Page 10 of Cursed Fox (Willow Creek Security #4)

CHAPTER TEN

Nancy

I wasted extra time in the shower and getting dressed because I wasn't ready to face Lex just yet. I had so many questions I wanted to ask him. But based on the little time we’d spent together, I knew he wasn't going to be forthcoming with answers. I understood it, but it was still frustrating.

When there was nothing left for me to do but hide in my room, I decided it was time to face the music. I headed straight for the living room and was surprised to find the blankets folded nicely and stacked on one end of the couch, the couch and the room empty.

Voices coming from the kitchen caught my attention. I headed that way and stopped dead when I saw Lex and Jimmy working together in silence at the island.

"Good morning . . ."

Jimmy rarely cooked, and for some reason I didn't imagine Lex as the cooking type either. Although, if he lived alone, I would guess he would have to. Unless he had a personal chef like my spoiled son did.

"Morning, Mom. I hope you're in the mood for quiche."

I glanced over to where Lex was indeed plating up breakfast.

"Smells yummy, but since when did you learn to cook breakfast? Or any meal for that matter?"

I wasn't being mean. I loved my son dearly, but no matter how hard I’d tried to teach him, I swear the kid could burn water when he tried to boil it.

"Oh, no, I didn't cook anything. Ms. Roberts likes to make extra meals and leave them in the freezer. Lex did all the work. I just watched and tried to learn."

"And how did that work out?" I smiled at my son.

"I absolutely would've burned it if left to my own devices."

I chuckled at Jimmy's honesty and could've sworn I saw the briefest upturn of Lex's lips, but it was gone so fast, I couldn't be sure.

"Does that mean you know how to cook, Lex?"

I nearly laughed when his nose screwed up like what I asked sounded horrible. "I'm barely two steps above Jimmy. I can follow directions to heat something up, but that's about it."

"Good to know." I laughed.

"Let's eat," Lex said as he carried all three plates over to the small table in the kitchen.

Jimmy grabbed glasses and juice while I got the utensils and we settled in for an uncomfortably silent breakfast.

As usual, Lex didn't speak and I wasn't sure what to say. Jimmy kept glancing back and forth between the two of us like a kid trying to decide which parent’s side to be on. The whole situation felt odd, but I didn't have the first clue how to make it better.

The only saving grace was the fact that about halfway through our meal, the building’s fire alarm went off.

"Does this happen often?" Lex asked, and there was something off about his tone.

"No." Jimmy shook his head. "In fact, it has never gone off that I know of since I moved in here last year."

"Let's go." Lex pushed back his chair and stood up. "Nancy, don't leave my side."

I didn't understand what the big deal was. It was just an alarm. Someone cooking breakfast most likely set it off. But I followed anyway.

As we stepped out into the apartment complex hallway, a booming voice echoed throughout to use the stairs instead of the elevator. I thought about the seven flights down and sighed. I really needed to get out of the office more and work out.

By the time we got to the lobby, I was sweating and slightly out of breath. It didn't go unnoticed that neither Jimmy nor Lex had the same problem. Both men were the epitome of in shape. I slightly hated both of them for that.

We were barely outside for a moment before chaos erupted.

One minute I was standing between Lex and Jimmy, and the next I was being thrown to the ground.

The sound of screeching tires filled my ears and the noxious odor of burning rubber invaded my nose.

People screaming only further added to the mayhem.

A large body kept me pinned to the chilly concrete, and out of instinct, I covered my head with my hands, unsure of what was going on.

"Are you okay?" Lex's hot breath tickled my ear and sent a shiver through my body.

"I think so," I whispered. "What happened?"

"Someone tried to run us down."

Lex finally pushed himself up off me, and there was no way for me to miss the veins straining at the effort. I watched them in fascination until he put his arm out to help me up.

I let him pull me up and looked around. Black skid marks marred the sidewalk where we’d been standing just minutes earlier. People were milling about, staring at us, but it was the body on the ground that caught my attention.

"Jimmy!" I pulled out of Lex's embrace and ran to where my son lay crumpled on the ground, clutching his leg. "Oh, God. Jimmy. What happened?"

"That crazy driver hit him," some random man said, but I ignored him and looked around for someone to help. Thankfully, a set of paramedics were running our way.

The two paramedics gently pushed me out of the way so they could help Jimmy, and before I knew what was happening, I was wrapped up in Lex's arms. "We need to get out of here."

"No!" I beat on his chest and tried to pull out of his embrace, but he was too strong.

"Mom," Jimmy hollered from where he was being loaded on a stretcher. "Go with Lex. Please."

I didn't want to listen. I didn't want to be dragged away. But Lex was too strong, and no matter how hard I fought, I couldn't get away from his arm banded around my waist.

At one point, he picked me up like a child and carried me the rest of the way to the underground garage where his Jeep was parked.

"Put me down," I demanded, but it was no use. Lex refused to listen to me. He refused to bend to my wishes. "Where do you think you're taking me?"

I never should've asked. I should've fought harder to go in the ambulance with Jimmy. Because the moment Lex said his next words, my whole world stopped.