Page 17

Briar

I cradle my phone between my shoulder and my ear, trying to keep my voice low so I don’t disturb Orion, who’s somewhere on the other side of the house. Heidi’s voice crackles a bit on the line, but it’s enough to make me smile. It’s been too long since we’ve had one of our marathon chats, and the familiar warmth of her voice calms the butterflies in my stomach.

“How’s work?” I ask, kicking my feet up on the sofa. Jeb squawks from his perch, and I give him a reassuring pat.

Heidi lets out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, you know, we’ve got new drama every other day. Marcie’s been on a warpath since you’ve been gone. She’s bossy on a normal day, but this past week? Girl, she’s unstoppable.”

“Yikes,” I murmur, imagining Marcie stomping around the aviary in her khaki uniform, giving everyone a piece of her mind. “Guess she’s worried about how everything will run without me,” I joke, though there’s a note of sadness in my voice. I miss being there with the birds.

“I’m sure she is,” Heidi continues. “Between Chester’s rising celebrity, the VIP parties, and the new hire, she’s got a full plate. Speaking of the new guy… how do you feel about Heath taking that bird trainer spot you wanted?”

My stomach sinks at the reminder. “I mean, I’m happy for him, I guess. But it’s irritating, you know? I’ve worked my butt off, and I was so close to finally snagging that position. Then suddenly, here comes Heath, in all his shining Tweed glory, swooping in and impressing Marcie with his fancy degree.” I can’t quite keep the bitterness out of my voice.

Heidi snorts. “Fancy degree my foot. I heard he doesn’t even have one. Jenny says he’s not that bird smart. He’s a decent guy but nowhere near as experienced with birds as you are. Everyone knows that.”

She’s just saying what I’m thinking, but it still gives me a little boost of confidence. “Well, once this whole Jason thing is sorted, I’m heading back and making my case for that position. I don’t care if Heath was hired already. I’m not giving up.”

“Damn straight,” Heidi says, her smile audible even through the phone. “I miss you, you know. We all do. The place isn’t the same without you around cleaning cages and giving unauthorized bird facts to tourists.”

I laugh, a genuine, light laugh that feels good after so many days of tension. “I miss it too. And you. Though maybe I don’t miss the cleaning cages part as much.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she teases. “So, any idea when you’ll be back? Please say soon. I can’t handle Marcie breathing down my neck 24/7. I need my partner in crime.”

My chest tightens at the thought of returning to work while Jason is still out there, lurking. “I’m not sure. Orion—my bodyguard—wants me to hold off until we have more leads on Jason. But believe me, I want to get back to normal.”

Heidi falls silent for a moment, then drops her voice. “Speaking of Jason… he was at work yesterday.”

A chill slides down my spine, the phone growing clammy in my hand. “What?” I whisper, my heart pounding. “Why was he there?”

“He showed up near the aviary, asking about you. Tried to sweet-talk the new guy, Heath, into giving him info. Heath said he didn’t know you, that he was new, but, you know, Jason’s pushy.”

My stomach churns. “Was Marcie around? Did anyone call security?”

Heidi sighs. “We were about to, but he slipped out before we could. Marcie heard about it, though, and she’s on high alert. Honestly, the whole place is tense. It’s weird seeing him, all… I don’t know, calm, but clearly out for something.”

I rub my forehead, fighting off the swirl of dread and anger. “He’s desperate,” I say finally. “To find me, to… who knows what. But it’s not going to work. I’m safe where I am, and Orion has my back.”

“Orion, huh?” Heidi drawls, an obvious grin creeping into her tone. “So… that’s the mysterious man protecting you?”

I feel my cheeks heat up. “He’s not mysterious,” I protest, which is a lie—he totally is. “He’s just doing his job.”

“Mmhmm,” she hums, knowingly. “Briar, I can practically hear the blush in your voice. C’mon, is he at least hot?”

My blush deepens. “He’s… yeah. He’s good-looking. And kind. More muscles than I’ve ever seen before. Strong. Professional.” My voice cracks on the last word, because we’ve already blurred that line. But I’m not quite ready to lay all my cards out for Heidi.

She cackles. “Oh, you so like him. It’s obvious.”

“I never said I liked him!” I exclaim, but I can’t keep the flustered note from leaking out. Jeb squawks behind me, as if voicing his opinion on the matter.

“Babe, you didn’t have to,” Heidi says, smug. “I know that tone. I’m your best friend, remember?”

I let out a defeated sigh, half-laughing. “Fine, maybe there’s something there. But it’s complicated. He’s literally my bodyguard, and I’m literally being stalked by my psycho ex. Not exactly the ideal scenario for romance.”

Heidi clicks her tongue. “True, but life’s messy sometimes. Just… keep your eyes open, okay? You deserve a little happiness. Don’t let Jason’s crap sabotage that.”

Her words strike a chord in me. I glance around the living room—Orion’s living room—where a stack of my clothes lies folded on a chair, Jeb’s makeshift perch stands in a corner, and my phone charger drapes over the sofa. I realize I’ve been here for days now, and it’s starting to feel more like home than I ever expected. Orion’s presence has a way of making me feel… safe in a deeper sense than just physically protected.

“Thanks, Heidi,” I manage, my voice softer. “For everything. I’ll keep you posted.”

“You better,” she warns, then rattles off details about her own life: she’s got a date with Perry tomorrow night, and she’s giddy like a schoolgirl, but also nervous. We share a moment of normalcy, gossiping about men and outfits. She tells me she’s going to wear that sparkly top she got last month, and I squeal in excitement for her.

Finally, we say our goodbyes, promising to update each other soon. When I hang up, I catch Jeb staring at me. He cocks his head and lets out a squawk that sounds suspiciously like laughter.

“Don’t judge me,” I mutter, setting my phone down. But I can’t wipe the small smile off my face. Despite the fear, despite Jason’s lurking, there’s a glimmer of hope. And maybe it has something to do with a certain alpha protector who’s turned my life upside down in the best possible way.

We’re halfway through dinner—simple chicken, vegetables, and rice—but it tastes better than any gourmet meal thanks to Orion’s company. He sits across from me, eyes warm and focused, his fork clinking softly against the plate. It’s peaceful, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I can almost pretend the world isn’t spinning out of control.

But that illusion shatters the moment I mention Heidi’s call. I set my fork down and fold my arms on the table. “Heidi saw Jason at work yesterday,” I say, voice low and steady. My chest tightens just speaking the words out loud.

Orion’s brow knits together. “At your zoo? That doesn’t sound right.” He leans back, reaching into the front pocket of his jeans. He pulls out a small piece of paper, unfolding it carefully. “Because I’ve been meaning to show you this,” he says, sliding the note across the table toward me.

My pulse kicks. I recognize Jason’s sloppy handwriting immediately. You think he can save you? The menacing scrawl sends a chill skating over my skin, like ice water down my spine.

“Where did you—?” My voice trembles, and I dart my gaze to Orion, shock and fear battling in my chest.

He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “Found it under your windshield wiper at the apartment. I saw someone lurking around, but by the time I got there, they were gone. My guess is, Jason wanted to scare us. He obviously knows you’re not working right now and that I’m around. So why would he be at your workplace if he knows you’re here with me?”

My mind whirls, and my stomach twists. “I have no idea,” I whisper. All appetite for dinner flees as I stare at the note, heart pounding. “But if he thinks scaring me will work, he’s not getting the reaction he wants.”

Orion’s expression darkens, his jaw tight. “We’re going to figure this out,” he says, sliding his hand over mine and giving it a firm squeeze. The contact steadies me, just enough to manage a shaky nod.

“Yeah,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “We’ll figure it out.”

However, I don’t feel so confident right now. In fact, I squeeze Orion’s hand, wanting more contact with him.