Page 72 of Jenna's Protector
But there’s no one there.
The silence is deafening, broken only by Max’s growls and the erratic thump of my heartbeat. I swallow hard, forcing myself to stay calm, but the unease refuses to dissipate.
Who knocked on my door?
Why did they disappear?
Or are they still out there?
Waiting for me to open the door and look?
“There’s nobody there, buddy.” I glance down at Max, but my reassurance is more for me than it is for him.
I’m about to turn away when the sound of a key in the lock sends me stumbling back. The door swings open, and there’s Carter. The moment he sees me, his expression turns from casual to concerned.
“What’s wrong?” He takes in my pale face and Max’s agitated state. “I heard Max barking from down the hall.”
“Someone knocked.” My voice is thin and reedy, my hands trembling as I wrap my arms around myself. “But when I looked, no one was there. And then you showed up…”
“I didn’t see anyone in the hall.” Carter’s brow furrows, concern etched in the lines of his face. “Tell me what happened. No detail is too small.”
I hesitate, biting my lip. “I’m just being silly. It’s probably nothing, but…” I trail off, unsure how to put the nagging unease into words.
“But, what?” Carter’s hand rests reassuringly on my arm, his touch gentle and encouraging.
“It’s just… There’s been this new customer. An out-of-towner, probably here on business. I get this weird vibe from him.” The words tumble out in a rush, my heart hammering in my chest. “I’m just jumpy.”
“A weird vibe?” Carter’s eyes sharpen, his body tensing. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, exactly. It’s like—there’s just something that feels off about him. He’s never there at the same time each day, and I feel like I’m being watched when he’s around.” A shudder runs through me, goosebumps rising on my skin.
“I’m calling Blake. We need to get you better protection, not that Max isn’t good.” Carter clenches his jaw. He reaches for his phone, his movements swift and purposeful.
I open my mouth to protest, but the words die on my lips as Carter holds up a hand, his phone already pressed to his ear.
“Listen, we’ve got a situation.” He quickly recaps what I told him, his voice tight with barely contained urgency. “I’m with her at night, but is there something we can do?”
There’s a pause as he listens to whoever’s on the other end of the line. His free hand clenches and unclenches at his side. Then he nods and his shoulders relax a fraction.
“Okay, good. Thanks, Blake. You’re a godsend. Have whoever itis meet me at Marlowe’s Café in the morning. I’m not taking any chances with her safety.”
He ends the call, turning back to me with fierce determination in his eyes. “Starting tomorrow, Blake says one of his teammates will be at the café during the day. They’ll provide protection.”
“I don’t know that I need protection.” I reach down and dig my fingers into the scruff of Max’s neck. “Max is plenty of protection.”
“Max is a phenomenal dog, but I want more.”
“I’m scared.” A lump forms in my throat. “Do you think, maybe, that I’m overreacting? Maybe my imagination is out of control. I could just be making things up. Hell, I don’t know if I can trust my reactions.”
“I find gut instinct is rarely wrong, and if this stranger is some perfectly normal dude, then no harm, no foul. But if it turns out to be something, I’d feel better knowing you have someone close. I’d stay, but?—”
“You have a case to solve. I don’t want you taking time from that to watch over me. I’ll be fine.”
But I’m not fine.
My entire body trembles and my hands shake. There’s an unsettled feeling in my gut, my ears ring, and it feels as if the world spins beneath my feet.
Is this what a panic attack feels like?