looking pissed, but for some reason, I don’t think it has anything to do with the letter and everything to do with me being in another man’s arms, even if that man is my brother.
“What are you doing here, Garrett?” My tone must be sharper than I thought because Travis throws me a confused look, but I can’t help it. I do not want this guy in my house.
“When Travis told me what happened, I wanted to make sure you were all right,” he tells me, stepping farther into the kitchen.
“Why?” He’s not my brother or father. He’s nothing to me.
“Reign.” Travis snaps my name. I’m being rude, I know, but I don’t care.
“It’s fine, Travis, she’s had a shock. Can you tell us what’s been going on and what has you so spooked? Travis mentioned on the way over here that you’ve been receiving gifts?”
I glare at my brother before sitting back in my chair. “I’ve been receiving gifts. It started with flowers and chocolate, so I didn’t think much of it, but then the last gift was racy underwear, and then everything stopped feeling so innocent.” I try not to squirm in my seat as his shrewd eyes bore into my face.
“Today, I received that letter. There’s no postage stamp, so like the other things, it’s been hand-delivered.” I sigh, rubbing my hands up my arms.
“Do you still have the other items?” Garrett questions, moving to lift the letter off the table by its corner. His eyes scan over the words before holding it out to Travis, who opens a zipper bag for him to slip it inside.
“No, I gave the flowers to my neighbor, the chocolates to Owen, and the underwear went straight in the trash.”
Garrett’s eyes flair at that. I don’t know if it’s because he’s picturing me in skimpy underwear or if it’s at the thought of someone else buying said underwear for me. Either way, he’s making me even more uncomfortable than usual, and that’s saying something.
“We’ll have the letter dusted for prints. My advice is to be sensible, watch your surroundings, and if you notice anything out of the norm, call it in,” he warns me in a stern voice.
I nod but avoid looking at him, focusing instead on my brother. “Do you want to come for dinner? I’ll order pizza and we can watch a movie of your choice.” He must hear the desperate tone in my voice because he bends and places a kiss on my forehead.
“Sounds good to me, but, Reign, you’re always welcome to stay with me for a while. Or go back to Dad’s if my lumpy sofa doesn’t sound appealing.”
Shaking my head at his offer, I’m acutely aware of Garrett listening to us.
“I don’t want this asshole to win. I love my house and I love my neighbors. I don’t want to leave if I don’t have to,” I tell him truthfully.
“Fine but if it escalates any further—”
“I’ll move back home with Dad. I’m stubborn, not stupid,” I cut him off to reassure him.
“Okay, Raindrop. We have to head back but I’ll be over after my shift has finished. Lock up behind us and call if something doesn’t feel right,” he orders.
“I will, I promise.” I walk them both to the door before Garrett turns to face me.
“Can I use your bathroom real quick, Reign?”
“Um sure, it’s at the end of the hall, the last door on the left,” I tell him, when I really want to tell him to fuck off.
“I’ll meet you at the car, Travis,” he says, turning and climbing my stairs.
“Trav—” I start, but when his phone rings, he looks at the screen and frowns.
“Sorry, Raindrop, I’ve got to take this. I’ll see you tonight.” He plants a kiss on my cheek before walking toward his car, dismissing me completely.
Typical. I sigh and contemplate heading back to the kitchen, but with Garrett in the house, I feel safer standing somewhere Travis can still see me.
I watch him climb into the unmarked police car and talk animatedly on the phone for a few minutes before I feel a presence behind me.
Garrett’s hands land heavily on my shoulders, squeezing them before he leans down and murmurs in my ear. “If you had a man in your life, he could keep you safe, Reign.”
“I have more than enough men in my life, thank you.” I shrug him off and pull away, twisting so he can move past me.
“Owen’s up for promotion,” he drops, entirely off topic.