Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Price’s gut churned. Addie was safe, but she was furious with him.
He answered all the questions from the detectives and gave them access to his camera feeds as the cameras from Addie’s security company only had the front porch.
None of them could discern much more than a dark shadow, but the police and Aiden would have the technology to analyze the footage and hopefully get some description or characteristics of the perp.
The person had planted the bomb near the master bedroom. The assailant knew where Addie slept. It was a miracle she’d survived. Price kept thanking Heavenly Father and cussing himself for not calling her. At least she was safe and hadn’t been in her bedroom. It was a miracle.
Price also pleaded with Him to let Price stay close to her. Would his vow to keep her safe be possible now? Would Addie want to be anywhere near him? Her eyes were full of anger and shouting that he’d betrayed her. He didn’t blame her for feeling that way.
Why had he listened to her sister and ignored his own instincts?
Probably because he had no experience with women besides Jaydyne and he’d messed that all up, but it was no excuse.
He should have told her everything last night when he’d saved Addie from Travis and she’d kissed him.
He’d hid the truth initially because the client had told him to and then he’d continued to hide it at her sister’s request.
Price hung his head, cussing himself and his lack of relationship knowledge.
He could see on the monitors that the firefighters had gotten the last embers of fire out and were monitoring it. The detectives had said the house would be a total loss. That would be another hard hit for Addie.
The EMTs checked Addie out and proclaimed she was healthy.
If only she wasn’t giving him looks that shouted betrayal.
She’d figured out exactly what his purpose here was.
Any trust she’d had for him had disappeared.
That made his gut churn, but the primary objective right now had to be keeping her safe.
Price had promised God and himself and Addie he’d keep her safe.
That meant he would get her somewhere far from here, and quick.
He texted Nick Porter.
Addie’s house exploded. She’s okay. Need a safehouse and immediate evac. Tell Daphne.
The problem, as he looked at Addie, was whether she would agree to come with him.
What other option did she have? The police could offer a safehouse, but it wouldn’t be as good of a situation or as secure as wherever Nick found for him to take her.
Aiden’s operation had the resources and connections to ensure Addie was protected, to find the perp, and to end this nightmare.
The EMTs left and Addie looked a little lost after Price shut the door behind them. He approached her. Nervous. Hopeful. Mostly nervous. The last time he’d felt nerves like this, he’d been running through a land mine with the enemy closing in behind him knowing every step might be his last.
Looking into Addie’s blue eyes, he feared this conversation might be his last with her. He’d vowed to keep her safe. How could he solve that conundrum?
“How are you holding up?” he asked softly.
“I’m not.” Her blue eyes flashed, and she folded her arms across her chest. “Daphne hired you?”
“Vance Gem hired me.”
“Ah, that’s how you justified lying directly to my face.”
He nodded, moistening his lips. “I’m sorry. Daphne instructed me not to tell you. After our conversation outside Quincy Market last week, I agreed it was for the best that I stay in the shadows. It was obvious you didn’t trust me or want to date me.”
“That’s not fair,” she shot at him. “I was a mess, and the captain requested we set you up. That wasn’t my idea.”
He nodded, wishing she’d believe that deceiving her wasn’t his idea, but his deception was on a much larger scale. “I know. I’m only saying I agreed to watch you and keep you safe but not make contact. I didn’t feel you’d want me close, and I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
She nodded but didn’t comment, her blue eyes still full of righteous indignation.
“Then Travis tried to push his way into your house,” he continued, “and that night you kissed me, and …” He rubbed at the back of his neck. Negotiation had never been his strong suit. With Addie, he had felt like he could talk to her, really talk to her. Not any longer.
Her eyes widened and she glowered at him. “And?” she prompted. “You lied to me, took advantage of my gullibility, kissed me … back. Oh heck, I always kissed you first, didn’t I?”
He nodded, knowing that didn’t make it any better. He’d definitely kissed her back and taken those kisses to a higher level.
“But you did kiss me back,” she flung at him, “multiple times, and you made me feel like you cared. How could you do that?”
He wished she’d slap him or something. It would hurt less. “I do care, Addie.”
“You lied to me!”
Price held up his hands, wishing he could explain that the client, her sister, had demanded he hide the truth. As a soldier who did what was expected him. But that didn’t feel like a valid excuse at the moment.
There was a rap on the door. Price knew his only hope was trying to continue with his halting explanation, but he was relieved to turn away from Addie and check who was there.
He opened the door to Thayne and Moshe. He needed time to compose his thoughts, and she needed time to calm down.
Yet would time make any difference in how she felt about him?
Had he just ruined another relationship?
Thayne and Moshe nodded to him and walked into the house. They both looked as wary as Price felt.
“Miss Belle,” Thayne said. “We’re grateful you’re alive. We need to talk about protective custody.” He gestured toward her bombed and burned-out house on the monitors. “This escalates everything.”
Addie turned her blue glare on Thayne. “Fine. I will go into protective custody while you find out who bombed my house. As long as it’s not with him.” She pointed at Price.
His stomach flipped.
Thayne swallowed and exchanged a look with Moshe. “Um, ma’am, we’ve been on the phone with Aiden Porter. The Aiden Porter.”
Addie only glowered more. Everybody knew who Aiden Porter was. Would the fact that he was Price’s boss sway her not to trust Aiden as she obviously didn’t trust Price any longer?
“He promised he has an ideal situation for protective custody. His tech team is going to work with us to analyze the film and find the perpetrator, and he is sending a private jet for you and Captain Sanderson. The captain will escort you to the safehouse. He’s Aiden’s only operative available in the area currently.
Ma’am, I hate to make you uncomfortable if you don’t want to be with Captain Sanderson, but I told you how trustworthy he is.
He’s your best option for staying safe. I suppose when you get to the property they could send in a different bodyguard, if you’re still feeling the same … misgivings.”
“Misgivings? Trustworthy? You knew all along he was being paid to protect me. Didn’t you?”
“Not initially. Not when the captain had us set him up outside of Quincy Market.” Thayne backed up a step. Wisely. “But yes, after that night we were kept in the loop.”
“Well I wasn’t, and it’s my life on the line,” Addie gritted out. She pointed a finger at Thayne. “You told me you’d trust him with your sister, your wife, your daughter if you had one, and you were lying to me the entire time. All of you!”
Thayne looked to Price and then to his partner. He shrugged and mouthed, “Help.”
Price would’ve laughed at the detective’s plea if he hadn’t completely understood how he felt and was hoping for some help himself. He also appreciated the man trusting him like that. But Addie didn’t trust him, and that was all that mattered right now.
“Would you like to talk to your sister?” Moshe spoke up. “She’s the one who helped keep you safe through Aiden Porter.”
“Talk to my sister?” Addie didn’t shriek, but her voice did pitch up.
“She’s the one who conspired with him to lie to me.
No, I don’t want to talk to my sister right now.
” She groaned and rubbed at her temples.
“I’m going to miss Daphne’s wedding. Even if I’m ticked at her, I don’t want to miss my sister’s wedding. ”
Price felt horrible. This was a mess, and he had far too much to do with it.
“Please,” Addie said. “Is there anyone else who can escort me to this safehouse? Anyone besides him.”
Price felt his gut twist. She didn’t trust him and didn’t want him around. He didn’t know how to reconcile those truths with how deeply he’d fallen for her and his vow to protect her.
“Not at the moment,” Thayne said. “Our department doesn’t have the manpower or resources.
We could wait for the FBI, but …” His eyes reflected his distaste.
It was common knowledge FBI agents usually thought they were superior to local police departments.
“Believe me, Captain Sanderson is a much better option.”
“Addie.” Price kept his voice level, but he begged her with his eyes. “I know you’re upset at me right now.”
“Upset? You haven’t seen me upset.” Her blue eyes shot sparks at him. “Why don’t you try to touch or kiss me again and you’ll see me upset!”
The detectives’ eyes widened, and they each backed up another step. Price was sick. He’d messed this all up. Addie may never let down her walls again. He’d felt uncomfortable listening to Daphne telling him to wait, but he couldn’t change it now.
If he had told Addie the truth even after the night Travis came and that first kiss, she may have been more understanding.
There might have been a chance. Now it was too late.
One day too late. He was in a convoluted mess, and even a suave guy who was good at relationships may have struggled getting through this one.
He doubted even Aiden Porter could charm his way out of this mess.
“I understand, and nobody blames you for feeling how you feel,” he said. “But right now your safety is the most important issue. I’ve vowed to you, God, and myself to keep you safe, and I will.”
“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow, her blue eyes spitting fire. “So now I can trust you as opposed to when you were conspiring with my sister, lying to me, pretending to be trustworthy, and kissing me like it meant something?”
He flinched, but she had every right to her anger, and he’d never felt less trustworthy. Still, a vow was a vow. He’d keep her safe and then he’d walk away if that was what she needed.
“I’ll escort you to the safehouse and then we’ll work with Aiden and Nick to find another bodyguard to stay with you.”
It hurt to say those words, to think of turning Addie over to anyone else, but her being comfortable and safe was all that could matter right now. His vow to keep her safe himself and never leave her side would have to be resolved by finding the right man or woman to stand in his place.
Addie studied him, as if certain he was lying still. That dug even deeper. Finally she looked away and murmured, “All right.”
“Thank you.”
Price wished his future with Addie could have a different outcome, but now… there was no future at all.