Chapter 5
5
GAVIN
T he next evening, after he’d finished some paperwork, Gavin stood in front of Roxie’s apartment door, his knuckles grazing the wood as he knocked for the second time. The hallway smelled faintly of mildew, and the dim bulb overhead flickered, casting erratic shadows on the cracked walls.
From inside, he heard muffled movement, followed by a sharp voice. “Who is it?”
“It’s Gavin.” His deep tone carried easily through the thin door.
A pause, then the sound of the lock clicking. The door cracked open just enough for Roxie’s face to appear, her brow furrowed in suspicion.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice low and tight.
“We need to talk,” Gavin replied, his gaze steady as he met hers.
“About what?”
“About the pole, your charming in-laws, and the trouble you’re pretending doesn’t exist.”
Roxie’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he thought she might slam the door in his face. Instead, she sighed and swung the door open, stepping aside.
“Fine. Make it quick,” she muttered, her irritation evident in every movement as she crossed her arms and leaned against the small kitchen counter.
Gavin stepped inside, his eyes taking in the small, cluttered space. It wasn’t much, but it was clean, save for the pile of unopened mail on the table and the faint scent of something burning from the stove.
“You cooking something?” he asked, nodding toward the stovetop.
Roxie’s eyes widened. “Oh, crap!” She lunged for the pot, yanking it off the burner and waving away the plume of smoke rising from the charred remnants of whatever she’d been heating.
“Nice save,” Gavin said dryly, a hint of a grin tugging at his lips.
“Shut up,” she snapped, her cheeks flushing as she set the pot in the sink and turned back to him. “What do you want, Gavin?”
He crossed his arms, his broad shoulders filling the narrow space between the kitchen and living area. “That pole didn’t come down on its own, Roxie.”
She rolled her eyes. “We’ve been over this. It’s an old building. Things break.”
“It wasn’t wear and tear,” Gavin said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Someone tampered with it. The scratches on the mount were fresh. Whoever did it knew exactly what they were doing.”
Roxie’s jaw tightened, but she shook her head. “Why would anyone do that? It doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
“And what? You think I’m just some damsel in distress who needs a big, strong cowboy to swoop in and save her?”
Gavin’s eyes narrowed, his frustration flaring. “This isn’t about you needing saving. It’s about someone wanting you hurt—or worse.”
“I can handle myself,” she shot back, her voice rising.
“Can you?” he challenged, stepping closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re doing everything you can to ignore the fact that you’re in trouble.”
“I’m not ignoring anything!” Roxie’s hands balled into fists at her sides. “I’m surviving, Gavin. That’s what I do. I don’t need you or anyone else telling me how to live my life.”
Gavin held her gaze, his dark eyes steady and unyielding. “You’re right. You don’t need me to tell you how to fix your life, but whether you like it or not, someone out there is gunning for you. And until I figure out who, I’m not going anywhere.”
Roxie exhaled sharply, her breath hitching slightly as the weight of his words seemed to settle over her. Neither of them spoke, the air between them heavy and crackling with energy.
“You’re infuriating, you know that?” she said finally, her voice quieter now.
“Comes with the territory,” Gavin replied, his lips curving slightly.
She shook her head, turning away to busy herself with the pile of mail on the counter. “I don’t have time for this,” she muttered, flipping through the stack with jerky movements.
“You don’t have time to stay alive?” Gavin asked, his tone softer but no less serious. “Once you’re dead you’ll have no time at all.”
Her hands stilled, and she turned back to him, her expression wavering between anger and something more vulnerable. “Why do you even care?”
Gavin stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble. “Because you work for me, because my best friend’s little sister cares what happens to you. Because I’ve seen what happens when people ignore the warning signs. And I’m not about to let that happen to you.”
Roxie’s breath caught, her chest rising and falling as she held his gaze—he watched as the fight seemed to drain out of her, leaving only the exhaustion and fear she’d been trying so hard to hide.
But then she blinked, straightening her shoulders. “I don’t need your help, Gavin,” she said, her voice steadier now.
“Maybe not,” he replied, stepping back toward the door. “But you’ve got it anyway.”
As he reached for the handle, she called out, her tone begrudging. “Thanks… for caring, I guess.”
Gavin paused, glanced over his shoulder and turned to face her. “You’re welcome, darlin’.” He tossed her a panic button. “Keep that with you. If anything happens—even if you think you’re just overreacting—you hit that panic button, and you’ll have help.”
“You have people watching me?” she asked somewhat outraged,
“That surprises you? I thought you were brighter than that.”
Before Roxie could say anything else, he left, his mind already turning over the growing list of threats tied to her name. She might not want his help, but she damn sure needed it. And was damn sure going to get it.
He stopped at the unit he had parked outside her apartment. “She’s probably in for the night, but don’t count on it. She has the panic button now.”
“We’ll make sure nothing happens to her, boss.”
Gavin nodded and he lingered outside thinking about their heated conversation, his jaw tight as he replayed her words in his head. He might’ve walked out, but he wasn’t ready to leave just yet. The woman had enough pride to fuel a whole damn rodeo, and while he admired it, her stubbornness made her blind to the danger surrounding her.
As he headed toward his truck, something caught his eye. A black SUV sat idling in the narrow alley across from the building. The windows were tinted too dark for him to make out the driver, but the vehicle’s position—half-concealed between the alley’s shadows—set his instincts buzzing.
His boots thudded softly on the broken pavement of the parking lot as he moved towards the closest wall. He kept his body angled to avoid being seen, his sharp gaze zeroing in on the vehicle.
The engine hummed, its faint vibration carrying through the stillness of the evening. The driver made no move to get out, no indication they were simply lost or waiting for someone.
Something wasn’t right.
Gavin jogged up the steps to Roxie’s apartment and knocked sharply. The door opened almost immediately, her expression a mix of annoyance and exhaustion.
“What now?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“There’s a car outside,” Gavin said, stepping past her without waiting for an invitation. He crossed the small living room and peered through the curtains, his movements deliberate.
Roxie frowned, following him. “So? People park out there all the time.”
“Not like this,” Gavin muttered, his voice low. He glanced over his shoulder, his penetrating stare settling on her. “The windows are blacked out, and they’ve been sitting there too long. Doesn’t feel right.”
Roxie moved to stand beside him, brushing against his arm as she peered out the window. The soft scent of her shampoo drifted up, momentarily distracting him before he shook it off.
“You’re being paranoid,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
“Maybe,” Gavin said, his gaze never leaving the car. “But paranoid keeps people alive.”
Roxie huffed, stepping back. “I told you, I can handle myself. You don’t need to play watchdog.”
He turned to face her fully, his broad shoulders towering over her petite frame. “You don’t think I need to,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “But I do. That car isn’t here by coincidence, and until I know why it’s here, I’m not leaving you alone.”
Her eyes flashed, and she planted her hands on her hips. “You can’t just decide that.”
“Yes, I can,” Gavin said simply, taking a step closer. The tension between them crackled like a live wire. “You’re my responsibility now, Roxie. Whether you like it or not.” He dialed the team staked out in the parking lot. “You guys see that dark SUV?”
“Yep it’s been here a couple of times. We ran the plates, and it traced back to a holding company out of Dallas. We have tech running a deeper scan.”
“Good man. One of you keep your eyes on it and anyone coming out of it at all times.”
“Will do, boss.”
Gavin nodded and ended the call. Roxie’s breath hitched, her irritation shifting to something else as his words sank in. The room felt smaller, the air charged as his presence filled the space.
“Why?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why do you care so much?”
Gavin hesitated, his gaze dropping to her lips for the briefest second before returning to her eyes. “Because someone has to,” he said, his voice low and steady.
Roxie blinked, and the fire in her eyes dimmed, replaced by a flicker of vulnerability that tugged at something deep in his chest.
But just as quickly, she straightened, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re infuriating,” he replied with a faint grin.
The rumble of the idling engine outside drew his attention back to the window. Gavin’s expression hardened as he turned away from her and reached for the doorknob.
“What are you doing?” Roxie asked, following him.
“Checking on something,” he said, pulling the door open. “Lock this behind me.”
“Gavin...”
“Now, Roxie,” he said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.
She sighed but obeyed, the sound of the deadbolt clicking into place behind him as he strode down the hall.
The cool night air bit at his skin as he stepped outside. The SUV was still there, its presence as unnerving as ever. Gavin stayed in the shadows, his movements slow and deliberate as he withdrew his Glock and motioned for his men to remain in their vehicle as he approached the SUV from the side.
The engine cut off suddenly, and the driver’s-side door opened. A man stepped out, his face obscured by the low brim of a baseball cap. He turned, saw Gavin, and froze.
Gavin didn’t hesitate and didn’t hide the gun in his hand, although he didn’t point it at the guy. “Something I can help you with?”
The man muttered something under his breath, then climbed back into the SUV, put it in gear and sped off, the tires squealing as they hit the pavement.
Gavin stood there, his hands on his hips, watching the taillights disappear down the street. Whoever that was, they weren’t here for anything good.
When Gavin returned to Roxie’s apartment, she opened the door before he could knock, her arms crossed and her expression both curious and wary.
“Well?” she asked.
“They’re gone,” he said, stepping inside.
Her brow furrowed. “Gone? Where? Who?”
“Don’t know yet,” Gavin admitted. “But I’m going to find out.”
“You’re not going to give up are you? You’re just going to keep digging regardless of what I say or my feelings in the matter, aren’t you?” she asked, exasperation clear in her voice.
“I am,” he said, his tone leaving no room for debate. “And until I know who’s after you, I’m keeping an eye on this place.”
Roxie groaned, throwing her hands in the air. “You’re impossible.”
“Already said that,” Gavin replied with a faint grin.
The energy in the room softened slightly, though it didn’t disappear entirely. Roxie rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath as she turned away. As Gavin watched her, his resolve solidified. She might not want his help, but she needed it. And whether she liked it or not, he wasn’t going anywhere.