Page 36 of Property of Yak

Is he here to hurt me?

My breaths come quicker as my mind starts to race. Yak told me that it wasn’t safe. That they would be looking for me. His claim protects me, but not completely. He said that.

Oh my good gracious. What if this man is here to kidnap me and bring me back to the man who tried to hurt me?

Abandoning all the anger before, I pull out my phone and dial Yak as I escape down the hall to the bathroom. The panic flowing through my body has me paranoid that he saw me. That he could be following me.

“Hey, Angel. What can I do for you?” His warm, deep voice comes through the phone.

“Mayday, or whatever people say. There’s a man here at the office. He’s from your club. I saw him last night. What do I do?”

When he doesn’t respond right away, I hiss into the phone.

“Jameson, am I in danger?”

Yak

“Jameson, am I in danger?”

I hate the sound of panic in her voice, but I needed to know. I had to find out what she would do if she thought she was in trouble.

Would she call her father and put her trust in him? Or would she run to me?

Her choice would change everything for us. Had she gone to her father, I would have had to cut her loose and pray her father could save her.

She didn’t run to him, though. She trusted me. She came to me. Whether she realizes it or not, she is already turning to me for safety. Something I will give her without hesitation.

My life might not be safe, but she will be if I have anything to say about it.

“No. He’s one of mine. I trust him,” I tell her.

“What? You sent someone here and didn’t think that it might, I don’t know, cause me a gosh-darn heart attack?”

I smile at her avoidance of curse words. It’s quite endearing. Even if she threatened to make me put money in a curse jar the next time I cursed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t consider how it would look to you. You can trust him. He is there to check on you and vet whoever Henry decides to put in place for security.”

She huffs. “What’s that about anyway? I don’t need all this special treatment.”

“You thought you were in danger for a split second. Tell me, had I said that he was dangerous, would you rethink your need for independence? Would you want that security?” I bark at her.

I don’t mean to snap at her, but I don’t know how many more times I can repeat myself.

She goes quiet for a moment.

“Angel, I need words.” I try to keep my tone softer.

“Yes. I would,” she admits.

I look up and see Yooper walking my way.

“Then thank me and get back to work. I told you I would protect you, so let me do my job.”

She sighs. “Thank you.”

“Good girl. I’ll see you tonight.”

I hang up before she can say anything else.