Page 96 of Until Joy

Graham tossed the last round of soggy napkins to the center of the table and pulled me into his arms. It helped, but only a little.

I couldn't bring myself to look at the photo. The room felt like it was closing in around me.

“We need constant surveillance.” Graham's voice cut through the buzzing in my ears. “Around the clock protection until we catch this guy.”

“Agreed.” Jax nodded. “I can provide personnel, but we'll need to coordinate schedules and locations.”

“I can help with that.” Seth spoke up for the first time since the revelations began. “Randy and I can take shifts.”

All eyes turned to him.

“We're not going anywhere until this is resolved.” Seth's jaw was set in the stubborn line I knew well. “Joy's our sister. We protect our own.”

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. Despite all the attitude and overprotection, when it mattered, my brothers showed up.

“What about you, Randy?” I looked at my other brother, who'd been unusually quiet. “You have a job to get back to.”

Randy's face flushed. “You think I'm going to leave you to deal with this alone? What kind of brother do you think I am?”

The hurt in his voice made my chest ache. I pulled out of Graham’s arms and reached across the table to squeeze his hand.

“The best kind, Randy. Both of you are the best kind of brothers a girl could have.” I squeezed his fingers. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you what happened in London. You should have known.”

“Yeah, well.” Randy cleared his throat. “Water under the bridge. Right now, we focus on keeping you safe.”

After that exchange, I found myself sitting on Graham’s lap while he sat in the recliner and spent the next hour working out logistics with the other men. Schedules, check-in times, emergency contacts. I half-listened, my mind still reeling from the revelation that my stalker had escalated to kidnapping.

Ten days.

The Dublin woman had been held for ten days.

“I think that covers everything for now.” Jax gathered his papers back into the folder. “Evan and I will head back to the office and start putting together a more detailed security plan.”

“I'd like to see your operation.” Seth stood as Jax did. “If that's all right.”

“Of course. Randy, you're welcome to come, too.”

Randy nodded. “Yeah, I'd like that.”

“We can stop by your hotel on the way back,” Evan suggested. “Get you checked in.”

After another round of handshakes and promises to stay in touch, the men filed out, leaving Graham and me alone in his dining room.

The silence felt heavy.

“How are you doing?” Graham looked down at me, his hazel eyes full of concern.

“Terrified.” The word slipped out before I could stop it. “The idea of being kidnapped, Graham. Of being helpless like that woman… I can’t. I just can’t.” My voice trailed off.

“Hey.” He pulled me into his arms, one hand stroking my hair. “That's not going to happen. You hear me? This bastard would have to get through me first, and I promise you, that's not happening.”

I buried my face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. “I know you'll protect me. But what if something happens to you? What if I lose you because of this?”

“You won't.” His voice was rock steady. “I've survived worse than one twisted stalker. A hell of a lot worse. We're going to get through this together.”

I pulled back to look at him. “Promise me something.”

“Anything.”