Chapter One
Brooklyn snuck another peek at the handsome military man next to her. She hadn’t been comfortable around men for months. Ever since… She shook her head to erase the angry face that loomed in her thoughts. No. I won’t think of him.
He’d driven her car away several blocks from the gathered newsies and onlookers who’d swarmed around her car after she helped Giana flee from her assailant before she pulled herself together enough to note her location. Brooklyn forced herself to break the silence that filled the interior of her car. “Thank you for your help. I was too shattered by the chase to navigate out of there. I don’t want to put you out anymore. I bet you need to get back to the base. Is there a back entrance or somewhere convenient where I could drop you off?”
“Trying to get rid of me?” he asked, drawing his words out slowly with a Texas accent that poured over her like warm honey.
As Brooklyn pondered the implications of how a voice could be so damn sexy, she caught his sideways glance toward her and rushed to answer. “No. I just don’t want to impose. You definitely weren’t expecting to have me screech to a stop on base and need Prince Charming to come save me.”
“Prince Charming, hmm? I think I like that.”
She turned in the seat to stare at him in disbelief. Who was this guy? He was older—not like her father’s age, but more seasoned than the other soldiers who had rushed to Giana’s aid. He also didn’t react like any man she’d ever met before. “Maybe I should call you Caden?”
“That works too,” he agreed and smiled at her.
Holy moly. That smile is lethal. She squashed the arousal that flared inside her. Men are bad. Dangerous. Her mind argued with the self-preservation warning system she’d built up over her time with her ex.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Should I pull over?”
“Yes. Stop anywhere,” she agreed quickly.
To her amazement, he did. Caden steered into the first parking lot he came to and parked the car before twisting in his seat to meet her gaze directly. “Brooklyn, he’s locked up for a while. Tom can’t get you.”
“That’s good. Thanks again for helping me,” she told him.
“Do you want me to get out?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” Brooklyn was polite automatically as her mind raced several steps ahead to returning to the apartment and grabbing her stuff. She needed to be out of town before Brent saw her on the news.
“I won’t hurt you.”
That pulled her out of her plans. “Of course not. You’re not that kind of guy.”
“Then why are you so eager to get rid of me?”
“It’s better for you to get far from me,” she forced herself to explain. When that concerned expression she’d noted as he protected her from the press reappeared, she added, “I have a crappy ex who habitually beats up on me and anyone stupid enough to be anywhere around me. You do not strike me as dumb.”
“I try to avoid that.”
Brooklyn waited for him to say something else, but silence filled the car. She hadn’t explained herself well. “I stick to myself because I don’t want anyone else’s pain on my conscience. I’ll pay for an Uber to take you back to base. I’ve got to empty my apartment and find a safer place to stay.”
“You’re safe with me, Brooklyn.”
She laughed hoarsely. “That’s what my last boyfriend said too. He ended up in the hospital with a skull fracture. Seriously, Caden, get out of the car and forget we ever met.”
To her surprise, Caden shifted the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking space. “What are you doing?”
“Give me a minute.” He tugged his phone out of his pocket and selected something on the screen. Instantly, she heard a ringtone.
“Who are you…” She snapped her jaw shut when he held up a finger to signal her to be quiet.
“Caden? We’re starting a ten-mile hike. Did you change your mind about taking the day off?” a deep voice asked.
“Not exactly, Jerico. Bring the team. We need to move Brooklyn now.”
She shook her head vigorously, mouthing the word no.
“At Giana’s old complex?” the other man answered. “Bring a van?”
“Yes. Time is essential,” Caden stressed.
“We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” The phone disconnected.
“What are you doing?” Brooklyn demanded.
“Playing Prince Charming.”
[divider]
Never in her life had anyone taken charge of everything like Caden did. Pissed off at first by his insistence in helping her, Brooklyn’s emotions shifted almost instantly to gratitude and amazement. Now standing in her empty apartment, Brooklyn checked her watch. Twenty-two minutes. That’s how long it had taken for the buff men to pack her things into her car. The van hadn’t been necessary. She’d wanted to have her possessions in her vehicle in case she needed to leave quickly.
“What have we missed?” Caden asked, walking through the place, opening cabinets and doors.
“Nothing. I can’t believe how fast you all gathered my things. Thank you.”
“If you’d let us pack your clothes, we could have shaved five minutes off the time,” he said with a smile.
She pressed her hands to her cheeks to cool them off as she blushed again. The flashback of seeing her cotton panties in a stranger’s—Caden’s—hands as he efficiently folded them into her suitcase still horrified her. Thank goodness she didn’t wear scraps of lace butt floss like other fancier women did.
“Could we not talk about that?” she whispered.
“Of course, little girl. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
He looked so concerned that she rushed to reassure him. “I’m being silly. Thank you for your help. I can’t believe you brought your team here to help. Everyone was so nice.”
The minute she finished thanking him, his words replayed in her brain. Little girl? That phrase sent a shiver of excitement through her. But he couldn’t mean that like a daddy would say, right?
Caden stepped closer. Brooklyn’s skin tingled as if he were magnetic. What was it about this guy that attracted her so viscerally? His powerful body and self-assurance lured her toward him. His attitude screamed, “I can protect you from harm.” That wasn’t real, of course. Brent had erased any illusion of safety from her world.
“Do you have somewhere to go?” Caden asked, running his hand lightly down her arm.
Brooklyn loved the light touches that he used. A warm hand on her back as he ushered her into a room. The brush of his arm against hers when he relieved her of a heavy box. This reassuring contact. He can’t be this wonderful.
Taking a step away from him, Brooklyn missed his warmth immediately when his hand dropped to his side. “I’ll go turn in my keys, and I can be off. Let me lock the door and then you can go back to training.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” he reminded her as he walked into the hall with her.
“What question?” she asked, hoping he’d drop it.
“Go turn in the keys, and we’ll figure it out.”
“Oh, you don’t have to wait for me.” Brooklyn hustled toward the office, calling her thanks to the team who’d helped.
“Take care, Brooklyn,” Jerico called.
She’d enjoyed meeting the guys. Caden had an amazing team. Jerico, who looked like a hot, ripped Boy Scout. Who was she kidding? They were all handsome as hell and built like they could wrestle a bear and win. Koa, with his island handsomeness and savage tribal tattoos. The team medic was tough as nails in a safeguarding way. The massive Max, who bulged with so many muscles Brooklyn bet he could bench press her car. He had stowed her belongings in her trunk with a precision she’d never understand. Brooklyn wished she had a phone to take a picture of the arrangement so she could attempt to recreate it. And Hank. Slightly distant, Hank had an air of sadness. She’d wondered about his backstory before pushing the mystery out of her head. Brooklyn wouldn’t be around to figure it out.
Coming out of the office with the receipt for her payment to end the lease, Brooklyn studied the building she’d hidden inside for several months. Her apartment had provided a refuge for her to heal and regain her strength. It was time to move on now. Not only because of Tom and the skirmish with Giana; Brooklyn had a weird feeling that Brent was zeroing in on her location. She hadn’t spotted his silver sports car since she’d moved here, but had studied a warning posted by the mailboxes of a fuzzy image of a man with brown hair. Something about the image triggered a warning inside her. Could it be Brent?
The truck the soldiers had driven had disappeared, signaling they’d left. A sigh eased from her nostrils. Brooklyn hadn’t understood how alone she’d felt until she’d had people around again today. Hearing the men ribbing each other and working together to empty her apartment had provided companionship.
[divider]Chapter Two
Walking back to her car, Brooklyn replayed the interactions of the day. Fleeing with Giana, meeting the guys, and packing up her belongings hadn’t been on her schedule for today. And she’d just lamented her boring life yesterday when she sat alone in her apartment for the umpteenth day in a row.
“Bitch! I knew I’d find you.”
Brooklyn stopped in her tracks, and her blood turned to ice as she recognized that voice. She turned to dash back into the apartment office, but froze when he spoke again.
“If you run, I’ll hurt them as well. As far as I can tell, one woman is alone in there. She’ll be easy to hurt before I drag you away.”
“Please send officers to the Williams Estate apartment complex, building B. A man is loudly threatening a female resident.”
A broad body stepped between Brooklyn and Brent. A torrent of relief flooded Brooklyn as she recognized those muscular shoulders and the close-cropped hair. She couldn’t let him get hurt. This was her mess.
“Caden, you need to leave. He’s not stable,” she hissed for the military man’s ears only.
“Looks like we’ve got a hero here, Brooklyn. Want to tell him what happens to good guys who interfere?” Brent snarled.
“He’s leaving, Brent. I’ll go with you.” Brooklyn stepped to the side to duck around Caden’s powerful body.
“You’re not.” Caden’s voice was hard and definite. “Yes, ma’am. He’s escalating. Get someone here now.” Caden wrapped an arm around behind him as he shifted in front of her again. “Take my phone and stay there, Brooklyn.”
“If I go with him, he’ll leave you alone,” she whispered, automatically following Caden’s instructions and grabbing his phone. “Don’t get involved. He could do anything.”
“Exactly,” Caden told her.
Even from behind, she could tell Caden never took his eyes off Brent. The dispatcher’s voice caught her attention, and Brooklyn pressed the phone to her ear. “I’m Brooklyn Montague. I have a restraining order against Brent Maldoney in the state of New York.”
“What’s happening now?” the policewoman asked.
“Brent has stalked me for over a year. I moved here to escape from him. He’s threatened to hurt the woman in the apartment office if I don’t go with him. An innocent bystander is blocking his access to me. Hurry! He’s not…”
“Hang up the phone, bitch! The police can’t stop me from making you pay,” Brent bellowed.
“A squad car is ten minutes away. Keep him talking,” the woman told her as Brent spoke to Caden.
“A soldier boy, huh? Brooklyn was always a diseased whore. Why don’t you leave and get yourself checked out?”
A snicker came from the building next to her, and Brooklyn died inside. A few residents drawn by Brent’s yelling had walked out on their balconies to watch and film the drama.
“We both know that’s a lie,” Caden answered calmly.
“Do we?” Brent taunted. “I don’t hear you denying you’ve fucked her.”
“Our relationship isn’t your business,” Caden assured him, sounding cool and collected.
Astonished, Brooklyn realized Caden was in complete control of his emotions. Nothing Brent said to him triggered Caden to react rashly. A familiar snick signaled Brent had flipped open his favorite hunting blade. Her already pounding heart lurched in her chest.
“Hurry! He’s pulled out a knife,” Brooklyn said into the device in her hand before warning Caden. “Be careful, Caden.”
“Stay back, Brooklyn,” Caden warned. His head never turned, and his gaze remained focused on the other man.
Hope jolted through her when the sound of a siren reached them. Please let them hurry!
Caden jumped backward, causing Brooklyn to scurry out of his way. A flash of a blade caught her eye, and she met Brent’s evil gaze. Fear ran down her spine, tensing her muscles. His face contorted with rage, and pure hatred shone in his eyes. She stood frozen in place. Why did he hate her so much?
“There you are, bitch!” Brent lunged toward her.
A powerful arm wrapped around her waist, lifting Brooklyn off her feet. She shrieked and flailed her arms and legs, trying to get free from her captor.
“It’s me, little girl,” Caden said as he yanked her away from the slash of the gleaming hunting knife. “Run to the office.”
She couldn’t leave him. Caden was in danger because of her. She had to help him. As the blare of the siren strengthened, Brooklyn looked around for anything to throw at Brent. Reaching down, she grabbed a handful of the decorative stones in the landscaping.
“Drop the weapon. I don’t want to hurt you,” Caden warned in a low, emotionless tone that chilled her. In total control, Caden spoke like this was a normal day in his life.
Stepping to the side, Brooklyn heaved the rocks at Brent. Only a few pinged off their assailant as others tumbled to the ground. Time froze for an endless second before Brent extended his knife and ran toward her.
Caden moved so quickly, Brooklyn had trouble tracking the action. Brent tumbled to the ground with Caden following him. A flurry of curses burst from Brent. Caden silently stripped the blade from Brent’s hand and pinned his arms behind his back, pressing their assailant’s face to the dirt. The screech of brakes signaled the arrival of the police.
“Head over to the squad car, Brooklyn. Explain what’s happening,” Caden requested in that quiet, controlled Texas drawl.
This time, she followed his directions. “Officer, I have a restraining order against that man on the ground in New York. He came after us with a knife,” Brooklyn said.
“I saw it all, Officer. That man attacked them,” the manager called from the office. Several neighbors echoed her words. One even offered the videotape of the incident.
In a few minutes, Brent sat handcuffed in the back of the squad car. The out-of-control man’s shouts reached her as she stared in horror at his frantic motions that rocked the vehicle.
The image of his enraged face would show up in her nightmares. Only then, no reinforced glass would separate them. Warm hands turned her from the view. “It’s over, little girl. You’re okay. He can’t hurt you ever again.”
“You haven’t ever dealt with the justice system. He gets away with everything repeatedly. I’ll never be safe. He’ll keep coming after me,” she whispered and wrapped her arms around herself.
Caden pulled her close and held her tight. She melted against his powerful frame. He’d kept her safe.
“Thank you for helping me.” A thought popped into her head, and she took a step backward. “Did he hurt you?” She ran her hands over his body, searching for an injury.
“I’m fine, Brookie. He didn’t get anywhere close to me with that knife,” Caden assured her.
She shuddered as her mind replayed Brent’s lunge toward her. “I hit and kicked at you. Did I hurt you?”
“I might have a bruise on my shin and on my stomach tomorrow. You pack a wallop.”
“Oh, no. Let me see!” Brooklyn yanked up Caden’s T-shirt to check.
A loud roar sounded from the car. Caden tugged his shirt out of her hands and drew it back into place. “It’s probably better if you wait to undress me until your ex is gone.” Caden’s blue eyes danced with amusement.
“Don’t laugh. He’s unbelievable. I’ll get on the road and be out of town before they release him.”
“How long have you been running, little girl?” he asked, sobering immediately.
“Too long. A year, eighteen months maybe. We broke up almost three years ago. I stayed in New York, sure that the system would protect me. I got a lawyer and a protective order. He put me in the hospital the following week. I’d pissed him off.”
“He went to jail then, right?”
“Brent was out before I was. His parents bailed him out and then drove him to the hospital. My nurse heard me screaming and called security. That time, they kept him for two days. I convinced the doctor to release me the next day.”
“And you took off?” Caden asked, his face dark with anger. He turned to watch the squad car drive out of the apartment complex. Brent’s yelling face still focused on them through the back windshield.
“He found me a week later. Brent had placed an AirTag on my car. That started it. This time, I lost him for a few months. I’d started to think it was over. He’ll never stop,” Brooklyn told him, brushing a tear away that tumbled down her cheek. “Thank for packing my car. I’ll be able to put some miles between us before they release him again. They never keep him for long.”
“I don’t like the thought of you out there alone, Brooklyn.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve survived this long. My folks send me money to exist on. I’ll go to a hotel somewhere tonight and update them. They keep track of me and all the charges filed against him. Maybe someday, Brent will rack up enough crimes to get thrown in jail for a few years.”
Brooklyn shook her head and walked over to her car. Caden paced alongside her. She loved it when he wrapped an arm around her. Standing close to him, she couldn’t imagine Brent daring to attack her. If only…
“You have another option, little girl.”
“I really don’t, Caden.”
“You could stay here with me. My team and I would protect you. Bullies like Brent usually choose another target when the one they’re focused on isn’t an easy victim.”
“I don’t want any of you to be targeted,” she said quickly.
“Everyone needs help, little girl. Let me finish this for you.”
“Why would you offer to get involved?” Brooklyn dug her hand into her pocket to pull out her keys as they reached her car.
“I’ve looked for someone special for many years. I think you might be the one I’ve searched to find,” Caden told her. He gently wrapped his hands around her shoulders and turned Brooklyn to face him.
“Me?” She glanced at him in surprise. He felt the connection between them like she did? “You could do much better than me. Even if I didn’t have an out-of-his-mind stalker.”
“Never talk badly about yourself, Brooklyn,” he told her in such a stern tone that she shivered in reaction. “You should know that I’m a daddy.”
His blunt words caught her off guard. “A daddy? Like of little…” Brooklyn’s voice trailed away as she realized he’d called her a little girl several times. She hadn’t remarked on it because she was younger than he was. She’d figured he considered himself like a father to her—not a ‘daddy.’
“Yes, Brooklyn. A daddy. If I haven’t read you wrong, you are a precious little girl.”
“I’m twenty-three, Caden. Fully grown,” she told him, not answering the implication in his words. She tore her gaze from his and focused on the keys in her hand.
“Brooklyn. Please look at me.”
She shook her head. Could this day get any worse? A car chase, Brent finding her, now a guy who somehow guessed her secret fantasies.
“Brooklyn, have I shown you any sign that you can’t trust me?”
“No,” she whispered and peeked up at him.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I can’t let you run. If you’re right and they release Brent today, tomorrow, whenever, your chance to make this endless loop of harassment end will evaporate. Come home with me. I can protect you.”
“He’s dangerous.”
“He hasn’t met dangerous yet, little girl.”
“You?”
“Yes. I can make sure you’re safe. And we can explore this link between us,” Caden suggested.
“I’m really tired of running. It sucks.”
“Then let’s stop it.”
Before she could stop herself, Brooklyn stepped forward into his arms. He squeezed her tight and ran his hand over her hair. “This is the day everything changes for you, little girl. Thank you for being brave.”
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