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“That’s why I left him,” I say.
“Okay, I need all his details, please, ma’am.”
I reel them off.
“For now, we’ll do some prodding around, but you shouldn’t stay here tonight. We managed to get the door to lock, but you can’t go inside until Forensics have done their job. Do you have somewhere else you can go?”
I’m about to say Simone’s when Jared beats me to it.
“She’s staying with me,” he tells the officer, who nods, seemingly satisfied with that answer.
I’m not sure how I feel about staying with him, but there’s no concern or anxiety there.
“Any more threats or problems, call.”
“I will,” I murmur. “Am I able to collect any things from inside?”
He pulls a face. “Not tonight. You’ll be able to come back in the morning.”
Great. “Okay, thank you.”
We watch in silence as the officer moves back to the patrol car and climbs in before driving off.
I turn to Jared as soon as his tail lights are in the distance. “I can stay with Simone.”
He shakes his head.
“Jared, we’ve only been on one date…”
“I’m not going to jump your bones, if that’s what you’re worried about, but I am worried about the fact you’ve been targeted twice. Sweetheart, I have military experience and can keep you safe. If you go to Simone’s can anyone there protect you?”
Okay, that makes my insides turn a little gooey. He wants to protect me?
“I don’t need protecting,” I tell him. “I can take care of myself.”
“That I don’t doubt, Nee. I know how capable you are, but I’d feel better being around in case anything else happens.”
A chill goes through me. “Do you think that’s likely?”
“I don’t know,” he admits. “What I do know is nothing is going to touch you while I’m around.”
“What about Cooper? It could put him at risk.”
“He’s at my mom’s.”
“I still don’t like it. What if your place is targeted next because I’ve been there?”
He stares at me for a beat then says, “I have really good security. It’ll be fine. No one will touch my son.”
The fierce way he says it has me believing his words.
He reaches out and fingers a curl of my hair. “No one will touch you either, Nia.”
I swallow hard and try to keep a tight hold on my fear. I don’t want him to know I’m anything less than strong right now, even if I don’t feel it.
“You can’t promise that, Jared.”
“I can, and I am. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
