Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

I hold my hand over my mouth as my pounding heart beats against my ribs. What if we’d stayed and watched TV while he was lying helpless on the floor?

“Okay. Yes.” She glances up at me. “We’ll let you in when you get here.”

She puts the phone on the wooden floor and rocks back on her heels. Her focus is on Jason’s face as she holds his hand.

“What can I do?” I step into the room.

She startles like she forgot I was here for a second. “Can you go down and let the paramedics in when they get here?”

“Of course.” I bite my lip and glance at her brother. “Is he going to be okay?”

Her eyes are dry, but her lower lip trembles. She’s holding back tears. Staying strong. Her eyes soften as they meet mine. “I hope so. Thank you for coming with me.”

“Of course.”

She shifts back to sit next to Jason, her fingers against his pulse. I head downstairs. Someone is already knocking on the door. I hurry over, thinking it’s too early for the paramedics.

Glancing through the glass on the door, I see Blake. His mouth presses in a thin line. Relief pours through me. I could handle this alone, but with him here, I don’t have to. I unlock the door and he stalks in. After engaging the lock, I take a breath and turn to him.

“We’re waiting for the paramedics. He’s passed out upstairs. The bar is closed, so it’s safe.” The words fly out of me. I don’t regret coming here. I straighten my shoulders. “Hope needed me, and as her friend, I was there for her. You didn’t need to come.”

Blake’s jaw clenches as his fierce gaze holds me in place. But I don’t wilt. I’m not a child. I don’t need protection twenty-four seven. The stalker has already proven that it doesn’t matter if I’m kept locked away in a tower, they can still get to me. Maybe not physically. But we’re feeding into their game by limiting my movements.

“Someone has you in their sights. Waiting for any slipup. What happens when Hope needs to go to the hospital with her brother? You get left here alone? You walk back? Alone?” Blake runs a hand through his hair. It’s less than a block away. He grabs my shoulders. “Do you even care about your own safety? Fuck, Madison.”

Not wanting him to worry, I rest my hand over his. His gaze drops to my neck. Does he still see the bruises even though they’re gone? Does he still feel guilty for not arriving earlier with Jeff? When our eyes meet, I can see it still eats at him.

My heart pitches in my chest.

“I’m here.” Closing the distance between us, I place my hand on his jaw, rubbing at the twitching muscle there. “I’m safe. I can’t let one person dictate the rest of my life.”

He draws me into his arms. His spicy scent fills my nose as I press my face into his shirt.

“I know, but I can’t… I can’t.” He buries his face in my hair.

My heart swells, knowing what he can’t seem to say. We don’t want to lose each other. It doesn’t matter if Blake loves me or not. He wants me and needs me. I have enough love for both of us.

A knock brings me back to the present. I pull away from Blake to look out the door. This time it’s the paramedics. After letting them in, I show them where Hope and her brother are. Blake holds my hand as they load Jason into the back of the ambulance.

Hope stops before me and hugs me tight. A tear slips down her cheek. “Thank you for coming with me. I’m glad I wasn’t alone. I’ll call you later.”

Her gaze flicks to Blake briefly before she hands me the key to the bar. “Could you lock up? The bartender will be here in a few hours and he can open everything.”

“Of course. I hope he gets better.”

“Me too.” A shadow plays in her eyes. What put it there? How often has this happened?

“Text me when you know something,” I say after her.

She nods as she vanishes out the door.

Blake

Madison is quiet on the walk back to our building. I don’t know what to say to her. I want to tell her she can’t just do that. She can’t just leave and act like everything is okay.

But I’m not her prison guard either. She’s a young woman. We can’t keep her locked in the building. Not long-term. Hell, even in the short-term, it’s probably not healthy.

The elevator stops on the office floor. She glances at me, waiting for me to step off.