Page 34 of Protecting Maggie
“I’m sure,” Preacher said. Working out would suck, but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t have traded tonight for anything. Especially sleep.
“Will I talk to you tomorrow?”
“Of course. You working at the store?”
“Yeah. Noon to five.”
“You want to have lunch together? I can come by around eleven with sandwiches or something.”
“I’d love that,” Maggie said with a big smile.
“Sleep well,” Preacher told her, forcing himself to let go of her and step back.
“You too.”
Maggie turned around and unlocked her door. She stepped into the apartment and turned back to him. “Shawn?”
“Yeah?”
“Iwantto tell you. I…I’m just not there yet. The last thing I want is to put you in his crosshairs.”
Preacher knew exactly who and what she was talking about. As much as he hated her words, they also made hope flare. She’d saidyet. And she wanted to trust him, she just needed more time. He could give her that. Maybe. “He can’t hurt me,” he said.
“I think he could. And I can’t risk it.”
“Let me help you, Maggie,” Preacher said. “You don’t have to deal with this alone anymore.”
She gave him a sad smile. “Good night, Shawn.”
“Night, Maggie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Preacher stood in the hall until he heard her lock the door, and only then did he turn and head toward the stairs. Frustration swam through his veins. Not sexual frustration, although he felt that too, but frustration over the situation Maggie was in. He hated that someone was still out there threatening her. She needed help, but until she gave himthe information he needed, he was on the outside looking in. And he absolutely hated that, but he wanted her trust more than he wanted to pry. Wanted her to open up about her ex of her own free will, without him having to go behind her back to find out who the guy was.
In the meantime, the only thing he could do was be there for her. Make her feel safe. Then, and only then, would she hopefully open up to him.
As he sat behind his desk at the naval base before his day got started, Roman Robertson studied the picture he’d been sent and grinned. It was exactly what he needed to blackmail Maggie. To continue to torment her. He wasn’t doing it because he wanted her back or had any kind of ridiculous thought about if he couldn’t have her, no one could.
It was exactly as he’d told her—because it was fun.
He’d had no idea she’d get pulled over when he’d put the drugs in her car to take north to his contact. But when she was, he’d felt a huge rush of power knowing that no matterwhatshe said, she’d take the fall for something he’d done.
Roman loved having people at his mercy. That was why his job as an officer in the Navy was so perfect. He loved being saluted, being treated with respect, having millions of the government’s money at his disposal. And since he’d put in his time, he didn’t have to worry about beingdeployed or being put in harm’s way. He could order others to do the difficult shit.
And thanks to the picture on his phone—taken by one of the many people who would do whatever he asked without question because of the power he held over them—Roman knew exactly who he was going to fuck with next.
He’d warned Maggie. Told her that if she did anything that made him question for a second whether or not she was even thinking about ratting him out, she’d regret it. This felt like a perfect time to both mess with her headandfuck with men who thought they were untouchable.
Roman had hated SEALs ever since he’d failed to make it through BUD/S himself.
Fuck her.
Fuck him.
It would be fun to mess with them both.
Let the games begin.
