“So good to hear from you twice in one day,” George answered. By him ignoring her question, she had her answer. She was silent as she fought the urge to scream into the mouthpiece of the phone. She knew she couldn’t get any more words past her throat so for the first time in her life she hung up on her dad.
He deserved to know how incredibly ticked off she was.
Chad was indeed sent by her father. She knew she could plead, threaten and shout but it wouldn’t do her any good. Her father wouldn’t pull him from his task. In her father’s opinion, if she insisted on being on her own, then she would have to deal with a shadow. After taking several minutes to wash her flushed cheeks, she decided she was ditching her unwanted escort.
She crept to the front of the building and snuck out the main doors. Hopefully she could shake him and drive off before he realized she was gone. She was sure he knew where she lived, but if she could beat him home, get inside and lock the door, she’d come up with a better plan the next day.
There was no way she could handle the very appealing Chad Redington hanging around her, day in and day out, without eventually ripping his shirt off with her teeth, button by button.
Bree reached her car with no sign of Chad, and quickly jumped in and tore out of the parking lot. She was feeling pretty smug and incredibly proud of herself until she noticed the headlights of a car trailing close behind her. There was no way he could’ve caught up so quickly. Hopefully it was just another motorist but she had a feeling it was him. When the car followed her down the driveway to her incredibly small rental, she knew she was busted. He most likely would start lecturing the second they emerged from their cars.
She pulled in front of her house and flew from the driver’s seat. Her hands were shaking as she jumped up the steps and tried to get the key in the lock. She was planning on slamming the door before he had a chance to follow her.
“Did you really think you could ditch me that easily? I’m trained in hunting people down,” Chad said, startling her. She turned from her stubborn doorknob and there he was, leaning against her porch rail as if he didn’t have a care in the world. She hadn’t even heard his car door slam, nor the normally squeaky steps as he came up behind her. She needed to become a lot more aware if there really was a stalker out there.
“I told you back at the office, no one wants to harm me. No one is out to get me. My father and brothers have always been too over-protective. They’re all just mad because I snuck off right underneath their arrogant noses. I have to prove at some point that I’m perfectly able to take care of myself. Go away, you're trespassing,” Bree snapped as she finally got her key in the stubborn lock.
“So, those threatening letters meant nothing.”
“I’ve already told you, it comes with the territory. If I went into hiding every time I received a pathetic letter, then I’d never get to leave the house.”
“Your father said it’s been escalating. If he’s concerned enough to hire me, then you have something to worry about.” Bree gave up. There was no use arguing.
“Look, I’m not trying to frighten you but your father had surveillance done near the place you work and there’s been suspicious activity going on. I don’t have all the details but it seems there’s been a car parked near your office, with someone taking pictures,” he said, hoping to finally get through to her.
“I’m sure it has nothing to do with me,” she said, though a chill went down her spine.
“You are ridiculously stubborn. Do you care so little about your own life?” he snapped.
“I’m tired and need a cup of coffee. You can leave now.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he replied, folding his arms.
“Well, enjoy your time on my porch then, because you’re not invited inside,” she snapped as she pushed open the door.
Bree looked up and her heart stopped beating for a moment. Her entire body tensed and she felt dizzy.
Someone had been in her house – and her belongings were strung all over the place. The message on the wall was what had her close to fainting, though.
You’re mine.
It was written in what looked like blood.
Chapter Three
Chad saw her tense and he immediately straightened from his relaxed position. He grabbed his gun, lifted her out of his way, and stepped inside her front door. Bree could do nothing but stare as he walked inside. What if the person was still there? She started to follow him.
“Wait here,” he commanded. She glared at him, but knew he would hold firm so she crossed her arms and waited as he searched her home – his entire body in stealth mode. She held her breath, sick she couldn’t do more than stand there frozen. When her lungs felt like they were about to burst, she finally let the air out and sucked in fresh oxygen.
As Chad stepped through each room, he was on full alert. He was in his element – the hunter, searching for prey. He hated leaving her alone on the front porch, but didn’t see an alternative until he cleared the house. He quietly made his way through the small dwelling, checking every square inch. Finally, he relaxed when he was satisfied the house was clear.
As Chad looked around her homey place, he started to think she may not be who he originally thought she was. He knew she had a trust fund in the seven figure range, but her home was quaint. Instead of flashy pieces of art or over-priced furniture, he saw second hand pieces, lovingly restored, and homemade Afghans hanging from the back of the couch. Her father told him she was refusing to touch her trust, but Chad hadn’t believed she’d be able to hold out. No way could she go from being a spoiled princess to an everyday working girl. He didn’t see it happening… but the evidence was right in front of him.
He made his way back to the porch, uncomfortable with how long she’d been out there alone. The crime scene was fresh, which meant the people who’d done it could be hiding nearby, waiting for a chance to get their hands on her.
“They’re not in the house,” Chad said as he joined her on the small front porch. “Now, do you understand the need for a bodyguard? They aren’t playing around, Bree. What if you’d come home when they were still here? This night could’ve ended far worse than you can imagine,” he said. She said nothing as she stepped across the threshold. Her once cozy cottage style home was destroyed.
The stress of the situation finally set in and Bree’s body began trembling as she looked at the words splashed across her entrance hall. Why would anyone be out to terrorize her? She couldn’t comprehend it – she hadn’t done anything to deserve it. There wasn’t a trail of broken hearts in her wake. She couldn’t think of a single person who’d want to terrorize or harm her.
Bree felt violated as she looked at her belongings scattered across the floor. They’d destroyed pictures, antique furniture, and treated her possessions as nothing more than garbage. A tear slid down her cheek as she picked up an Afghan her mother had made. It was ripped apart beyond repair.
“Why would someone do this?” She choked, finding it difficult to get the words past her closed throat. Irreplaceable items were gone forever. She rubbed her face against the quilt her mom had spent endless hours creating – it too destroyed. As if ripping it to shreds hadn’t been enough for them, they’d even spilled a foul smelling liquid on it. She let it drop from her fingers and flutter to the floor.
“There’s no explanation for it. Some people get off on terrorizing others. Whoever did this isn’t finished. They want you scared, but they’re also warning you. If you look at statistics, you’ll see a pattern. A lot of crime could’ve been prevented if the victims had only paid attention to the warning signs. I think you should go home, but if you insist on staying, I’m not going anywhere,” Chad said, taking pity on her and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She knew she should pull away but she needed comforting and she couldn’t bring herself to struggle against him.
“If I run home, they win. I won’t give them that victory, along with the satisfaction they received causing this damage,” she insisted.
Chad sighed as he pulled her closer. She was stubborn, far more than her brothers, which he didn’t think was possible. He would feel a whole lot better if she’d realize the danger she was in and go home – but he knew it wasn’t happening, at least not yet. She wasn’t scared enough.
“If you’re going to insist on hanging around then make yourself useful and help me clean this.” Bree stepped away from him and grabbed a garbage sack. Chad didn’t say anything further, just quietly stood by her side and helped her clean. Within a couple hours the house was back to normal – all damaged items either tucked out of sight or thrown away.
“I’ve had a hard day, I’m going to bed,” Bree stated and walked from the room. She knew she wouldn’t get him to leave and she didn’t have the energy to fight any more so she left the evening’s frustrations behind her as she walked to her bedroom.
Chad watched Bree make her way down the hallway. She was standing strong but he could see the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was strong, but eventually even the strongest person needed to let someone else carry the burden for a while.
A few minutes after her door shut, he heard her shower running and his body tightened with need. What was wrong with him? She was his assignment – nothing more, nothing less. He shouldn’t feel sympathy, anger, and certainly not desire. It was time to get out of the house for a little while. He’d do a perimeter check around the property.
Even with her out of sight, his thoughts refused to turn from her. Bree was stunning, but obviously didn’t try highlighting her assets, instead hiding beneath layers of clothes. He knew what was beneath her clothes, though, since she’d been pressed tightly against him. He groaned as his pants grew tighter. He’d never had such trouble distancing himself, but then again, he’d never had such a beautiful assignment.
Hopefully, she’d come to her senses and just go home. Then, he wouldn’t have to worry about the consequences of sleeping with his best friend’s cousin. Damn, all of her brothers would stand in line to kick his ass if they knew he was so much as thinking about touching Bree.
He grinned, thinking a good fight would do his libido some good. He needed something to get his mind off of her naked, wet and lathered up body standing beneath a stream of hot water.
Pull it together, you’re not a horny sixteen year old, Chad berated himself. Then he jogged into the surrounding woods next to her house. She would have to live in the middle of nowhere. Why not make it easier for the crazy person after her!
He completed the search of her property and knew it was time to return to her house. There was no one around and luckily there was only one driveway leading to the house so if a car approached, he’d hear it. On the bad side was the fact that someone could get incredibly close on foot before he was alerted. The tree’s came within twenty yards of her back door. He’d have to set up better surveillance.
He promised her family nothing would happen to her and he was going to make sure nothing did happen on his watch. He stepped inside the doors and his stomach knotted. What was she trying to do to him?
