AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jensen gently touched her arm. “Livvy?”
Tears squeezed past her thick, dark lashes and down her cheeks. Even still, she didn’t look at him and her voice sounded despondent, almost robotic. “I was so stupidly brave and independent, thinking I’d be fine here on my own. I fought and used my skills, but it wasn’t enough. He almost took me. He almost …”
She shuddered and finally looked at him, staring deeply into his eyes. Her gaze implored him to never let Treven get near her again. He wouldn’t. Was there a possibility it had been Treven tonight? He couldn’t have gotten out of prison.
She released her grip on her legs and plowed into Jensen.
Jensen rocked back but steadied himself and cradled her close.
Her tears wet his shirt. “Why won’t he leave me alone? Why can’t I keep my brave?”
She likely didn’t want to know the answer to the first question. Treven Rindlesbacher was an entitled psycho, and Jensen couldn’t underestimate him. He and his parents were after the throne and would stop at nothing to gain what they thought was their right.
Treven hadn’t come for her himself. He couldn’t have. Jensen would have someone wake the prisoner and make certain, move him to a more secure cell and assign twenty-four hour guards to him.
After he helped Livvy.
The second question was easier. Jensen pushed to his feet and held her close to his side. Escorting her to the couch, he helped her sit but held her against him. He wanted to hold her until she felt safe again. His concern about maintaining his professionalism had vacated the scene with Livvy having been in such intense danger, and now to see her crying and terrified made all his walls crumble.
“We all get scared sometimes, Livvy.”
“Not you.” She glanced up at him, admiration clear in her brown eyes. “You’re tough, smart, brave. I bet you aren’t even afraid of General Raymond besting you.”
He smiled briefly at that, but the seriousness of the situation yanked any levity away. “Sometimes he does best me,” he admitted. “He has fifty pounds on me, but that just means I have to fight smarter. And truly, I still have to conquer fears.”
She studied him as if she didn’t quite believe he had any fears.
He paused and admitted, “You’ve probably heard about Princess Hattie Ballard August and all the scandal surrounding her in the media.”
“Of course.”
“Years ago, I had to face my fears and go against my training and even what I felt was ethical to protect her from Treven. Then just this summer she was targeted again, but this time by William. I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to protect her and the royal family, and that William would succeed in his schemes.” It was a lot to admit, more than he’d shared with anyone else, but if it would help Livvy he’d humbly share all of his fears and mistakes.
“I’m glad he’s dead,” she said. “I wish Treven was.”
Jensen’s eyes widened at that admission, but he quickly schooled his expression. “You didn’t give up your brave. I heard you fought two men off, and the list of injuries you gave them ... Impressive. You think most women would even attempt that, sweetheart?”
The term of endearment was out before he could recall it. At the moment, he didn’t care. She needed him and his reassurance. And he needed her, even if he could never admit it.
“Thank you.” She sniffled and then laid her head against his chest again. “I was trying to be so independent. But …”
She looked up at him, bit her lip, and looked down.
He waited.
Drawing in a long breath, she whispered, “I don’t want to be alone. I can’t handle it if he comes for me again.”
It was a breakthrough. She was brave, but she recognized Treven’s men would come at them with everything they had.
“That’s fighting smart, like I have to do with Ray sometimes.” Like he had to do constantly with the Rindlesbachers. Sometimes even going against the grain as he’d done with Hattie’s case. Still they’d bested him and Ray and it grated on him. The worst was William somehow hiding the gloves he’d worn to stab Franz Wengreen and only Hattie’s prints being on the dead man and the weapon.
He forced himself to not think about his insecurities and instead focus on a game plan to keep Livvy safe. “Will you go into protective custody, or do you want to stay with your parents? We could install security and cameras and have my people stay with you there.”
“No.” She shook her head quickly and glanced around. His men were securing the scene and holding back neighbors with cell phone cameras out front, but thankfully the small living room was quiet and the media hadn’t caught wind of another Rindlesbacher attack. Yet.
“I have to keep them out of this,” she said quietly. “I’m surprised he hasn’t gone after them yet. If he thinks he can’t get to me, he’ll use them against me like he did Prince Malik against Sophie.”
Jensen knew she and Sophie were friends, but few people knew the extent of Malik and Sophie’s years of tragedy before finally reuniting only a few weeks ago. “You didn’t call your dad?”
