Genevieve and Gabi look over at me, and I can see the same surprise in their eyes.
“He’s taken enough from us. I won’t have you two living in fear. You’ll be smart about where you go and what you do, and you won’t go anywhere without us. Agreed?” I ask and look at Neal, who is nodding. “Neither of you goes out of our sight. And lady, you might not like it, but you’re going to be taking an extended vacation from work until we get this whole mess resolved.”
“I totally agree,” she says, surprising all of us. “What? I’m not stupid. I’m going to stick by your side.” She cuddles against my chest.
“Me too. If I’m not with Neal, I’ll be with you guys,” Gabi says, and Neal finally stops pacing to sit down beside her on the couch and take her hands in his.
“All right then. Let’s go give that statement and then we can go over the security stuff at the house. Call me if you need anything, Neal.” Just then there’s a knock on the door and I can see Sam’s black SUV’s parked outside. “That’s the team. Let me introduce you so they can get started.”
It’s hours later by the time Genevieve is finished giving the chief everything he needs. She’s exhausted, and all I want to do is take her home and put her into bed.
“What about my car and my purse?” she asks.
“Our team brought in your purse,” The chief says as he opens a drawer and takes it out. “If you’d like, I can send an officer to get your car and bring it home for you.”
“That would be great,” I say. Genevieve reaches out and takes her bag, then looks at me with tired eyes.
“We’ll be in touch,” the Chief says. We shake hands and exit the station.
Genevieve is leaning on me as we walk over to the truck, and I have to pick her up and put her inside. She’s quiet on the drive home, and I know she’s worried about her sister. I wish there was another way I could ease this pain for her. I wish I could go out and find Mark and end this with my bare hands. But my first job is to protect her, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
We go into the house and I punch in the code then reset the alarm. I carry Genevieve upstairs and take her to the bathroom. I run a hot bath in the claw foot tub and strip her down before I place her inside. I kiss her softly, then leave to let her soak.
I’m getting the bed ready for her when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. When I see the number on the screen I step out into the hallway to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Bad news,” the Chief says. “It looks like the brake line in her car had been cut. Our officer was able to get out safely, but her car is totaled. I’m adding this to the report and you better believe I’ve got my whole squad looking for him.”
“I’m just hoping you find him before I do,” I growl as I clench my fist thinking about what could have happened to my girl.
“You and me both, Barrett,” he says.
I ask him to keep me updated and end the call. I can’t tell Genevieve this. Not tonight. Not on top of everything else she’s had to deal with today. All I can do now is thank god she wasn’t behind the wheel and keep her by my side. The rage that is bubbling under the surface of my skin won’t be held back for much longer. Mark has hurt my family in so many ways, but now he’s attacking my soon-to-be wife and maybe even my baby. The games are over, and I’m finished fucking around.
Chapter 23
Genevieve
“It’s been two weeks and nothing has happened,” I say as stir the pot on the stove.
“That’s because I’m with you all the time,” Barrett answers. He comes up behind me and kisses me on the neck before he steals a slice of garlic bread and escapes to the other side of the kitchen.
“Hey! That’s for our guests.” I pretend to give him my best scowl, but all he does is flash that mischievous grin at me and I’m done for.
“I’m hungry. Besides, they’re not guests, they’re my sisters and they don’t count.”
“This is important,” I say and put my free hand on my hip, trying again to look stern. “You can’t see the dress before I walk down the aisle. It’s tradition.”
“Lady, nothing about us is traditional.”
I know he’s right, but I really wanted this to be special. For the past two weeks I’ve been basically on house arrest. Gabi and I have even had to resort to FaceTime in order to plan the wedding. Although she and Neal are coming over for dinner tonight, it will be the first time we’ve been face to face since that horrible day when Mark threatened her.