Page 21 of Shadow’s Protection (Hurricane Heat MC #1)

“He was banking on you trusting him. Not believing the worst about him. For all you know, Clive could have been behind you the entire time.” I hate to say it, but we all need to be braced for the truth.

She looks from me to Savage and Viper. “Where would he have stayed? Could he have gotten a hotel room when I couldn’t?

” She bites her trembling lip. “I listened to an audiobook the entire drive. I was so lost in the story, I didn’t pay attention to the news.

I literally didn’t know the storm was developing the way it was until I got into Tampa.

By then, it was too late. If he’d been tracking my movements and paying attention to the storm… ”

She doesn’t have to say the rest. Clive could be very, very close. Too close.

“Is there any way to know where he is?” she asks. “If he can track me, can we, I don’t know, contact the manufacturer? Damage the device so it doesn’t send my location to him?”

Savage shakes his head. “No, we can’t reverse-track him just because we have the device.

I wish we could. The only thing we can do is assume that he’s close.

And I wouldn’t recommend doing anything to let him know we’re onto him.

” He stands. “In fact, we might want to use the fact that we know about this to our advantage.”

I know exactly what he’s thinking. If Clive doesn’t come to Violet soon, we’ll put the device back on her car and draw the little fucker out.

Violet starts to tremble, and I pull her to my chest. “Call a meeting,” I tell Savage. “All hands on deck. Ten minutes.”

Savage and Viper head out, leaving Violet and me alone in the office. I lean back and look into her face.

“He’s coming, isn’t he? He’s coming for me. And he’s coming for you.” Her words aren’t a question, so I don’t answer her.

I just hold her silently against my chest, and together, we cling to each other. How is it that this woman, whom I’ve known for two days that feel like two years, now means enough to me that I’d put my brothers on the line to protect her?

“Shadow, I should go.” She pulls away, wiping her tear-streaked face and sniffling. “I should leave right now. You have the tracker. My car is clear. There’s no way he can find me, right? I have to go. Now. Get away from here where I can’t put you in any danger.”

I shake my head and tighten my grip on her arms. “You think running is going to stop him? You think one missing tracker is going to throw him off for more than, what, a couple days? I know guys like this, Violet. He won’t stop until somebody stops him.”

“How?” She looks at me, lost and, now, maybe a little angry.

“How the hell do I stop a man I already told to go away? It’s not fair.

What do I have to do? Buy a gun?” She shudders.

“I never thought I’d be the type of person to use a gun on another person, even in self-defense.

I never thought I’d have any reason to find out what I would do in that kind of a situation. Who does? Who does this, Shadow?”

I can’t do anything, say anything, to that.

She’s right. It’s one thing when a client owes the club money and attempts to make a run for it.

It’s one thing when we keep tabs on our enemies so we can stay ten steps ahead of them—using techniques just like this.

I don’t want to show Violet the drawer full of devices identical to this one that we use to run our business.

But there’s a big fucking difference between me and what this fucker has done.

We’re not the same as Clive.

We don’t victimize innocent people or stalk women who have already told us to fuck off.

We protect our investments and make sure we get what we’re owed. That’s it.

The people who go into business with us do so willingly, knowing the consequences of going back on their word. That’s a fair exchange in my book.

But I can’t risk her thinking I’m anything like this guy. I need her to trust us. Her life may depend on it.

“You know what kind of man Clive is,” I tell her, layers of meaning in my words.

“This is just one of the ways he won’t take no for an answer.

Now is the time to stop him. If you want to be free, if you want to get a job, move in to that condo of yours, and ever feel safe again, he’s got to be stopped. ”

“Isn’t this illegal, what he’s doing?” she asks. “I feel so violated. Can I take out a restraining order? Go to the police and show them what you found?”

I huff a deep sigh. I only wish it were that easy.

“You think a guy like that’s gonna care about a piece of paper, Violet?

You told him no. You broke off your engagement, left fucking town, and got a new job, you were so serious about moving on.

You think a court, a judge, or even a cop is going to convince this asshole to leave you alone?

” I shake my head. “I wouldn’t even try.

There’s only one way to deal with a guy like this. You have to trust me on this.”

She drops into the chair, and I kneel on the floor beside her.

I grab one of her hands and lift her chin, so her eyes meet mine. “While you’re under my roof, you’re my responsibility. While you’re in my bed, you’re mine, Violet. And I take care of what’s mine. Do you hear me?”

She looks past me, her eyes fixed on some point on the wall behind me. “I’ve been nothing but a problem since you met me, Shadow. I should never have gotten you mixed up in my shit.”

“Wrong.” I kiss her lightly. “But even if you’re right, you’re the best damn problem I’ve ever had.

Now, listen to me. Clive is coming for you, and I’d be willing to bet my left nut he’s coming here.

It may not be today. He’s got an ax to grind with me, and he may not be fool enough to try to fuck with me.

But make no mistake about it. He’s after you, and you’re going to be prepared. ”

Another silent tear slips down her cheek. “Thank you. I just don’t know what that means. Are you going to hurt him?” She flicks a look toward my chest, where I was carrying the day we met.

“I’ve got no plans to go back to prison,” I assure her.

“And if my luck runs out and I do go back for some reason, I sure as shit ain’t going back over some douchebag like that.

” I stand and pull her to her feet. “Go relax. Watch TV, play video games. Talk to Stella. Have a drink if you want. Just don’t go outside, okay? And whatever you do, don’t leave.”

She clasps her hands in front of her chest. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m calling a meeting. But first, I need you to tell me everything you know about this prick. I need his last name, date of birth. What he drives, where he lives. Violet, I need you to remember anything about him that might help me keep him away from you? Can you do that?”

She sighs, but then, she starts talking.