Chapter 25 #2
“No.” Simon shook his head. “But this time, he escalated further than he did with Joy.”
My stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
Nash and Simon exchanged a look.
“He kidnapped her.” Nash's voice was gentle but matter-of-fact. “Held her for ten days before releasing her in a park outside the city.”
The coffee pot slipped from my nerveless fingers, hitting the table with a sharp crack. Coffee splashed across the tabletop, but I couldn't seem to move to clean it up.
“Joy.” Graham was beside me in an instant, righting the coffeepot and pulling napkins to stop the running coffee from spilling over the side of the table.
“Ten days.” My voice came out as a whisper.
“The victim sustained multiple injuries during captivity.” Nash's clinical tone didn't soften the horror of his words. “Physical and psychological trauma. She moved back in with her parents after her release and hasn't been able to return to work.”
Randy pushed back from the table so hard his chair scraped against the floor. “You're telling us this psycho tortured some woman for ten days and just let her go?”
“That's exactly what I'm telling you.” Nash pulled out a photograph and slid it across the table. “This is the Dublin victim. The similarities to Joy are unmistakable.”
Graham tossed the last round of soggy napkins to the center of the table and pulled me into his arms. It helped, but only a little.
I couldn't bring myself to look at the photo. The room felt like it was closing in around me.
“We need constant surveillance.” Graham's voice cut through the buzzing in my ears. “Around-the-clock protection until we catch this guy.”
“Agreed.” Simon nodded. “I can provide personnel, but we'll need to coordinate schedules and locations.”
“I can help with that.” Seth spoke up for the first time since the revelations began. “Randy and I can take shifts.”
All eyes turned to him.
“We're not going back to our jobs until this is resolved.” Seth's jaw was set in the stubborn line I knew well. “Joy's our sister. We protect our own.”
I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Despite all the attitude and overprotection, when it mattered, my brothers showed up.
“What about you, Randy?” I looked at my other brother, who'd been unusually quiet.
“What Seth said. You think I'm going to leave you to deal with this alone? What kind of brother do you think I am?”
The hurt in his voice made my chest ache. I pulled out of Graham’s arms and reached across the table to squeeze his hand.
“The best kind, Randy. Both of you are the best kind of brothers a girl could have.” I squeezed his fingers. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you what happened in London. You should have known.”
“Yeah, well.” Randy cleared his throat. “Water under the bridge. Right now, we focus on keeping you safe.”
After that exchange, I found myself sitting on Graham’s lap while he sat in the recliner and spent the next hour working out logistics with the other men.
Schedules, check-in times, emergency contacts.
I half-listened, my mind still reeling from the revelation that my stalker had escalated to kidnapping.
Ten days.
The Dublin woman had been held for ten days.
“I think that covers everything for now.” Simon gathered his papers back into the folder. “I’ll head back to the office and start putting together a more detailed security plan.”
“I'd like to see your operation.” Seth stood. “If that's all right.”
“Of course. Randy, you're welcome to come, too.”
Randy nodded. “Yeah, I'd like that.”
After another round of handshakes and promises to stay in touch, the men filed out, leaving Graham and me alone in his dining room.
The silence felt heavy.
“How are you doing?” Graham looked down at me, his hazel eyes full of concern.
“Terrified.” The word slipped out before I could stop it. “The idea of being kidnapped, Graham. Of being helpless like that woman… I can’t. I just can’t.” My voice trailed off.
“Hey.” He pulled me into his arms, one hand stroking my hair. “That's not going to happen. You hear me? This bastard would have to get through me first, and I promise you, that's not happening.”
I buried my face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. “I know you'll protect me. But what if something happens to you? What if I lose you because of this?”
“You won't.” His voice was rock steady. “I've survived worse than one twisted stalker. A hell of a lot worse. We're going to get through this together.”
I pulled back to look at him. “Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Promise me you'll be careful. Don't take unnecessary risks just to protect me.”
Graham cupped my face in his hands. “I promise to be as careful as I can while still keeping you safe. That's the best I can do.”
It wasn't the answer I wanted, but it was the honest one. I nodded, standing on my toes to kiss him softly.
I picked up his hand and glanced at the watch on his wrist. “I need to get to work. I'm already late enough. Roxie's going to think I'm taking advantage of the schedule change.”
I got up off his lap and went to the kitchen to grab my purse from the top of the fridge, digging for my car keys.
“Nope.” Graham plucked the keys from my fingers before I could close my hand around them.
“What do you mean, nope?”
“I mean, from now on, I'm your ride to and from work. No more driving alone.”
I opened my mouth to argue, then stopped. The thought of the Dublin woman flashed through my mind, broken and traumatized.
“Okay.” I dropped my purse back onto the counter. “I guess there are some perks to having a stalker after all.”
Graham's laugh was strained. “What kind of perks?”
“Chauffeured rides to work.” I managed a weak smile. “Very fancy.”
He shook his head, but I caught the relief in his expression. “Come on, Princess. Your chariot awaits.”