Natalie POV
I had just pushed the door shut, and shaken hands with Hailey when the knock came. No time to call it, the door opened as the hinges gave a small hideous groan, followed by the entrance of three men in black suitsbig, imposing, the lot of them. Not unlike the sentinels of Alice Rutherford. Their faces were stern. Features are all business.
“Mrs. Martinez?” came the one in front, a low, fearsome voice.
Stunned for a moment, I blew air inside my mouth. Hailey beside me seemed to be shocked, at least that was what her mouth-open but mute reaction meant. “Yes that’s me, can I help you.”
“We are here to escort you home,” he said in such a matter-of-fact intonation as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“You’re walking me home?” I said again, feeling disbelieving. “But – why? Who told you to?”
“Mr. Martinez,” he answered. “He was very insistent that we see you home safe and sound.”
My stomach twisted; thank God no one could see my face. The little voice in my head went off. Oh boy, what had Brandon done now? I mean, I knew he was protective, but that seemed awfully overboard. “Did something happen?” I asked, trying to keep my heartbeat at bay.
“I am sorry, ma’am, I’m not at liberty to say,” he returned, firm but polite. “But Mr. Martinez requested that we should stay with you until further notice.”
Beside me, Hailey just frowned unsure.
“This is strange, Natalie. Are you definitely sure that you are okay?”
“I…I am not really sure actually,” I confided back, still trying to make heads and tails of everything that was happening. “Just give me a minute.”
I pulled out my cell, the number already dialed. Once. He answered it.
“Natalie? What’s wrong?” he said, concerned.
“What’s wrong, Brandon? Why did you have two men come and get me from work?” I tried not to let my voice shake.
There was a pause before he spoke again. “I’m sorry, Natalie. I didn’t want to scare you, but I didn’t really have a choice this time.”
“No other choice for what?” My voice may as well be alien, far away from hearing and existing in my voice. My heart was running a mile a minute for every second that passed, and at long last, I shoved him. “Brandon, this is enough. You’re freaking me the hell out. What is happening?”
“Arlys,” he growled the name like an epithet, his voice dropping a level in tone. “She’s been threatening you.”
At the time I felt as if it had strangled me. “Threatened? How?”
“She came right out and said that whatever she could do, she’d do it to make certain that we were separated. And don’t you think for one second that I’m going to take any risks, Natalie? I’m watching so I can protect you.”
His words burdened me with even more weight on my chest. This is serious, much more than here. Why didn’t you talk about it any sooner?
“I was trying not to worry you, babe. After what happened today, I realized that I have to tell you. You have to know exactly what we’re facing.
Here was where I heard the fear in his voice, the desperation. He wasn’t saying that to keep me safe, Brandon was really scared. The idea that something could happen to me scared me more than anything else.
“I get it,” I finally murmured, letting my breath out on a shaky puff. “Okay. I’ll go with the guards. But Brandon, we’re going to talk about this when we get home.”
“We will,” he repeated. “But please stay with them till you get home. I need to know you’re safe.”
I tried to reassure him, for his sake, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll see you soon.”
My hand shook as I knocked the phone off. Hailey’s worried glance carved into me, and I knew she was expecting an explanation.
“It’s Arlys ” I grumbled under my breath. “She threatened me, so he sent the guards because he’s worried.”
“Oh my god, Natalie,” exclaimed Hailey, just about as vocally as she had to without throwing a hand over her lips. “That’s insane. Are you okay?”
“I don’t… know,” I yielded, rubbing at my temple. “All of this… is just too much.”
“I bet,” she replied as her green eyes welled up in tears. “But… you do know I’m here for you, right? Anything you need.”
I could almost nod around them, trying to be thankful for this little bit of reassurance. “I know, Hailey. Thanks.”
Hailey was a bit of comfort. All too soon, I was at my pick-up, a couple of guards walking with me out of the building. The ride home was tight; the weight of the situation pressed in on me with each passing moment.
Accompanying me inside, he would bring me past the doors only to verify that I had, indeed, entered before he would set up shop-right outside, you might say. Taking a deep breath, of the kind meant to steady nervousness.
I was sitting in the living room when Brandon came home. At the sight of me, he came forward up and across the room in a few great strides, and seized me with,
“Natalie,” he sighed in relief. “I’m so sorry.”
A little backed off, I gazed up at him. “Brandon, what did she actually say?”
He hesitated; his eyes clouded in anger and fear.
“She said she will do anything and everything to ruin us, and to make sure that we aren’t together. But she’s convinced that when she’s rid of you, then I’m going back to her.
“That’s outrageous, Brandon. You’re not going to let her get away with it, are you?”
“Of course not,” he hissed, clutching my skin. “I am going to have you safe at whatever cost, Natalie, but I beg of you at this moment: please let the guards stay right next to you so that they have you safe.”
I had to look deeper into his eyes; there was no assurance-nothing but raw fear. Brandon was literally scared that he might lose me to something that might happen and be beyond his control. At this point, I knew more than my pride would not let that go on.
“All right.” I nodded before I continued, “I will let them stay with me, but Brandon, you gotta promise me something.”
Anything,” he snapped right back, flinty with my eyes.
“All I want you to do is promise me, promise that I will go through this with you. We’ll survive her together, she will not come between us,” my voice declared sternly.
His eyes shot back with fire, and he cupped my face with both hands, speaking in a whisper, very much like one admitting long-denied truths.
“Natalie. I swear I’m not going to let her win. We’ll figure it out at the other end. Together.”
I nodded, the tiniest sense of relief settling in. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere, Brandon. We’re in this together.”