Page 34 of The Protection Agreement

We open his door to see Ice, Grayson, and a third man about my age who is openly ogling me. I hate it when men do that. I instinctively move closer to Bruce. He notices.

“Ice,” Bruce says in a commanding tone.

Ice is next to me, pulling me with him.

“Hold on, don’t I get to meet the lady?” the third guy says.

“Not if you plan to leave here alive,” I hear Bruce reply, and I move faster with Ice. I don’t need Bruce taking him out. On the elevator, I have to ask.

“Who’s that guy?”

“That’s Pete, our nightmare client. He probably did something, and they had to bring him in.”

I smile. I can only imagine how much that would piss Bruce off.

Ice and I return home. I text Dr. Pierre to let her know that I’m home safe. I set Bruce’s cake on the kitchen counter and settle into routine with Ice.

Chapter twenty-one

Bruce

Once Jola is on the elevator, I return to my office with Pete in tow. He takes a seat on the sofa Jola just vacated. I notice his hand was about to fill the puzzle pieces. “Don’t touch that,” I say angrily to him. He looks my way and huffs like he’s tired of my rules. I sit on the edge of my desk with arms crossed, facing him. Idiot doesn’t realize my rules are the only reason he’s still alive, and the fact I respect his father, otherwise I would have thrown his case out with the number of rules he has broken.

“Why did you invite the girl over without letting us vet her first?” I ask.

“I was having a good time with her, and I didn’t want to start asking for her information like I was going to start stalking her.”

“Did you know she had an injection in her purse, which we believe was meant to kill or sedate you while she robbed you or contacted someone to come and get you?” He looks shocked.

“This habit of breaking the rules needs to stop, or I will have you shipped somewhere so far away from the city where the closest house is easily five miles, and you will only see my men, without any phone or internet, just reruns of seventies and eighties movies. ”He stares at me.

“You are bluffing, right?” He questions staring at me, I shrug.

“Well, you can break the rules again and test me,” I respond. He’s quiet and looks frightened, finally. His hands start to rub his knees.

“The lady that just left, is she a client too?” he asks in a conspiratorial tone.

“I’m guessing you want to leave here in a body bag,” I calmly state, and he stares at me like I’m crazy.

“Wh..at?” he stutters. “I’ll personally take you out if you keep asking about her,” I say, looking straight at him. He nods like the message finally sinks in, rising to his feet.

“I’ll stick with the rules,” he says.

“Good, your guard will be by the elevator.” He leaves. I ping the guys that Pete is on the way, and he should go straight home. I check in with Ice; he lets me know they just got home, and she’s watching a movie. Good, I just need to make it home before she falls asleep next to Ice.

I make it home early today. We have dinner together, and she’s back on the sofa. No mention of our kiss this afternoon.

“Goodnight, Jola,” I say.

“Good night, Bruce.”

Chapter twenty-two

Bruce

Declan is having his annual party. I will introduce Jola to my brothers, so they know who she is and will keep her safe if anything ever happens to me or Jonah. Declan, Luke, Daniel, and Adam are my brothers in every way but blood. We stand by each other through thick and thin. We’ve all stood by each other since Declan’s kidnap, and since then, made our own group, also getting very rich in the process.

Why I feel a need to bring her is unclear to me yet, but they understand my bringing her to any event where we are all present, it means she’s important.