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“Why does it matter?” she asked.
Porter understood perfectly. “We need to identify him, so we can investigate him, too.”
Chloe interjected, “It’ll be easy enough to search pictures of Adrik and see if this asshole is with him—perhaps he’s also been mentioned in the newspapers.” She added to Sawyer, “If I send you a name, will you put it through your system?”
Porter hesitated, staring at Chloe’s cheeks, noticing an odd blush there, especially considering the subject matter. He glanced sideways at Sawyer, noticing the small smile on his face. Porter snorted to himself, as they apparently were silently flirting with each other. It would never happen, even if he’d be happy seeing them together. Sawyer was good guy. Chloe was sweet. A perfect match, really.
Though Sawyer had some obstacles, Chloe was not a submissive, not one iota, and Porter wasn’t sure she was even kinky. She’d always seemed too proper, from what he’d observed. However, the biggest thing standing in Sawyer’s way was Chloe’s longtime boyfriend.
“Of course. Whatever I can do to help,” Sawyer replied, then added to Kenzie, “Do you want me to send you police protection to your house and store? It would take some explaining, but I’m sure I could swing it.”
Before Kenzie could answer, Porter interjected, “I’ll handle that.”
Her eyes widened with surprise but she stayed quiet. Of course she wouldn’t object now; she was scared and knew she wasn’t safe. He said to Chloe, “Make this your priority, all right? Assign our current cases to the other PIs in the office.”
Chloe closed her laptop. “Done and done.” She stood, glimpsing at Sawyer, and her cheeks colored in a deeper blush before she said to Kenzie, “Porter will keep you safe, and I’m the best clue finder there is; we’ll get something on this guy to get him out of your hair. Promise.”
“Thank you.” Kenzie smiled.
Sawyer rose and approached, squatting in front of Kenzie and taking her hand. “Next time, don’t wait so long to come forward with anything like this. I would hope that you would know you never have to face anything like this alone.”
Of course, he left out that the Club Sin Masters took the safety of their submissives seriously, in and out of the dungeon, and Porter understood Sawyer’s intention, but Kenzie simply replied, “It was complicated.”
Sawyer shook his head and frowned. “When it comes to your safety, it’s very uncomplicated. You’re either safe or you’re not. And when you’re not, you ask for help.”
Kenzie gave Sawyer a sweet smile. “Well, I’m not hoping for a next time, so I think we’re good. Thank you for helping me.”
Sawyer gave a final squeeze of her hand and rose, saying to Porter, “I’ll be in touch soon.” Then he followed Chloe out the front door.
Porter noted the hard expression that Sawyer gave him as he left. Concern, yes, that was there, but there was also annoyance set in his features. Irritation that came often from any Doms who dealt with Kenzie. She put herself at risk because she didn’t trust those around her. Porter understood why that frustrated some, but he was learning that perhaps he had more patience with Kenzie.
He dropped down onto the armrest next to her and sighed. “From here on out, you can’t disagree with me on your safety. No arguments, all right?”
“Okay.”
His brows rose. “Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.” Her voice became quiet and small. “You’re good at what you do. I’m just a bookshop owner. Whateve
r you think is best, I’ll do that.” She hesitated, obviously considering, then added, “You seem hopeful, and I haven’t been hopeful about much in a long time. So I’m going with that—hopeful is better than a wicked hangover any day.”
Porter had to admit her answer surprised him. Yes, he expected her to be more willing than normal since she was in danger, but for her to agree that easily stunned him. He gathered her in his arms and held her tight. “That’s another thing”—she sank into his hold—“no more drinking until this is over. Not even a glass of wine.”
She snorted. “Now you’re just being mean.”
Inhaling her spicy scent and holding her tight in his arms, he rested his mouth by her ear. “You scared me last night, kitten. Don’t ever do that again.”
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, Kenzie exhaled a long breath as Porter pulled his car into the parking lot at the back of her store, sliding into the space beside her car. Relief filled her that her bookshop was still standing and that Adrik hadn’t done anything drastic yet. She grabbed her purse from the car’s floor and exited, passing by the garbage Dumpster on the way to the door.
No matter the hell she currently lived in, she felt better than she had in days. Last night she had slept, and slept well, even though Porter had given up his bed and stayed in the spare bedroom. But just knowing he was there in the house brought comfort. She also figured Porter had access to a gun—after all, he was a PI—and was insanely confident that he could protect her.
Once Porter joined her at the back of his muscle car—which he happened to look incredibly sexy driving—he opened his trunk. She spotted not only a laptop bag, but an overnight bag that she hadn’t noticed before they’d left. “What is that for?” she asked.
“Didn’t I tell you? We’re becoming roommates until this shit is over.” He grabbed his bags and then shut the trunk. “I’m guessing you’ll be more comfortable at your place than mine.”
She gawked at him. Not that she didn’t appreciate the gesture—of course she did—but she didn’t have a spare room. The reading room didn’t have a bed¸ only a comfortable chair. And she doubted he’d fit on her small couch in the living room. “Don’t you think it’s proper to ask me first?”
