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I closed my eyes. I really didn’t want to have anyone else looking out for me, especially if it was going to be for an extended period of time. “Yeah.” I sighed, suddenly near tears. “I’m good.” Sparkles whined and put her paws on the edge of the basket, acting like she understood my melancholy and wanted me to pick her up. I reached over and rubbed her silky ears. I couldn’t help but look up at Walker. When I did, I found him studying me carefully.
“This isn’t about me,” he said softly. “Is it?”
My mouth went dry. There was no way he could see how terrified I was. How I needed to land with someone who would keep me with him and away from my father. “It’s not about anything. You don’t like me. I don’t like you.”
“For months you’ve been stalking me around the clubhouse, and now you say you don’t like me?” He didn’t sound angry in any way, just curious. Puzzled even.
“You made it pretty clear you didn’t like me. Even now you admit you don’t want to get too close to me.” I shook my head. “I’m not going to continue to throw myself at you. I wanted you to be with me that first night because I couldn’t think of anyone else. Probably because I’d been stupid and putting myself in places where I wasn’t wanted.” Did he wince? “Now I’m better. It’s time I moved on so you can get back to your life.”
Walker narrowed his eyes at me. “That’s not it.” We stared at each other, neither giving an inch. At least, that was what I was going for. The very last thing I wanted Walker to see in me was how much I still wanted him and how much it hurt that he didn’t want me back. I didn’t want him to see my anxiety or fear or resignation that I’d eventually have to go back to my father. I wanted him to see my defiance. But I knew he saw everything. That was who Walker was. A hunter. A tracker. A man who knew his prey.
“Sting,” Walker said, not taking his gaze from me. “Blossom will be staying with me. No one else. She and I have things we should have discussed a week ago. Once we do, I promise this will all be worked out.”
“That’s a pretty big promise there, man. You sure you can deliver?” Roman moved beside Walker, putting himself between us. Not like a shield, more like a buffer in case I needed it.
“I can. Also, Wylde, you keepin’ tabs on her father and his bodyguard?”
“Yep.” Wylde got to his feet, a look of profound disappointment on his face. “You sure you don’t want to stay with me, Blossom? I’ll teach you to play Fortnite.” He grinned broadly.
“Wylde,” Sting said softly, holding up a hand for him to stop. “What’s your question, Walker?”
“Where’s the mayor and his fuckin’ guard dog?”
Wylde shrugged. “They’ve been home a day or so. Lookin’ for our girl, but no one knows where she went. Disappeared in the night. Vanished like a fart in the wind.” He winked at me. “Mrs. Watson’s gone to her son’s in California, and none of the rest of the staff have any idea what happened. Been a real shit show at that big ole house since he got back. No public appearances or anything.”
My breath came in sharp pants, and I could feel a panic attack coming on. Sparkle whined, then barked at me, wanting my attention. I could hear the men calling my name, but it all sounded like it was coming from a deep well. My ears roared, and I could hear someone giving a soft, miserable cry of despair.
“Blossom!” Walker knelt in front of me, grasping my shoulders, then my face. “Look at me, honey. Focus on me.”
“He’s coming for me.” My voice was a mere thread of sound. A sob broke free. Then that despairing whine again. Was that… was that me? “He’ll kill me when he finds me. Oh, God!”
“That’s it.” Walker stood, then scooped me up.
Sparkle started barking and snarling like a puppy possessed. I was able to focus on her just in time to see her tumble from the basket. “Sparkle! Oh, God, please don’t take her away! Please!”
“Get the damned dog,” Walker snarled.
Sting bent to pick her up, but she snapped and growled. Finally he used the blanket and wrapped it around Sparkle, lifting her to put her in my arms. The pup crawled up my body to lick my face as she whined, and Walker strode off down the hall. I wrapped my arms around Sparkle and started sobbing.
“Hush now,” Walker whispered softly, his mouth in my ear. “I’ve got you. I’ll keep you safe.”
“You don’t want me. No one does. Not really.” My voice was broken. I wanted any comfort Walker provided, but I knew it was only out of some sense of obligation that he was even here. “Why don’t you like me?” I looked up at him. I wasn’t in the mental shape at present to have this conversation, but the question slipped out anyway. No matter how upset I was, maybe even because I was so upset, I needed the answer. Under normal circumstances, I doubted I’d have the courage to confront him like this.
