Protection

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MY JOB WAS TO BE OBJECTIVE.

I had to lead my team.

I had to be objective.

“Bronx, need you man,” I called his room in the compound.

“On my way.”

A few seconds later, he was in my office with his eyebrows raised. “What’s up?”

“Just got off the phone with Kylie’s father. The Mayor of Millersville,” I emphasized. “Says his daughter’s being stalked. Broke into the home last night and wrote in lipstick all on her mirrors.”

His upper lip twisted and then he said, “Fuck, they think it’s you?”

“Naw, man. He wants protection for her. Wants us to protect her.”

“Ohhh, shit.” Bronx sat down on the sofa. “What do you need? It’s done.”

“I can’t be lead on this. Fuck, I want to but there is no way I could make a rational decision when it comes to her. I...”

“No, I get it.” Bronx finished for me. "I'll run lead."

"Bronx, man." I ran my hand through my hair and continued, "This has got to be tight."

"I got you brother."

"I know." I sighed.

It hurt me to let it go and I knew it would be in the best of hands. But, I also knew myself. I'd be too caught up with her and not able to handle her protection. I was already too close. After she told me to go and that it was too much, I realized she was right. It was too much even for me to come to grips with and I had twelve years on her.

We discussed our plan and then brought in Apollo. My role was to basically take a backseat in this operation and just watch. I wasn’t allowed to take over or even interfere. Bronx and Apollo were probably the only ones that could even step to me about that shit, but if I felt like something wasn’t working, we would definitely need to revisit the strategy.

When we arrived at the house, I wasn’t sure what to expect from her. Her father was the one that called, but it was only the day before that she told me to be gone.

My goal was to remain professional since we were a business. I probably should not have come, but if the mayor called, then my ass needed to come.

As Mayor Mills talked about what had previously happened with Kylie and hearing about her ex in that crazy ass east-side gang, I wanted to pound on something. There was so much I didn’t know and it solidified more and more that I should not run the point. I’d kill a man fucking with her like that. Calls, letters, breaking in and violating her space.

Kill.

As I left Apollo and Bronx to get her schedule, I surveyed the house to see what exactly was on the walls. The term that stood out the most was ‘biker dick.’

No one really knew that she and I had a thing, but if her letters had started when she was on tour, it could have been about the other biker. However, why strike now, unless the person knew there was an ‘us’? Bonnie came to mind as a potential culprit, but she was more of the cat fight, confrontational person. We’d have to verify that because I also didn’t put anything past anyone.

Will’s room was empty; leaving me to assume he was with his grandparents or his mom had come to get him. I had not heard much about the sister and nobody ever mentioned her either. This was being noted as well.

By the time I finished going through the house, Bronx and Apollo had finished up with her.

“Where’s Will?” I asked.

She turned towards me and answered, “My sister came and picked him up after I explained what happened.”

I nodded my head.

Bronx frowned up his face and asked, “She didn’t offer to let you stay with her?”

“Yeah, I refused. She lives in Orlando.”

“You’re not staying here tonight,” I chimed in.

“Yes, I am.” She stood up and squared her shoulders toward me.

Walking toward her, I got in her face. “No, you’re not. We have to upgrade your surveillance tenfold. There’ll be drilling, hammering and all types of shit going on all night. So, pick your poison because you’re not staying here.”

“Fine. I’ll stay with Shay.” She tipped her nose up.

“Good.” I backed away. “Alright guys, the clean-up crew is on their way. Then the surveillance team.”

Good.

“Bronx will give you a lift to Shay’s,” I told her.

“I’ll get my bag.” She left the room.

“Any leads?” I asked.

“A few,” Apollo answered. “Won’t know for sure until I get back to the office and contact my guys.”

“Good.” I grabbed my pad and started to leave. “I’m trusting you guys on this.”

“She’ll be fine.” Bronx reassured.

I nodded and left her house for the second day in a row.