10. Evan
EVAN
I leaned back in my chair, my mind reeling as I processed everything Vlado had just told me.
“Let me read it again.”
Vlado handed me a copy of the letter.
One of Vlado’s men had found it while doing a routine patrol of the gate. Another patrol had gone by the gate two hours earlier, so the letter had to have been dropped off between rotations.
The gate was under surveillance, but whoever had delivered the letter had either been casing the place, or they had a working knowledge of my security system. All we’d been able to see on the CCTV was a figure dressed in black. They’d kept to the shadows, and obscured their face with a mask.
Vlado had his team working on identifying the delivery person, but it would take time to get answers.
I read the letter for the fourth time, focusing on every word to commit it to memory.
Whoever was sending them had shifted their threats from me, to Nick, and had gone into graphic detail about what they’d do to him to get to me.
They’d wanted my attention before, now they had it.
“I don’t care what it costs, or what you have to do. Find whoever is sending these and give me five minutes alone with him.”
Vlado took the paper back. “You can have your turn with them when I’m done.”
I nodded. “I want you on him.”
“Ev—”
“That’s not a request. You will be his shadow every time he steps foot outside this house.”
“I want to protect him too, but you’re—”
“I brought him into this. I put him on their radar.” I dug the heel of my shoe into the floor as anger flowed through me like a rushing current. “If anyone touches even one hair on his head, it will be the last thing they ever do. Any of them. They will pay.”
Vlado folded the letter and shoved it in his pocket. “Understood. But I’m putting three guys on you until this is over, and I’m bringing in our reserve team. I’m not taking any chances. Not with either of you.”
“Do whatever you need to. We’ll worry about the consequences later.”
Vlado nodded grimly. “Are you going to tell him?”
I drew in a deep breath. “Not yet.”
He leveled me with a flat look.
“Telling him will just scare him, and it’s not safe for him to leave, not until we neutralize the threat,” I reasoned.
“He has a right to know.”
“I know. And I’ll tell him when the time is right.”
“This is going to backfire when he finds out you lied to him.”
“That’s a risk I’ll take if it keeps him safe.”
“Get some sleep, Ev. We’ll get this handled.”
I nodded and stood. “Tell whoever needs to know that I’ll be ready to leave at eight.”
“Will do.”
Energy crackled under my skin as I headed out of my office. My mind raced as images of all the worst-case scenarios bombarded me. The overwhelming urge to check on Nick hit with the speed and strength of a freight train. I needed to see for myself that he was safe and unharmed.
Not letting myself think too hard about what I was doing, I strode to his room.
A sliver of light shone from beneath his door as I approached. “Nick?” I called softly and rapped on the door.
A moment later it swung open. “Evan?”
He’d changed into a pair of tiny green silk shorts that had deep slits on the sides, and an oversized green crop top, and I instantly lost my train of thought.
The dim light highlighted the long, lean muscles of his stomach. The rounded protrusions of his hips were on full display, as were his incredible legs and muscular thighs.
Heat and blood rushed to my groin as I remembered exactly how those legs had felt wrapped around my waist.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, breaking me free from my daze.
“I wanted to check on you,” I said after a pause. I’d been so focused on just getting to him, I hadn’t thought of an excuse to be knocking on his door at this hour.
“You’re freaking me out. What’s going on?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
His expression fell. “Oh. Okay.”
The utter defeat in his voice cut deep, splintering my already-precarious resolve to keep him in the dark.
Vlado was right. Nick deserved to know the truth about everything so he could make an informed decision about what he wanted to do.
“There is something.” I tipped his chin up. “Can I come in and I’ll explain it to you?”
With a nod, he stepped back, his big eyes liquid and so trusting.
Closing the door behind me, I followed him to his bed. He perched on the edge of what I presumed was his side. I sat a few feet in front of him, my body angled toward him as he crossed his legs.
I didn’t get nervous, or anxious. Not easily. And a difficult or pointed conversation was rarely anything for me at all; I had those daily. But for this, I took a fortifying breath. “A few months ago I started receiving threatening letters.”
His eyes rounded in shock but he kept quiet.
“It’s not the first time this has happened, and it won’t be the last. The letters have followed a pattern—when they’re delivered, how, even the language in them.”
“And you got one tonight?” he asked, sounding uncharacteristically cautious and quiet.
“Yes. It broke their usual patterns, which is what makes tonight’s letter extra concerning. It’s not the right day, place, or the usual delivery method. They also changed the language within the letter.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means they’re not just threatening me anymore.”
His lips parted in a little O. He blinked slowly. “They threatened me?”
“Yes.” I laid my hand over his, where it rested on his knee. “I’m so sorry, Nicky. I never would have started this arrangement if I thought you’d get brought into this. To be honest, until tonight, I wasn’t taking them seriously. I should have, but I was reckless.”
“What did they say they’d do to me?”
“They threatened to use you as a way to get to me.”
“How afraid should I be?” He threaded his fingers with mine and gripped my hand tight. “You said you weren’t taking them seriously until now. What changed?”
“They threatened you .”
He nodded slowly, his face drawn up in a look of thoughtful concentration. “Would you be this worried if they hadn’t threatened me and broken their patten?”
“No.”
“Do you think I’m in danger?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “But we’re doing everything possible to find whoever is sending them and end this.”
“Am I safe here?” he whispered.
“Yes.” I shifted closer and took his free hand in my other one. “I’ve dealt with this kind of thing before. I have security measures in place, and my team is the best of the best. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re safe.”
“Okay.” He smiled, but it wasn’t his usual cheerful grin. This smile was shy and sweet and filled with trust. “I believe you.”
“Are you okay? I didn’t want to scare you, but you have a right to know what’s happening.”
“I’m fine.” He tilted his head to the side and studied me. “Vlado made you tell me, didn’t he?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“He might have suggested it,” I conceded.
“Can I ask one question?”
“Sure.”
“Has anyone ever tried to hurt you before? Like how the letters are saying?”
“Yes.”
“Can I ask a follow-up question?”
“You can ask whatever you want.”
“Has anyone ever gotten close enough to hurt you?”
“No.”
“Were they sloppy, or did Vlado save you?”
“He saved me.” The tightness in my chest finally began to recede as Nick’s posture relaxed. “He’s saved me more than once.”
Nick’s mouth tilted up in a small smile.
“Thanks for telling me. A lot of people think I’m dumb or flighty or that I can’t handle serious things.
It means a lot that you didn’t try to hide this from me for my own good, or because you were trying to protect me.
” He dropped his gaze to our joined hands, his eyes oddly blank and unseeing.
“I’m not used to people treating me like an equal. ”
Guilt rippled through me. I’d almost been one of those people.
“I’m sorry that’s been your experience,” I said softly.
“It is what it is.” He rolled one shoulder in a sort-of shrug.
“I know I’m weird, and it’s hard to talk to me about normal stuff because my brain bounces around and I don’t always make sense.
But I’m not stupid.” He peered up at me.
“Not a lot of people take the time to find that out about me. They just assume I am and treat me like I can’t think for myself. ”
“You’re not weird, Nicky. You’re fascinating.”
“That’s another way to say weird.”
“No, it’s not. If anything, I’m the weird one between us.”
He wrinkled up his forehead. “Huh?”
“I’m the one who needs things to be a particular way.
Who craves order and predictability. The workaholic who has two friends and spends his free time making spreadsheets because numbers are relaxing.
You’re…you’re a breath of fresh air after a storm.
You brighten the room just by being in it, and you’re one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.
I never know what you’re going to say next, and I can honestly say that the time I’ve spent with you has been the most fun I’ve had in years. ”
“Really?” he murmured.
“Yes. I’m sorry I brought you into this mess, but I’m not sorry I met you.”
“You can’t keep saying things like that to me.”
“Why not?”
“Because my brain can’t tell the difference between flirty and friendly. I know you’re being nice because of what you just told me, but you’re saying all these perfect things and I—”
I cut him off with a kiss. The anguish in his voice was heartbreaking.
“Ev?” he asked as I pulled away.
“I wasn’t just being nice. Yes, I meant what I said, but I was also flirting.”
“You were?”
I nodded.
“I hate that I’m like this.” He stole his hands free from mine and covered his face. “Do you have any idea how many times my stupid brain has gotten me in trouble?” He parted his fingers and peeked at me.
“I’m guessing a few times?”