Page 23 of Mitch

Autumn watched as he paced to the door in long, quick strides as if the hounds of hell were after him.

Silence stole the oxygen from the room, and Autumn sat up straighter, suddenly feeling vulnerable and confused. She didn’t know what had just happened with Mitch, but the name seemed to set him off. Was it possible he knew Linton Allen or had some dealings with him in the past? She didn’t have a clue, and in than the moment, she realised how very little she knew of the man who’d come to mean so much to her in the last few weeks.

As Maggie began to fuss and build up to a full-fledged tantrum, Autumn looked around the room at the men who were quietly talking. All of a sudden her life was out of control again. The desire to flee was almost cloying against her skin.

The door opened, and Autumn straightened hoping Mitch was back but instead saw the pretty detective who was her handler.

“Autumn.” Aubrey’s face lit up with a smile that had Autumn instantly relaxing. She walked towards her and crouched beside her chair, worried eyes on her face. “I had no idea you were Mitch’s tenant.”

Aubrey reached out a hand and stroked Maggie’s cheek. It had been Aubrey who had watched Maggie while Autumn went and looked at the apartment in Mitch’s house just over a month ago.

Autumn gave Aubrey a smile she didn’t feel. “I guess this place is smaller than I thought.”

Aubrey rolled her eyes. “You have no idea.” Aubrey pulled her top lip between her teeth. “Jack says you’re in trouble?”

“Anton Williams called me. He somehow got my number.”

“Do you have the phone? We can see if there’s anything on it to give us a clue to how he found you.”

“Mitch has it.”

Aubrey looked around the room. “And where is Mitch?”

Autumn shook her head. “He went to get some air.”

Aubrey lifted her chin and then cast a glance at Jack. “Is there someplace Autumn can feed Maggie without an audience?”

Autumn felt the heat hit her cheeks as half the men in the room began to talk at the same time as they headed to the door, Decker and Lopez moving so fast it was a wonder they didn’t leave skid marks.

Jack rolled his eyes as Alex calmly stood. “Follow me, Autumn, you can use my office.”

Autumn looked at the handsome man with golden hair and nodded. Aubrey was by her side as Alex showed them to the space he called an office which contained a small couch behind a glass desk.

“Thank you.”

Alex just nodded and backed out of the room without a word, leaving just her and Aubrey in the room.

“You should’ve called me,” Aubrey chastised gently as Autumn fed her daughter.

“I know, but it all happened so quickly, and Mitch said they’d help and had more resources than the police.” Autumn let her shoulders sag. “I’m just trying to do what’s best for Maggie.”

Aubrey rubbed her arm, offering comfort, as if sensing this had been an emotional day for her. “Mitch is right, they do have more resources and if they say they’ll help, let them. My brother-in-law to be is a good man, and so are the others. They’ll keep you safe. They saved my ass and Madison’s.” Aubrey looked around as if searching for something. “Speaking of Madison, did you notice my sister when you came in?”

Autumn shook her head. “No, sorry.”

Aubrey threw her hands up. “It’s fine. My sister is somewhat of a loose cannon.”

“Yeah, I guess we all have a sibling like that.”

“You too?”

Autumn nodded as she switched her daughter to the other boob. “Yeah, my younger brother. He’s ten years younger than me and always seems to fall in with the wrong people. He has a good heart, but he’s a sheep sometimes.”

“That’s Madison. Soooo, are you and Mitch a thing?” Aubrey asked with a secret smile.

Autumn blushed. The truth was she didn’t really know what they were. There was a huge attraction between them, and they’d kissed several times but did that mean they were together?

Until now she’d have said a tentative yes, but with him walking out the way he had, she wasn’t so sure. Autumn glanced at Aubrey. She barely knew the woman but sensed she could be a good friend.

She shrugged. “I’m not sure what we are. I’d thought we had something, but then he bailed halfway through the meeting like his ass was on fire.”

Aubrey tipped her head as she looked at Autumn. “Can I give you a little advice, woman to woman?”

“Sure, not like I have anyone else to give it.”

Aubrey reached out and laid a hand on her arm before withdrawing it when she had Autumn’s full attention. “These men,” she waved a hand in the air behind her, “are fierce protectors. They work hard, play hard, and are the most loyal you’ll ever find. When they make any kind of commitment to be there, to protect you or to love you, they take it seriously. What they aren’t is great at accepting they can’t control everything.” Aubrey gave a low chuckle. “Believe me, Will is the best man I know, and I love him with every bone in my body, but sometimes I want to strangle him because he thinks he can fix everything and we know as women we don’t necessarily need them to fix it, but to be there.”

Autumn fixed her top as she sat Maggie on her lap, the baby offering Aubrey a beautiful smile. Aubrey reached over and took her hand, seemingly thoroughly enthralled as everyone was who met Maggie.

“Are you saying Mitch walked out because he wants to fix it and can’t?”

“Maybe or maybe it isn’t only about you. All of these men have baggage. They’re warriors, after all. Just talk to him, find out what’s going on in his head before you kick his ass.”

Autumn laughed then and was still laughing when Mitch walked in moments later and she was glad for it, he needed to see her strength for a change.