Protecting Her - Alexis Noelle Page 0,32

like this. I give her a quick kiss before getting out of the pool leaving her there to collect herself. The rest of the afternoon goes by without any more incidents. I love how well she fits in with my friends, especially since we are so close they may as well be family. She looks beautiful on stage and at every photo shoot I take her to, but I have never seen her look more gorgeous then she does when she thinks no one is watching.

Sam is standing in the yard talking to Jules and Lacey, her hair thrown up into a messy bun and her sundress clinging to her still wet body. I can’t take my eyes off of her.

“You too?” Mason walks up next to me. He has always been the most closed off out of all of us. I barely even see him with one night stands. “Between you and Brian, I am losing brothers left and right.”

I shake my head at him. “You aren’t losing anyone, Mase. Sometimes when you least expect it you run into someone who turns your whole life upside down.”

I look over at him. “Fuck that shit.” He takes a swig of his beer before walking over to where Ryan and Jake are.

Sam walks up to me, leaning her head against my arm. “You tired?” She nods her head and I can’t help but laugh. We say goodbye to everyone before walking around the front to the car. Sam stops abruptly, causing me to crash into her. “Hey, what’s up?” I look up and that’s when I see it on the hood of the car. A black rose. I walk past Sam toward the car as her hands grasp my arm tightly, begging me to stay close to her.

“Stay right here, babe.”

“No, just call the police, Hunter.” She is pleading with me but I can also see a note and I have to know what it says.

I hand her my phone. “Call the detective. His number is saved in there.” She nods her head and I walk toward the car. It’s a piece of white paper, the same as before with black writing on it.

He can’t protect you.

My blood runs cold as the message sinks in. He was here? How did he find us here? He’s wrong I can protect her, and I will.

“Oh my God!” Sam yells from behind me. I hadn’t even heard her walking toward me.

I turn to her, grasping her face in my hands. “Listen to me. No one will touch you. I promise you that. You’re safe. I’ll make sure of it.”

She collapses against my chest and cries. After a few minutes, a car pulls up and the detective walks up. “Mr. Stone, we meet again. Isn’t it funny how these things keep happening when you’re around?”

“I’m her security. I’m always around.” I am trying to keep calm but I can’t stand that all this asshole wants to do is point fingers at me.

“I didn’t know she was working today. Seems like an odd place for a job, don’t you think?” He is assessing the flower now, taking a picture and then placing it in a clear Ziploc bag.

“How about you just do your fucking job and stop worrying about me and mine.”

The detective comes closer, his face only inches from mine as I angle Sam away from him. “I have a feeling that those two things are intertwining and I’m going to prove it.”

I want to smash his fucking face in but I hold onto the little restraint I have left. He begins to ask us questions about why we are here, what we were doing, and how we found the rose. Sam is visibly shaken and detective dickhead isn’t making this shit any easier.

“I think that’s enough for now.” I grab Sam’s hand and lead her toward my car. I can hear the asshole objecting but I just don’t give a shit. Sam is quiet the entire ride back to my house. It’s the first time she is coming here and I hate that it’s tainted by the psycho who is obsessed with her. I try to pretend like it doesn’t affect me when this shit happens but I’m scared.

Scared something will happen to her.

Scared I won’t be able to save her.

Scared that I’ll lose her.

I turn the car off once we are in my driveway. When I walk around to get Sam, she looks up at me. She looks broken. I slip my arm