Chapter 8 Alec
Alec
A knock on the door wakes me from the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages. Hell, in my entire life. I look around, and there’s Claire, lying next to me and blinking open her eyes.
We stayed up way too late, having sex two more times before we finally passed out. I’m starving because we forgot dinner in the rush of everything, too.
“Did I just hear the door?”
Claire looks around, groggy with sleep still clinging to her. It’s fucking adorable.
I’ve known this girl for such a short time, but every second I’m around her, my cells vibrate with excitement and attraction. It’s nuts, I know, but I never want to be apart from her.
“Yeah, hang on. I’ll fetch us some clothes.”
Smiling over at me as she yawns, I scramble out of bed and hurry to find something for us to wear, conveniently forgetting Claire’s bra and underwear.
She eyes me, but we both hurry to get dressed. Claire is answering the door after another knock just as I’m pulling my shirt down over my head.
“Hello?” Claire sounds confused but not worried, so I try to stay level as I pull up to stand behind her.
There’s a woman at the door.
“Hello. Ms. Andrews?” Claire nods, holding onto the door just in case a slam is in order. “Hi, great. I’m Tess Beaumont. I saw you at the precinct yesterday, and I was hoping I could talk to you.”
I step forward, putting my hand on the small of Claire’s back. “About what?”
“Theodore McDowell Jr.” Claire and I both freeze, my heart pounding against my ribs. “I think you might be just the person to help me get his ass thrown behind bars for good.”
It takes me a moment to process. She’s talking about actually busting Teddy? That’s a fucking change. Everyone has been too afraid to stand up to him.
Claire fumbles slightly as she steps backward, opening the door further for our impromptu guest.
“Come inside. We can talk about this more privately.”
Ms. Beaumont steps into the apartment, and Claire closes and locks the door again. I keep my distance, watching over the scene so I can tell at a glance if this woman starts acting squirrely.
Sitting down on the couch, Claire gestures for Ms. Beaumont to join her. “Please have a seat.”
When she does, there’s no missing the tension rippling through Claire. She’s already been dealing with a lot, and now someone’s here claiming they want to take down Teddy.
“I’m sorry to drop in unannounced like this, but I feel like time is of the essence.
” Ms. Beaumont faces Claire, and she’s giving all sorts of no-bullshit vibes.
As she talks, her hand drifts to a thin scar along her jawline, tracing it absently.
“I heard about what was happening with Senator McDowell while I was at the station. The truth is, I’m an investigative journalist, and I’ve been digging into his corruption for months. ”
“You’re a reporter?” Claire leans in, and I watch the tension ease slightly from her shoulders.
“I am. It started with embezzlement, but not long ago, women started coming to me. One of the senator’s old aides.
Then more. All sexually harassed.” Ms. Beaumont’s composure cracks for just a second—something dark and personal flashing through her eyes before she shuts it down.
Her fingers find that scar again. “Let’s just say I have my own reasons for wanting men like Theodore McDowell to face consequences. And then yesterday, I saw you.”
A tremor starts through Claire’s body, and I step toward her. She looks up at me, eyes glassy, and I sit down behind her on the couch, lending her my presence.
“He’s done this to more people? Several more?” Claire shakes her head, forcing herself to breathe evenly. “Do you really think you can bring this to light?”
“I want to try. He’s been tough to track, and as you’ve noticed, he’s done enough to keep himself from getting caught. His slip-up with you—the boat incident, from what a detective told me—was the first time he left that much evidence. And you didn’t take the bribe.”
Claire pulls into herself, and I can guess she’s feeling ashamed that this stranger knows what happened.
“Hey,” I get her to look at me, “this is a good thing. Ms. Beaumont might actually be willing to work with us. Which is more than I can say for the fucking cops.”
“I understand why their hands are tied, but yeah, they’ve been less than helpful. The other women only agreed to talk with me because I promised anonymity. You took your case to the police, so… I’m hoping you’ll be willing to take this a step further.”
Stiffening, Claire sits up straighter. “And what would that entail?”
Meeting Claire’s eyes intensely, Ms. Beaumont takes her hands.
“I propose that you arrange a meeting with Senator McDowell to ‘apologize.’ This ought to lure him out. While you’re there, I’ll be somewhere out of sight, recording.
All you need to do is get him to admit what he did to you, and we’re golden.
He can even say it proudly. Whatever it takes. ”
“I’ll be going too. There’s no way I’m letting Claire do this without backup.”
Ms. Beaumont eyes me, paying real attention to me for the first time. “Are you her bodyguard?”
I nod, smirking slightly. “Yeah, something like that. And I’m trained, so you don’t have to worry about me blowing the operation. I have several silent ops missions under my belt.”
Her eyes flare wide for a moment, but then she turns down the corners of her mouth and nods.
“Alright, Rambo. I’m fine with it since it does look like you can handle yourself.” She gestures at my military tattoos, visible since I’m wearing just a T-shirt. “Claire?”
Claire releases Ms. Beaumont’s hands. She doesn’t take mine. Instead, she stands and walks to the window, arms wrapped around herself.
Silence stretches out. I can see her shoulders rising and falling with deep breaths. When she turns back around, there are tears in her eyes, but her jaw is set.
“You’re asking me to face him.” Her voice is steady even as the tears fall. “To stand in front of the man who—” She stops. Swallows hard. “To pretend I’m sorry. To pretend I want him.”
“Claire, you don’t have to—” I start.
“I know.” She cuts me off, holding up a hand. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
She paces to the other side of the room. I can see the war happening inside her. The fear. The anger. The weight of what she’s being asked to do.
“Every time I close my eyes, I’m back on that yacht. I can taste blood in my mouth. I can feel his hand in my hair.” Her voice cracks. “And you’re asking me to walk up to him and smile.”
My chest cracks open watching her. I want to hold her. To tell her she never has to see that bastard’s face again.
But then something shifts.
Claire stops pacing. Her spine straightens. When she turns to face us, the tears are still there, but so is something fierce.
“Those other women. They’re living with the same nightmares I am. The same shame that shouldn’t even be shame because he’s the monster.” Her hands ball into fists at her sides. “And if I don’t do this, he just keeps going. He keeps hurting people because everyone’s too scared.”
I watch Claire’s chin lift. Watch the fear transform into something braver.
“Then I’ll do it. I want Theodore caught and put away for good. And maybe if we get him on tape, the other women won’t have to be so scared anymore.”
My heart swells so big it might burst through my ribs. This incredible, terrified, brave-as-hell woman is choosing to face her worst nightmare to protect strangers.
I’ve never fallen so hard so fast in my entire life.
“They might come forward,” Ms. Beaumont says with a nod. “It would be good for the case. But let’s take this one step at a time, okay?”
“You’ll need to call or text him. Whichever way you reached out the first time.” I cup Claire’s cheek, letting her relax against it for a moment.
She leans into my touch, and I feel the slight tremble still running through her. But she’s not backing down.
God, she’s magnificent.
“Alright,” Claire reaches for her phone on the coffee table, “let’s do this.”
It was well past midnight when we arrived at the underground parking lot I had suggested as a meetup. Claire now stands in the center, shrouded in darkness thanks to the less-than-functional lights. Ms. Beaumont is in place behind a car and pole so she can record out of sight.
I’ll admit I’m impressed by the equipment Ms. Beaumont has available for this recon mission.
It’s not at the front of my mind, though. No, that’d be the nervous energy rolling off Claire in waves. She’s clearly freaked, and I hardly blame her.
She’s supposed to come face-to-face with the man who assaulted her, pretend to give her apologies while making it seem like she’s attracted to him, and not draw attention to me or Beaumont.
It’d be a lot for anyone.
My own nerves are a different beast entirely. As I scan the parking garage, checking sight lines and exits for the hundredth time, a cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.
What if I miss something?
The thought slithers in before I can stop it, bringing ghosts with it. Sand and gunfire. My teammates’ faces. The moment I realized the ambush was coming—a split second too late.
I couldn’t protect them.
My hands shake slightly, and I clench them into fists to make it stop.
What if I fail again? What if something happens to her because I wasn’t good enough?
I look at Claire standing there in the dim light, so small and so fucking brave. The fear threatens to swallow me whole.
But then she glances over at me, a nervous smile flickering across her face, and something in my chest steadies.
I couldn’t save my team. That weight will never leave me. But I can save her. I will save her. Because losing Claire isn’t something I’m willing to survive.
I push the ghosts down and cross the distance between us.
McDowell should be here any minute, and I need her to relax if she’s going to be believable.
“How you holding up? I know this is a lot to deal with.” I rub up and down her arms as I stand before her, my boots making me that much taller than her.
“I’m freaking out, which I’m sure you know. But… yeah, I’m great.”
I can’t help but chuckle at the sarcasm, holding her face in my hands as I drop a kiss on her forehead.
“You are great. You’re doing something incredibly brave, Claire. And I’m right here. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
She sags as a smile tugs at her lips. “Thanks. And you do look nice in that vest of yours.”
“Ha,” I shake my head, “the vest is for protection because I’m a cautious asshole. It’s why you have a much slimmer one underneath that hoodie, which I owe Boss a serious favor for letting me borrow.”
“I think I want to meet this boss of yours. He sounds interesting.”
“I’d like that.” I sweep Claire’s long brown hair off her shoulder, letting my fingers linger against the warm skin of her neck. “I know this is all moving pretty fast, but…”
I trail off. The words are stuck somewhere between my chest and my throat, and I’ve never been good at this. At saying what I feel. At letting anyone in.
Claire watches me, her honey-brown eyes soft in the dim light.
“But what?” she prompts gently.
“I…” I blow out a breath, shaking my head at myself. Come on, Alec. You’ve faced down enemy fire. You can say words to a woman. “I think there’s something here. Something real. And I’ve spent a long damn time making sure I don’t feel things for people. It’s easier that way. Safer.”
My hands are still on her shoulders, and I can feel her pulse fluttering under my thumbs.
“But you make me not want safe anymore.” I search her face, struggling with words that don’t come easy. “I care about you, Claire. More than I’ve cared about anyone in longer than I can remember. And I don’t want this to end. I want to see where it goes. What we can be.”
Her eyes are shining now, tears threatening to spill over, and her lips part like she’s about to say something.
I hold my breath.
“Alec, I—”
The sound of tires slowly approaching destroys the moment, and we both jerk toward the noise.
Fuck. Not now.
Claire’s hand falls from my face, and the cold night air rushes into the space between us.
“He’s here.” My voice comes out rougher than I intend. “I need to get into position.”
She nods, but I can see the words still there behind her eyes. The things she didn’t get to say.
Later, I promise myself. When this is over, I’m going to hear every single thing she was about to tell me.
I grab her hand and pull her close, pressing my forehead to hers. Our breath mingles in the cold air, and I close my eyes, memorizing this moment.
“You’ve got this, Claire,” I murmur against her lips. “You’re the bravest person I know. And I’m going to be right there the whole time. He’s not going to touch you. I swear it.”
“I know.” Her voice is barely a whisper. “I trust you.”
I kiss her then. Soft but fierce. A promise sealed against her lips. She melts into me, her fingers gripping my shirt, and for just a second, nothing else exists.
When I pull back, I press one more kiss to her forehead.
“I’ll be watching every second. The moment anything goes wrong, I’m there.”
She nods, her eyes clear now. Determined.
I force myself to let go of her hand and slip into the shadows.
From my position behind a concrete pillar, I watch Claire square her shoulders. Watch her transform from the trembling woman I just held into someone who looks ready to face down a monster.
That’s my girl.
She gives me a small nod across the darkness.
“Yeah,” she says quietly. “I’ve got this.”