Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
Indigo shouldn’t have checked her phone. She hadn’t looked at any of her social media since that night back on Rottnest Island. She hadn’t even asked to see the message that Wilt had told her about on the drive to the airport.
The fear still lurked within her, but having Wilt by her side and for the last few nights in her bed, had given her a sense of safety that she wouldn’t have had, had he not been there.
She’d almost let herself believe that maybe it was over. That the person harassing her had decided to move on.
There hadn’t been any more messages—until now.
She looked over where Wilt was standing, talking to Jeffrey. They were on a break before the very final shoot of the trip. Had he checked his phone? He couldn’t have, because he wasn’t rushing over to her.
She read the message again.
Do you think you’re special? Do you think you fucking your bodyguard makes you untouchable? It doesn’t. Your time is coming.
How did this person know she and Wilt were sleeping together?
Apart from a close call with Greta, they’d been very careful about being spotted exiting their bungalows together.
Although, she believed Greta was aware of what was developing between them because, after she’d almost walked in on them, she’d given Indigo a knowing smile, but hadn’t said anything.
This message, though, had an angrier feel to it than the previous two. There were no photos this time.
Wilt looking at his phone, caught her attention.
A smile broke out over his face, and she took it to mean he’d heard from his teammates—they had to be safe.
He’d arrived on set and given her a quick rundown of what had happened.
She was happy for him, but also wary of when he would find the message sent to her.
It wouldn’t be long.
His body stiffened, and he immediately sought her out.
He’d read it.
What he didn’t know was that she’d read it too.
He immediately went into protector mode. Scanning the area around them. Jeffrey was saying something to him, but he brushed him off as he stormed over to her.
“I saw it,” she blurted out the second he got close to her.
He hauled her from where she was sitting and held her tight. “I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to find out who this fucker is. I should be able to. I have the skills, and yet, they keep eluding me.”
“It’s okay. I know you’re doing what you can. I know you haven’t stopped looking.”
He leaned back, and she reached up to touch his cheek, his anguish plain to see. As scared as she was, she wanted to soothe him. To take away his feelings of inadequacy.
This man was so important to her. Her heart clenched at the thought of walking away from him when this was all over. Indigo banished the thought. There were more important things to think about—like this new threat.
“It makes no sense why I haven’t been able to locate them. I get close, and it’s a dead end. Now this message comes in.”
“It’s different. It’s worse than the others.”
“It is, but know that I’m not leaving your side. I don’t give a fuck what the photographer says, I’m going to be sticking by your side.”
He was so close, and she needed to feel their connection. Needed to feel close to him. She pulled his head down and kissed him, not caring that everyone would be watching and know what they were doing.
She didn’t care. Didn’t care that her makeup would have to be redone. All that mattered to her was Wilt, and how he made her feel. And how she wanted to make him feel.
Eventually they broke apart, and Wilt rested his forehead against hers. “That probably wasn’t a good move, Diva, but I’m not sorry you did it.”
She laughed softly. “Maybe. And neither am I.”
“I will find this person. You don’t deserve what is happening to you.”
“You’re probably right, but it is what it is.” She looked around, and a dozen heads turned so quickly, she was surprised they didn’t suffer from whiplash. “Nothing to look at here,” she called out, and everyone laughed.
For a few seconds, she forgot her troubles and the threats hanging over her head. But she had a job to do, and she was going to finish it well.
“Remember, I’m going to be close by,” Wilt said, as he brushed his lips against hers. “You’re going to need to redo your lipstick, and possibly your hair. While that happens, I’m going to do a quick perimeter check. Make sure you stay right where you are. I know you’ll be okay here.”
“I will.” There was no way she was going to do anything to put herself in danger; she wasn’t that stupid. There was safety in numbers. Fear clawed at her like a cat at a scratching post. She pushed it down. She wasn’t going to let on how worried she was to Wilt.
He looked at her, longing in his eyes, and she wished they were able to go back to her bungalow and hide away. But that wasn’t possible. With a sigh, she headed to where the makeup artist was waiting for her.
“Sorry you have to give me a touch up,” Indigo said as she sat.
“Not a problem, I wasn’t completely happy with the color.
I think we need to change it up.” The woman began to wipe the remnants of the lipstick from her mouth.
“So, you and the bodyguard, huh? I can’t say I blame you.
Those eyes of his, they’re beautiful. He should be a model, what with his body and looks.
He’d be able to sell just about anything. ”
Indigo tuned out the makeup artist’s chatter, her thoughts returning to the threat. Was the person who sent them here in Broome, like they had been at Rottnest?
There wasn’t a lot of the general public around. Even when they took a tour of the pearl farm, Jeffrey had arranged for it to be closed just for them. The staff hadn’t even blinked as they were shown around.
The person can’t be here.
“There you go, all back to being beautiful.” The artist stepped back, smiling.
“Thanks. Again, I’m sorry you had to do it.”
“Girl, it’s not a problem. If it was me, and that hunk of a man was as into me as he is with you, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off him. Now, it’s time for a coffee.”
Indigo laughed as she left, a warm feeling sweeping through her at the thought of Wilt being into her. They hadn’t known each other that long, but she couldn’t deny he filled her soul in a way she’d never experienced before.
The chaos for the final shoot would start in a few moments, and she closed her eyes, taking the time to absorb all that had happened over the last few weeks. The sound of scuffing had her eyes snapping open, and she smiled at Louella in the mirror, who returned it.
“They need you now, Indigo,” Louella said.
Louella’s perkiness helped to ease her stressed nerves a little.
“Of course.” She stood and smoothed down her dress. “Last day. Let’s do this.”
“Yep.” Louella popped the ‘p’.
Her steps were slow, because she didn’t want this assignment to be finished. Didn’t want to not see Wilt every day.
“The job’s over now,” Louella said.
“It is, and it’s kind of sad.”
“Life is sad.”
Indigo didn’t have a second to comprehend what was happening, before a red-hot pain seared her arm, and she was thrown to the ground by Louella, her blonde hair flying around her face as she sat on Indigo.
“What the hell, Louella?!” The words burst out of her, shocked at what was happening.
“You took this job from my sister,” she hissed. “You’re always taking them from her. Zara plays favorites with you, and my sister gets nothing. You’re not even that pretty!” Her eyes wide and full of anger.
Sunlight glinted off the blade in Louella’s arms, the point already stained crimson with… her blood.
Oh my god, I’ve been stabbed.
The thought pounded her brain as the blade came down and pierced her stomach. She couldn’t stop the scream from erupting out of her. The pain was unbearable. Her insides burned. She pressed down on the wound hoping it would stop the throbbing. Liquid coated her hands.
She was going to die.
It hurt to breathe. Hurt to move.
A second later, Louella was pulled off her and pinned to the ground. In spite of all the rush of different feelings consuming Indigo, the sound of something snapping was audible. A wail filled the air, but it seemed to come from far away.
It was getting harder and harder to keep her eyes open. Her vision grayed at the sides. There was shouting and yelling going on around her. Along with someone screaming obscenities.
None of that mattered to her. She didn’t have the energy to fight to keep her eyes open.
“Indigo! Diva, stay awake. Please. Don’t close your eyes.”
She blinked a couple of times. Someone was standing over her, lifting her so that she was resting against them. Her stomach burned, and she groaned, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. If anything, it made it worse.
Was that Wilt looking down at her?
Wilt.
She said his name, but she didn’t think he heard.
“Stay with me, Indigo. I’ve got you. Help is coming. Hang on, Diva. Hang on.”
She wanted to badly, but it was easier to sink into the abyss, because the pain was no longer noticeable. It was peaceful, and she wanted that.
No one could hurt her there.