into a weekend of lines and exclusives and parties. At one point, the crowd outside the convention center was thick, pressing them in, and Gus felt a hand take his. Glancing over his shoulder, he met Brittany’s eyes.
“Don’t make it weird. I don’t want to lose you in all the people.”
He gave her hand an involuntary squeeze.
“Never.”
After that, he kept a solid grip on her hand, not wanting her to move too far from him. When they finally emerged, they were across the street walking past several shops and restaurants. The area wasn’t as packed with people as the convention center was, but still Gus kept her hand in his, the memory of the graphic note from the flowers flashing through his mind. There was no way he was letting her go.
When they finally reached her hotel, Gus reluctantly dropped her hand and followed her into the elevator, pushing back into the space when more people joined them. He grabbed Brittany by the hips and pulled her to stand in front of him as more and more people piled in. Her back was pressed into his chest, and Gus realized his mistake too late. He wanted Brittany close but being this close to her meant he could smell the floral scent she wore, light and breezy in the otherwise stuffy elevator. He could sense the heat from her skin, could see how soft it looked, and all those things combined were enough to make his cock stir to life. If one more person pushed into the elevator, she was going to be able to feel exactly how hard he was.
And since Gus had the absolute worst luck, one last person shoved onto the elevator, holding a large bag of whatever loot he had purchased that day. The elevator shuffled, and Brittany was firmly pressed against Gus, her back to his front, his hard-on right above her ass. She shifted a little before freezing, realizing what she was feeling. She shot a sly glance back at him, her eyes wider than normal, filled with shock and something else that Gus couldn’t identify.
“Really?” she asked, keeping her voice as quiet as possible in the elevator as it started to rise.
“Proximity, killer. Just stay still until some people get off.”
His hands were still on her hips so when she shifted slightly, he felt it everywhere, his body responding in such an eager way that Gus would be embarrassed if he wasn’t so turned on. He gripped her tighter, letting the loud conversation from the other people in the elevator cover his voice.
“What did I just say?”
She fucking smirked, and Gus almost lost his mind.
“The elevator is rocking, I can’t help it.”
He leaned closer to whisper in her ear.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish.”
“Worried you can’t get me to finish?”
They stared at each other, both realizing at the same moment the line they were about to cross, the one Gus could’ve sworn was never a possibility before today. She was his brother’s ex and should be off limits. But she was sexy and warm, and her softness was pressed against him in a way that was making him forget exactly why this couldn’t happen.
The elevator dinged as it opened, and almost everyone stepped out, leaving Brittany and Gus alone with two other people who were quietly talking to each other. There was plenty of space to stand, but Brittany made no move to leave, so Gus left his hands on her hips, both of them silently agreeing to stay where they were. They stood pressed together for the next few floors, Gus soaking in her heat, the floral smell of her hair, the catch of her breath when the elevator made an abrupt stop on their floor, all while his brain screamed at him, trying to understand what the fuck he was doing.
And then the elevator opened on their floor. With a small squeeze, he let her go, leading her off the elevator and down the hallway toward her room, keeping an eye out for anyone that might be lurking in the hall.
Without a word, Brittany stepped forward to unlock her door, holding the handle open as she turned back to look at him, the air between them still charged since the elevator.
“Thank you. For today.”
Gus nodded. “Stay inside. Call or text if you need anything.”
She nodded and slipped through the door. A cacophony of hellos came through, and Gus remembered suddenly she had a number of roommates in the hotel room with her, one of them the asshole that had put his hands on her earlier, and that bothered him. A lot.
Brittany gave him a small smile, then shut the door, leaving Gus alone in the hall wondering why he was suddenly torn in leaving her there.
Shaking off the moment, Gus headed to the florist shop that delivered the flowers, only to learn from the owners that they take online orders and can’t share any personal information about customers with him. He explained in simple terms the situation, and they promised to notify him if it happened again.
Left with no other lead to follow, Gus headed out, only to hear his phone chime with a text.
Val: Update needed. Coffee in ten.
He smiled. Val must have surfaced enough from the constant chaos that was Kickoff. He sent her a quick text—an emoji of a hand flipping the bird—and made his way the few blocks to the coffee shop he knew she loved.
The smell of espresso and sugar assaulted him the minute he stepped through the door. Polka Dot was the newest café in town and already a hit with the locals. Clearly the Kickoff crowd had also easily discovered the place because the entire café was packed with nerdy shirts and a few cosplays, some Gus recognized and some he didn’t. He stood at the back of the long line, not seeing Val, and was about to send a text when a foot kicked in his left calf, making his knee buckle. He turned to find his boss sipping some disgusting sugar concoction.
“What is this, junior high?”
“Of course not. I was way too popular to talk to you in junior high.”
Val was practically an Amazon—Chinese, almost six feet tall, with short dark hair and eyes that could cut a man’s genitalia from across the room. She was in a slim-cut suit, the hint of one of her tattoos spilling out from the open collar of her button-up shirt. She handed him his standard drink—cold brew with some foam milk that he had to admit tasted like heaven—and they pushed their way to the table she had managed to snag. Her laptop was set up, along with a small plate with the remains of a muffin. She glanced at the plate as they settled in.
“The coffee here is amazing, but their baked goods taste like dirt water.”
He chuckled. “You say that every time but you keep buying the damn muffins.”
“Hope springs eternal.”
She took a sip of whatever blended sugar monstrosity she ordered and then leveled him with a look.
“So. Update?”
Gus shrugged. “It’s been mostly quiet, except for an incident at her meet-and-greet. Our stalker left her some flowers and a pretty graphic note.”
He pulled it out of his pocket, handing it over to her for her to scan. He already had it memorized.
You’ve been ignoring me, you naughty girl. I can’t wait to punish you this weekend, to watch your tears stream down your cheeks when I face fuck you so hard your throat is raw. Your new boy toy won’t be able to keep you from me. You’re mine, and it’s time I branded you as such.
Val finished reading and then filed the note away in a folder, nodding.
“On par with what he’s sent her before.”
It was, but that only made Gus burn more. Gus could feel his chest tighten with the idea that Brittany had been receiving those damn notes for almost a year now, never letting on how much they disturbed her. He should’ve known she was having problems.
“It’s an escalation. He’s going to try something this weekend. I can feel it.”
Val gave him a measured look.
“That’s why she hired us. To make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Gus didn’t say anything for a moment, and Val very deliberately put her drink down.
“We got a problem here, Gus?”
“Not sure what you mean.”
“I mean, if you’re getting personally involved—”
“She’s my brother’s ex. I was personally involved before you called me begging for help.”
“That was when I thought you were just acquaintances. You’re acting like…” She stopped, rethinking whatever she had been about to say, but Gus was annoyed enough to push her on it.
“What? What am I acting like?”
“Honestly, you’re acting like an overprotective boyfriend.”
Gus looked out the window, not able to meet her gaze. Was that really how he was acting? He couldn’t tell anymore. His brain was too fogged up with Brittany, with the worry about her being in trouble.
Unfortunately, Val loved to belabor a point to death. “You can’t protect her if your feelings are wrapped up in this.”
“That may be so, but there’s no one else to do the work. That’s why you called me, remember?”
Val shook her head.
“You’re right, I’m an idiot. I’ll switch you out with Doug. He’s got a nice, happily married actor that you’ll hate.”
“No.”
The word came out before Gus could think about it, but he wouldn’t take it back. Brittany needed someone to watch her back right now, and the truth was that Gus didn’t trust anyone else to do it.
Val threw him an exasperated look.
“Gus, it’s for the best. I shouldn’t have put you in this position.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. But we’re here, and I’m not leaving her alone.”
“She wouldn’t be alone, she’d have Doug.”
“I said no.”
They stared at each other for a moment, Val squinting at whatever she saw in his expression before she sighed.
“Fine. But if she breaks your heart, I’m going to want words.”
Gus grinned at that. Val was a ball-buster, but she was also loyal as fuck.
“I should warn you. She has a temper.”
Val smirked. “So do I.”
“She also has a slight tendency to start fires when she’s angry.”
Val quirked an eyebrow. “Just my type.”
Gus laughed just as he heard a voice behind him.
“Gus?”
He turned to find a young, cute redhead smiling at him.
“Hey, Dev. Good to see you.”
“Good to see you, too. Heard this place was as delicious as it was caffeinated.”
“The rumors are true, but you’ll probably want to avoid the pastries until they get their chef sorted out.”
She nodded, looking a little disappointed.
“Thanks for that warning.”
It was then Dev glanced over at Val and froze, her eyes widening as if in shock. When Gus turned to follow her gaze, he found Val staring at the young woman with a calculated look, her expression carefully blank.
Suddenly nervous, Dev pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes darting away.
“Anyway, I’ll let you get back to… okay, bye!”
She waved, leaving the café without buying anything that Gus noticed, and Gus turned to Val, who was focused on her laptop. Avoiding his gaze.
“Do I want to know what just happened?”
“You ran into a friend and slandered the local bakery.”
“Why did she look like you were going to eat her?”
“I have predator energy. Focus, Lozano, there’s paperwork to fill out.”
She pushed a stack toward him, and he took it, letting the subject drop. Val was a vault when she didn’t want to talk about something, and whatever was going on between her and Dev was clearly on Val’s ‘no talking’ list. Gus settled in for the familiar routine of the paperwork, grateful to be distracted from thinking about Brittany.
And how good she felt in that damn elevator.