22. Chapter 21
Chapter 21
AJ
Too worked up to sit behind the wheel, I leaned against the hood of the car after relieving Eric. Jack kept me company via the ear-piece as he drove directly to campus. He had Blake’s schedule, and I’d marked a map with her normal routes; the plan was for him to watch over us from a distance. We’d marked alternate routes; with any luck, Blake would be open to using them.
I hated needing extra coverage, but was grateful for the second set of eyes.
We considered not telling Blake, but Meg had argued, “It might scare her to know what was going on, but at least she’ll be prepared.”
She was right. Knowing would most likely cause Blake to feel more nervous, but at least she'd know what was going on.
Unfortunately for me, it was my job to update her during the ride to campus. This would be so much easier if she wasn’t pissed at me.
Much to my relief, we agreed not to tell her about her father’s questionable practices. There wasn’t enough evidence to justify upsetting her. And selfishly, I didn’t want to give her a reason to be even more angry with me.
“Aurora is leaving the castle,” I whispered into the comms as Blake opened the door.
“Copy that,” Jack’s voice was in one ear while I tuned the other one to listen to Blake’s loving goodbye to her father.
I waved to Mr. Davenport as I met Blake at the bottom of the steps. She opened her mouth to argue when I opened the front passenger door.
I cut her off, asking, “Please?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes, but got in.
No time like the present. I took a deep, calming breath and ripped off the Band-Aid. “We have to talk,” I said once we were on the road.
I could go the rest of my life without ever again seeing the I’m-so-done-with-you look she sent my way. Her disgust and irritation hung thick between us.
“Jack is going to be shadowing us toda-”
“What? Why?”
“Keep it simple,” Jack said in my ear.
“Right,” I whispered before taking a deep breath.
“Right what?” Confusion mixed with her frustration.
“Sorry, I was talking to Jack.” To help Blake feel more comfortable, I wouldn’t use our call signs unless there was an immediate threat.
Her glare bore a hole in the side of my head, but she didn’t speak, so I continued, “I know this isn’t what you want.” She huffed and crossed her arms. “But we’re concerned our investigation may cause whoever sent the note to act sooner rather than later.”
Not wanting to risk upsetting Blake more, I tapped my mic when I heard Jack say, “Well done.”
Blake didn’t talk to me the rest of the ride. Something about her body language hinted her silence was about something other than having an extra bodyguard.
Jack’s update broke the silence; he had parked.
I expected Blake to bolt from the car as soon as I parked, but she stared out the windshield instead.
She jumped when I reached out and gently touched her shoulder. “Blake, are you okay?” It was a stupid question, but I didn't know what else to ask.
She turned her head, but not her eyes. When they finally caught up and met mine, I could see the depth of her fear. Hell, I could almost feel it.
“This is really real. Someone wants to hurt me.”
She sounded small and defeated as she fought back her tears.
She’s trying so hard to be strong.
I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms and hug her. I’d give anything to tell her this was all just a bad dream. But I couldn’t.
“I’m sorry.” I looked out the window and saw Jack making his way towards us. Not caring that he could hear me, I said, “I swear I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
I ignored Jack as I watched Blake blink back tears. She said thank you as she turned away. Her voice was almost drowned out by the click as she released her seat belt.
Before getting out, I reminded her to ignore Jack if she noticed him.
Blake sat in the back, in the seat closest to the aisle, during her first class. I had to scoot her over so I could sit between her and the door. Not that I minded standing for the ninety minutes, but it would have attracted unwanted attention.
Jack kept me entertained by making random comments as the professor droned on.
Blake was packed up and ready to go before the professor dismissed the class, so we left early. I let Jack know which exit we’d use, then steered her in that direction. She showed some of her earlier sass by rolling her eyes, but followed my lead without a word.
Blake tried to be strong, but fear had driven out most of her fight. I missed her yelling at me for opening her door.
We were crossing the quad when I heard Jack say, “You have a shadow.”
“Copy that,” I answered, stepping closer to Blake. Wanting to look casual, I put an arm around her shoulder and leaned in.
I smiled as I whispered in her ear. “Please don’t pull away; someone is following us.” I felt her stiffen, but to her credit, she didn’t move away from me or freak out.
“Where?” she asked as she started to turn her head.
“Don’t look,” I said, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look up at me. “Jack’s watching him and relaying info. You’re safe.”
“He’s at your five and picking up speed.” Jack’s voice interrupted me. “I’m closing in.”
“Blake, don’t panic, but I need you to do exactly what I say when I say it. Please.”
Fear radiated off her as she nodded. Having memorized the buildings around the quad, I knew there was a bookstore and café up ahead and to the left. If I could get her inside, out of his line of sight, we could disappear without causing a scene. I only need a few seconds . Not wanting to give away our destination, in case he was close enough to hear me, I told Jack my plan in code.
My heart raced, and my breathing sped up. I can’t let anything happen to her. Refusing to let my nerves get the best of me, I ignored my reflexive need to look behind me and focused on my breathing as I led Blake towards the building housing the campus bookstore.
“He’s fifteen yards out and picking up speed. Moving to intercept.”
Jack would take care of the threat, but that didn’t mean we could stop. Just because Jack had only identified one; didn’t mean he was alone.
Shit . They may be leading us in to a trap.
I heard the commotion, in real time and over comms, before I heard Jack say, “Fuck!”
Fuck!
I didn’t need to look to know whatever had happened accomplished two things; it created a scene, capturing everyone’s attention, and left me without backup. Shit.
I heard Jack say, “get off me,” as I urged Blake to walk faster.
“Just keep walking,” I said to Blake with a quick glance behind us. I couldn’t see the guy trailing us as everyone rushed to see what was happening by Jack.
“Shit, I lost my line of sight.” I could hear the frustration in Jack’s voice. I tuned out the sound of Jack untangling himself from the crowd and focused on getting Blake to safety.
I could hear Blake’s heavy breathing as panic set in.
“It’ll be okay, just keep moving and follow my directions.”
She nodded.
“Tango ten yards out,” Jack said. “I’m on my way but won’t make it in time to intercept.”
We were on our own.
Ten yards. Thirty feet. That was all that stood between Blake and the threat. I kept leading Blake as Jack kept me updated, dropping the threat’s distance every couple of words. He was moving fast, but not running.
When the guy was three yards out, Jack told me there was no one between him and me. Nine feet.
Given his height, he only had to take seven or eight steps.
Bound by the law, and my conscience, I wouldn’t draw my gun and risk hurting innocent bystanders. I doubted the Tango cared about either. I trusted my ability to handle the guy—as long as weapons weren’t drawn.
“No matter what happens, stay behind me.” I used my left arm to force her behind my back as I turned to face the threat. My right hand was up and ready to intercept.
Shock registered on his face when I spun around. His quarter-second pause was all I needed.
A quick glance told me his hands were empty. Thank God . I exceeded at unarmed combat and wouldn’t hesitate to demonstrate my skills on the fucker who was stupid enough to threaten my girl.
To gain the upper hand, I closed the distance, my right fist connecting with his face in a nose-breaking crunch. Unfazed by the pain or blood spattering across his lower face, he drew back to return the favor. I blocked it and trapped his arm, using it to pull him closer as I brought my knee up to his ribs. He tried to connect a punch with his free hand, but my next move twisted him into a choke hold.
I glanced over to make sure Blake was safe. A crowd was forming, but she hadn’t moved.
Not wanting to see the disgust in Blake’s eyes, I avoided making eye contact as I tightened my arm around the guy’s neck.
He clawed at me and tried stomping on my feet as he struggled.
He’s lucky I’m choking him out and not snapping his neck.
I tightened the sleeper chokehold, forcing him to pass out sooner.
“Sierra Four! Let go!” Jack’s voice cut through the red haze that had over-taken my mind. I relaxed my grip and set the guy on the ground, noticing the noise of the crowd around us for the first time. They were loud but giving us a wide berth.
“I’ve got him. See to Aurora.” Jack was standing next to Blake, protecting her as he led her towards me. The shock and fear on her face was enough to snap me fully back to the present. I replaced Jack at Blake’s side while he knelt over the limp body.
“I got this,” Jack said, letting me know he didn’t need my help zip-tying an unconscious man.
I gave Blake my full attention.
Her unblinking eyes stared at the guy on the ground.
“Are you okay?” I asked, stepping in front of her to block her view.
She didn’t move. Didn’t even blink.
The only thing I could think of was to physically pull her out of the trance. It’ll scare her. Knowing it needed to be done didn’t help me feel any better about it.
When I shook her shoulders, she yelped and jumped back.
At least she’s looking at me.
The fear in her eyes was like a dagger through my heart.
Shutting down my emotions, I focused on my goal—getting Blake to safety.
Just because we hadn’t seen anyone else didn’t mean the threat didn’t have backup.
Jack relayed information as he searched the guy for weapons. So far, he’d found a gun and a full syringe.
Keeping my body between Blake and Jack, I glanced over my shoulder. “You good?” I whispered into my comms.
“Yeah, get her out of here. I’ll deal with campus police.”
No doubt they were already on their way and would want to take our statement, but they’d have to wait. Getting Blake to safety was more important. Luckily, John had told them Blake had an armed escort, so it wouldn’t surprise them to see SSI on the scene.
“Are you hurt?” I asked as I tried to turn her away from the scene.
Blake refused to budge. “Is he dead?” she asked, her eyes once again glued to the guy lying at Jack’s feet.
“No. Just unconscious.”
The energy shifted as the crowd grew restless.
“Get her out of here,” Jack ordered.
“Let’s go,” I said, sounding harsher than I’d intended.
She still didn’t move. Her freeze response had kicked in, cementing her feet to the ground.
I don’t have time for this . Knowing it’d look bad if I flung her over my shoulder, I scooped her up like a newlywed, carrying his bride over the threshold.
The movement snapped her out of it and she whimpered, burying her face in my neck as her short arms clung to me for dear life.
“I got you. You’re okay.” I wasn’t sure my words had registered until I felt her delayed nod. Blake’s sheltered life had just been cracked open. Her innocence shattered.
I glanced behind me as I jogged to the car, relieved no one was following us.
Blake’s death grip on my neck tightened when I tried to set her down so I could open her door.
“It’s okay, I’m not going anywhere.” I tried to set her down again, but she curled into me. I rubbed her back as I spoke in hushed tones, “Blake, Sweetheart, I have to put you down to open the door.”
She nodded and slowly released her grip. Releasing her legs, it hit me—I didn’t want to let go of her any more than she wanted me to. When her feet touched the ground, I wrapped my arms around her, stroking her back and holding her head to my chest as I swore I’d never let anyone hurt her.
I’ll face the devil himself if I have to .
I helped her into the passenger seat, where I could see her, and buckled her seatbelt. I clicked the door lock as I ran around the front to the driver’s side, scanning as I went.
What a fucking day. And it wasn’t even noon.