Page 32 of Protected By the Sinner

For how long, I have no idea.

I just sent Elodie a message letting her know I’m leaving Texas.

As I walk back to the building, I think about Beau’s question—whether I was a Romani. He had no idea how close to the truth he was.

Our mother was one. Even after making the worst decision of her life by marrying Dad, she used to say a Romani soul never changes.

Maybe that fits my sister better than it fits me. Even with all the moving around, Elodie seemed to like never staying in one place for more than a few months. As for me, paradise would be living in the same house for at least a year. Making a few friends—ones who know nothing about my past—putting up a Christmas tree, and cooking a Thanksgiving dinner.

“Next year,” I promise myself.

I’ve got nearly two hundred days to go, but this time, it’s happening.

A big turkey and mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving, gravy and all the trimmings.

And at Christmas, finally a beautiful tree.

I’m lost in daydreams when I spot Beau’s building.

Time to make a fool of myself and hang out with the doorman and those bodyguards like some kind of grounded teenager.

But about ten steps away, a car screeches to a stop beside me and two huge men get out.

If it hadn’t been for the sound of the brakes, I wouldn’t have seen them before it was too late.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as every survival instinct I have screams at me to run.

I lock eyes with one of them, and he knows I understand he means to hurt me because he smiles.

Then, out of nowhere, one of the men I saw in the lobby earlier—whom I didn’t even realize had followed me—grabs my arm and starts escorting me back toward the building. Two more join him, and when I glance behind, the men from the car are gone.

“I didn’t bring the key,” I admit awkwardly, as if that’s the worst thing happening right now. Like no one on the street just saw me being escorted by three massive men like some kind of royal.

“You don’t need a key, just a code. I’ll open it for you, miss.”

They ride the elevator with me but won’t let me back into the apartment before they sweep it first.

Now that I’m inside, it hits me what almost happened, and my heart starts pounding in my chest.

I’m good at keeping it together in front of strangers, so I wait until they leave me alone in my room to finally fall apart.

Right now, I couldn’t care less whether my sister can answer or not. I need to hear her voice.

The phone rings at least six times before she picks up.

“It’s me,” I say without any caution, afraid she might hang up.

“Amber, what happened?”

“Someone came after me, Elodie.”

“Jesus! What happened?”

“I went out to buy a phone. Two men in a car stopped really close to me, but Beau’s guards had been following me and I didn’t even notice.”

“Are you okay?”

“I am now. Why didn’t you reply to my message?”