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Scoffing, Neo clutched her chest. “Me? How am I a target?”
“Until the last shooter is found and taken care of, he can come back for you. He knows where to find you. You’ll need to stay here until he’s handled.”
Neo chuckled, and her head shook as she lifted her hands. “I’m sorry, but no. You’re cool, but I don’t know anything about you. I’m not staying here.”
“If you don’t want to stay here, you can stay at a hotel or something, but you’ll need to be guarded. Regardless, I’m not advising you go home or to your store until he’s found. I’m truly sorry about this, Neo, but it’s for your own good.”
Her eyes lifted to the ceiling as she quietly talked to herself.
“You’ll be protected,” Rey assured her. “You won’t have to stay here twenty-four-seven, but a guard will have to be with you when you leave. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, because you helped me.”
“You promise I won’t be trapped here?” she confirmed.
Rey nodded. “I do.”
“Is it going to take a long time for him to be found? I don’t want him ever coming back to my store, but I’m not trying to stay here for long.”
“I can’t give you a timeframe, but Merc’s connections work pretty fast.”
Swallowing hard, Neo looked from the line of large, expressionless men who stood behind her to me.
“Can it…” Her mouth shut and small hand trembled as she pointed at me. “Can I have him?”
Neo’s request had me gritting my teeth as I fought back a smile. If I was a puppy waiting to be adopted, my tail would be wagging as I ran circles around her. I couldn’t believe she trusted me with her life and safety after what happened. But the fact that she did had my heart expanding in size like the Grinch.
The fuck was this woman doing to me?
Chapter
Six
Neo
As crazy as my day had been, I didn’t have the energy it took to be upset with Steven. When Merc brought me home to pack a few bags, I tried to wait for Steven to tell him what had happened. I’d already informed my employee that the store would be closed indefinitely. I’d called my parents and Innvy to let them know what was going on as well. Even though they all were worried and grateful I was okay, they told me to do as Rey and Merc said to ensure I’d be safe. Steven was the only person I’d been unable to get ahold of, and I could tell he hadn’t been home from work, though he got off three hours ago.
When I got tired of waiting for him, I decided to tell him about what happened on his voicemail since he wasn’t answering his phone.
“This isn’t the kind of thing you leave on someone’s voicemail, but since you’re not answering, I have no choice.” Huffing, I turned my back to Merc, though he would still be able to hear me, as he stood at the doorframe with his head tilted and arms cupped. “There was a shooting at the store. I’m fine, but I have to go into a bootleg witness protection until the last shooter is found. I guess I’ll see you when I see you.”
After disconnecting the call, I shoved my phone into my purse. I didn’t want to suggest I’d be able to move around freely. For a while, I wanted Steven to hear my message, think he wouldn’t be able to see me, and suffer. Yes, it was petty, but that’s what his ass would get for not answering my calls. Literally, anything could have happened to me, and he would have no clue. Today was proof to me that he wasn’t dependable, and I questioned if he even cared. Not wanting to focus on my horrible relationship, I muttered, “I’m ready.”
I grabbed my bags, but Merc took them from my hands. I expected him to say something slick about Steven, but he remained silent, which I appreciated. When we made it to the front door, he told me to hang back while he took my bags out and made sure no one had followed us here. Once he was confident it was safe for me to come out, he came to get me, and we made our way to Rey’s house. I still hadn’t fully processed everything that had happened today, and I wasn’t sure how I’d react when I did.
“Why did you choose me?” Merc asked.
“Seemed like the natural thing to do,” I replied without much thought. “I know we don’t really know each other, but you’re the only one I felt comfortable with outside of Rey in that room. Plus, you’re nice. And you saved my life already. Why wouldn’t I choose you?”
Merc didn’t answer me, and I was okay with that. It seemed we both had a lot on our minds that we needed to work through.
After getting a tour of Rey’s mansion, I was able to choose a room. I chose the one that was closest to Rey’s room. He assured me that there would always be guards here and that we would both be protected. Merc wouldn’t be here always, but if and when I needed to leave, he would be with me. That was good enough for me. Unlike when I first arrived, the mansion wasn’t filled with men. There were several outside and only two inside.
Once I had my bags secured, I made my way outside, hoping the darkened sky would help soothe me before I took a shower and tried to get some sleep… though I was sure I wouldn’t be able to get to sleep any time soon.
The weight of the day finally got to me, and I released my tears. I hadn’t meant for anyone to catch me in such a vulnerable state, but that seemed to be the case when the sliding door opened. Quickly wiping my tears, I turned as my body crumbled more. Now that they’d finally started to flow, I couldn’t stop them or my sobs. When the body sat next to me, I knew by the cologne that it was Merc. He pulled me into his side and held me as I cried. When the sobs turned into whimpers, I pulled away and wiped my face.
“Why you cryin’?”
His simple question and nonchalant tone made me laugh. My life had been upended temporarily, and I was trapped in this compound of a mansion with no one I really knew. Men were shooting in my store, near me, and I saw a man almost lose his life. Yet, here he was, asking me why I was crying, as if this shit was normal. Maybe it was to him. As effortlessly as he aimed and shot, Merc clearly knew what he was doing.
