Page 9 of Protected By the Bikers Next Door (Never Just One #4)

Harper

I wake early Monday morning, abruptly, wide awake despite the fact that the sun is only just peeking above the horizon.

Wrapping my robe tight around me and shivering in the cool morning air, I make my way downstairs as quietly as I can.

Jenny is still asleep, and she doesn’t need to be up for at least an hour.

All the swimming she did yesterday tired her out, and she went straight to bed on time without her usual protests.

When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I notice the culprit for my early rising.

Slipped under the door is a blank envelope.

I must have heard whoever it was dropping it off.

My heart hammers in my chest as I realize that it could be another sinister delivery from my secret admirer.

Steeling myself, I pick up the envelope.

Before checking its contents, I fling the door open, but unsurprisingly, whoever delivered it is long gone, and the street is deserted.

Shutting it behind me, I head into the kitchen to make myself a coffee, deliberately putting off opening the envelope so that I can pretend that it’s something innocent for just a bit longer.

When I’ve finished making my coffee, I can’t put it off any longer.

I take a deep breath to gather my courage and face whatever is inside, then open it.

I tip out the contents onto the table, and all of the blood drains from my face.

Inside the envelope are photos, dozens of pictures of me and Jenny.

Me dropping her off at school, Jenny playing outside during recess, Jenny and I having dinner, me taking a shower, and even photos of me sleeping.

All the images were taken from a distance, outside the house, through the windows.

I immediately get up to close the blinds, feeling like an animal in a zoo. What if they’re watching me right now?

I feel sick to think of this weirdo watching us constantly from a distance, hiding in the shadows.

The fact that he’s also watching Jenny makes me want to vomit.

I need to protect my little girl, no matter what the cost. I briefly wonder if it’s somehow my ex, if he’s watching her, ready to take his chance if he spots the slightest sign that Jenny isn’t being cared for properly.

But I don’t think even he would stoop so low and there’s no way he could find me.

Who is this person, and what do they want from me? This time, there isn’t a note, which somehow makes the photos even more sinister. Do they simply want me to know that they’re always watching us?

My heart plummets as I realize I haven’t checked in on Jenny this morning.

I jump up, knocking my almost empty coffee cup over in the process, the mug shattering as it hits the floor.

I don’t bother to clean it up. I race up the stairs, taking them two at a time, until I reach Jenny’s room.

I open the door, picturing the worst, and that I’ll find an empty bed.

To my relief, Jenny is there, sleeping soundly.

I watch her for a moment, my heart rate slowing as the fact that she is safe sinks in, calming my nerves. However, the threat is real, and whoever is leaving me these notes is escalating their behavior. I know it’s too early, that I’ll be waking him up, but I just can’t wait. I call Wolf.

He answers after only a few rings, his voice hoarse from just waking up, giving him a gravelly tone that suits him. Any other time I’d find it sexy, but I’m too freaked out for that. I apologize for waking him and explain as calmly as I can what has happened.

“I’ll be right over,” he says, hanging up before I can respond.

While I’m waiting, I clean up the broken mug, put on another pot of coffee, and start mixing up some pancake batter, wanting something to do to distract me from obsessing over the photos. A short while later, there’s a knock at the door, and to my surprise, all three men are standing there.

“Thank you for coming, all of you. I’m sorry I woke you up. Please, come on in.”

“We’ve already secured the perimeter outside. There’s no one here,” Wolf tells me, easing my worries that the stalker is still close by watching us.

“Thank you,” I reply, my voice barely more than a whisper as I try to hold back the tears that sting at the corner of my eyes.

“Are you okay, Harper?” Bear asks. There’s so much concern in his eyes that when he gently places his hand on my shoulder, I find myself falling into his arms and hugging him.

If he’s surprised, he doesn’t show it; he simply holds me and gives me the comfort I need while the other two quickly and efficiently search the house.

“All clear,” Hawk confirms when they return.

I lead them into the kitchen, wiping away the few tears that managed to escape with the corner of my robe. They study the contents of the envelope, firing off questions in rapid succession that I’m unable to answer.

“Have you seen anyone unusual hanging around?”

“No, no one.”

“Did you notice anything this morning?”

“Nothing.”

“Any idea when the envelope was delivered?”

“I think it could have been what woke me up early, but there was no one when I came down a few minutes later.”

“Can you think of anyone who might be doing this?”

“No, no one,” I lie.

“Not your ex?”

“I don’t think so.”

I don’t know why I hold back from telling them everything, from exposing my deepest fear.

That he’s finally found me, but it can’t be him, can it?

He’s safely locked away, and even if he’d sent others after me, there’s no way he could have found us.

We were so careful. It can’t be him. I refuse even to entertain the idea, or I’ll lose it completely.

“Mommy?”

We all whirl around to the sound of Jenny’s confused, sleepy voice. She’s clutching her favorite teddy bear, her eyes still squinting from sleep as she stands there in her PJs, looking confused by the presence of our neighbors in our house.

“Morning, sweetie,” I say, plastering a big grin on my face. “Look, Bear, Wolf, and Hawk came over to have some pancakes with us!”

In her trusting naivety, Jenny takes this at face value.

Thankfully, Hawk has quickly swept away the photos, tucking them into his pocket before she can see them.

I proceed to make the pancakes while the guys entertain Jenny, pretending everything is normal.

We don’t discuss things further until Jenny goes upstairs to get ready for school.

Once she’s out of earshot, Wolf tells me that he will install security cameras and alarms all over the house.

“I can’t afford that,” I admit.

He waves my protests away, insisting he will pay. “And you’re staying with us tonight. Until everything is fully up and running, I’m not letting you stay here alone.”

I weakly protest, though in all honesty, I have no desire to stay here alone while our stalker lurks outside. If he wanted, he could easily break in and hurt us both.

“This isn’t a request, Harper,” Wolf says firmly, and I relent.

***

There was no possibility of my getting any work done today.

I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than fixating on who is leaving me these notes.

We decided that it was best to send Jenny to school rather than disrupt her routine.

However, that was easier said than done.

I only relented in leaving her there when the guys promised they would ensure someone was watching the school all day to prevent anyone from hanging around or getting to Jenny.

The school also has strict policies about pick up, so the guys convinced me that she was safe there.

Still, I spent the whole day fretting about her. When Bear and I collected her from school, I clung to her until she wiggled from my grasp. Already, she’s embarrassed to be seen hugging her mom at school.

Although the guys managed to beef up my security system and install cameras while Jenny was at school, Wolf still insisted we stay the night until the system is fully operational. They’ve also replaced all of the doors and windows with new, more secure ones.

Jenny was delighted by the prospect of a sleepover at the guys’ house and has been loving every moment since we got back from school.

The guys have been keeping her entertained, helping her with her homework, and playing games with her.

The sight of three big, macho men playing dolls with her was enough to leave me smiling for the first time since finding the pictures.

Despite my anxiety over everything that’s happened, I have been able to relax and pretend it was just that for her sake.

As a much-needed distraction, I insisted on cooking dinner for everyone.

I spent the best part of the day preparing it.

After much deliberation, I decided to make fried chicken, mac and cheese, and an apple pie for dessert.

“Dinner’s ready,” I call out as I place the dishes on the table.

“That smells incredible,” Wolf says as he comes and sits at the head of the table.

Bear walks in with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Wait till you see what Jenny’s done to Hawk. Boy, am I glad that I shave my head,” he says with a rueful chuckle.

At that moment, we hear Jenny pleading with Hawk. “Come on, Hawk, Mommy made her famous mac and cheese and fried chicken just for you! It’s my favorite. You have to try it!” Jenny drags a reluctant Hawk in, pulling him along by the hand.

I can’t stop the peal of laughter that escapes my mouth when I see Hawk.

He’s allowed Jenny to style his long hair, and she has chosen to put it into two pigtails that stick out at odd angles from the top of his head.

Hawk looks ridiculous. It’s the first time I’ve seen him look anything other than brooding and a little bit menacing.

Seeing him like this, vulnerable and willing to look silly to please my daughter, shows me a completely different, unexpected side of him.

I mouth a silent thanks to him, and he nods in acknowledgement.