Page 39 of Floodgates

He leaned close and pushed the hair back from my face. I closed my eyes, and he didn’t move away. It was very comforting and almost undid me.

“Thank you for being here with me last night,” I told him wearily. “I appreciate it more than you know.”

“I know,” he huffed, and I felt his warm breath on the side of my neck.

“Okay,” I said quickly, squaring my shoulders and sitting up straight. “You go ahead an’ go, and I’ll call ya if anything weird happens.”

He stood and put his coat on over his thick sweater. “Call me if nothing happens.”

“That doesn’t make any sense at all,” I muttered, watching him grab his pad, his phone, and readjust his gun holster.

“Well, either your brother or myself or another officer is going to be guarding you from now on.”

“How is that possible?” I asked him. “I mean, there’s crime all over this city. How does one guy merit twenty-four-hour surveillance? All I got was beat up?”

“But you’re obviously a target of someone with an agenda. You’re in danger.”

“I am?”

“Oh, for crissakes,” he flared. “What the hell have I been saying for the past half hour?”

“So what you’re saying is I do merit twenty-four-hour surveillance?”

“You merit watching, and because you’re Alex Brandt’s little brother and my friend, you merit more watching than would be regularly assigned.” I could tell he was trying to inject an air of calmness into his tone. “Considering that one of the other people who was attacked in the same manner you were is dead now, I would think this news would give you comfort.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologized fast, motioning him over to me. “I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I appreciate everything you’ve done so far.” I clutched at his sweater.

He looked at me, and I saw his jaw tighten before he spoke again. “Okay, I’ll see you.”

“Am I okay to be here alone?” I asked, suddenly alarmed by his leaving. I looked up at him towering over me and felt safe. If he left, I wouldn’t be scared, but I would be anxious.

He motioned behind me with his head. “You’re not alone.”

I turned to find my ex standing in the doorway of my room. He lifted his eyebrows in question, waiting for a sign from me that it was okay to come in. My hands fell away from Cord and I stared.

“Call me,” Cord ordered, walking around the bed to the door. He shot me a look before he left, and I wasn’t sure what I saw there.

Suddenly alone with Breckin, I felt my unease return.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

He entered the room and closed the door behind him. It made me feel a little better that he looked terrible. As he crossed the room to my bed, I found myself shivering again. He stopped a few feet away and swallowed hard before carding his fingers nervously through his thick hair.

“You left.”

“I had to check in at work and let them know I needed some time off.”

“Time off for what?”

“For you, of course.”

Of course. “You look ill,” I croaked out.

“I feel ill,” Breckin admitted, lacing his fingers behind his neck and then resting his arms against both sides of his face.

“How come?”