Desiree

 

Santana threw her arms around my neck, and the bag that hung from her wrist knocked against my back.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said pulling back to look at me. “What were you thinking going to that house? Are you insane, I specifically said, don’t go home.”

“I had to. Jasper was there. I needed to make sure he was okay.”

“All your text said was your house had been broken into, and you were staying here. Was Jasper alright, where is he?”

I squeezed my temples. Santana went to speak again when something else caught her attention. I turned to follow her gaze and fumbled as I spoke.

“I’m sorry, Santana this is Julian. Julian, Santana,” I said introducing them officially.

“Hi,” Santana held her hand out for a shake and Julian accepted it.

“How are you,” he asked Santana.

“As good as can be expected I suppose.”

Julian reached out and caressed my shoulders. “Are you alright?”

Santana looked from him to me, and she caught on to my somber expression.

“Oh nooo,” she said. “Don’t tell me the bastard harmed Jasper!”

“I’m afraid so,” Julian offered.

“Oh honey,” Santana pulled me in for a hug, and I silently cried on her shoulder.

“It was so cruel,” I sniffed out. “Drowned him in a bathtub of water.”

Santana gasped. “Nooo!”

“What type of sick psycho does something so disgusting?” My tears created a puddle on her shirt that soaked into her sleeve.

“I’m so sorry, Desiree. I really am,” Santana said.

I straightened up and tried to pull myself together.

“What’s done is done. I’ll give him a little burial and move out.”

“I don’t blame you for a second,” Santana said. “If it makes you feel any better I brought food.”

I gave her a small smile. “Thanks.”

“I’ll fix us some plates.” Santana glanced to Julian. “Would you like a plate Julian?”

“No ma’am, I’m good. You ladies enjoy.”

“Ma’am,” she said. “I will not be reduced to some old lady.”

“Oh my God…” I said shaking my head at her.

“What?” Santana replied.

Julian chuckled. “An old lady you are not. So no worries there.”

“That’s more like it.”

Santana strolled away to enter the kitchenette and Julian pulled me in again. I rested my head against his broad chest, longing to stay there.

“I’m going to leave you two alone. Does Santana have family here in Houston?”

“Yes. Her mother and father live here.”

“No sisters or brothers?”

“No.” I could see the wheels turning in Julian’s head. “What are you thinking?”

“Until this guy is caught she could use some security.”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“Yeah. I think I do. Remember, if you need anything to come see me. I’m just down the hall.”

I didn’t respond. Julian pulled back lifting my chin with his finger. “Do you hear me, Desiree?”

“Yes, thanks for… everything.”

“No thanks needed. I’m here whenever you need me.”

His words shouldn’t have touched me the way they did; in a personal way that went beyond boundaries. I wouldn’t deny that I didn’t love them or the way I felt inside with every move he made to make sure I was taken care of. This was something I could get used to, but I wouldn’t. I had to keep reminding myself that men were untrustworthy, no matter what they said.

Julian removed himself from what was now our temporary home. A whistle came from the kitchen, drawing my attention to Santana standing idle watching me.

“No wonder you were safe. I’d feel safe to with that man around to rescue me.” I smirked and went into the kitchenette. At the sink, I washed my hands in silence and thought about Jasper. When I turned around, Santana was watching me like a hawk with a worried expression on her face.

“I’m alright,” I said. “How are you? Your house was burglarized, too.”

“More like trashed,” she said. “I can’t tell if the idiot took anything because the house was literally turned upside down.”

“Who do you think it could be?” I asked.

Santana tossed her hands up. “Who knows. The four of us have done tons of stories together.”

“Yeah, but whoever this was felt like we ruined his life, so it must be someone who was maybe on trial or in jail possibly.”

I was desperate to find a solution. I couldn’t continue to walk around looking over my shoulder.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Santana said.

“You do?”

“Yeah, we’re all thinking the same thing. Is this bastard going to keep stalking us or was this just a one-time thing to scare us?”

I groaned and sat down at the table, taking my fork and playing around with the Chinese food in front of me.

“I can’t express enough how sorry I am about Jasper.”

I waved her off. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay. Tell me, what’s going on with you and Julian?”

I groaned again. Her guess was as good as mine. Something was happening. I just wasn’t sure what it was so I shrugged.

“I don’t know. Nothing officially, and everything unofficially.”

Santana gave me a knowing look.

“We’re leaving earlier than Friday. Julian wants to take my mind off things.”

“How early?”

I smirked. “Tomorrow.”

“Well what are you going to do,” she asked.

I threw the question right back at her. “What are you going to do? You can’t stay here alone.”

“Why? You have to have the private code just to reach this floor. If you ask me, this is the safest place to be at this point.”

I thought about her words.

“Okay, so you’ll stay here, or you could go over to your parents. I’m sure they’d rather you stay with them, then here alone.”

“And I’d rather stay here alone.”

I cracked a smile. “Why?”

“Because my mother will treat me like a patient, checking on me every second, and you know I can’t deal with that.”

“Alright, fine, be my guess. But tomorrow morning, you’re going with me to the mall. I need to grab a few things and whatever business you need to handle you’ll do it before we leave. I don’t want you going places alone. I think Julian is getting you some security anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“He asked if you had family and thought you needed security. Said he had someone in mind.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet. So it’ll be like having secret service detail.”

“I don’t know about all that.”

Santana chuckled. “What will I do until my secret service shows up?”

I rolled my eyes and smirked. “Pair up with Gloria. I’m sure she’ll be happy to stay with you.”

“I just might.” Santana mulled it over. “But I’d prefer to have a man like Julian protect me instead. Or better yet, whisk me away to another country. Talk about a damsel in distress.”

I chuckled. “You never stop do you?”

“Why should I? It’s the truth. Did you say he had other brothers?”

I was shaking my head now.

“What?” Santana asked.

“Yes, he has seven brothers and triplets for sisters.”

“If any of them look like him, stick a fork in me, I’m done.”

I laughed again. “I’m going to bed,” I said pulling away from the table.

“Hey, you haven’t finished your food.”

“Put it in the refrigerator I’ll eat it tomorrow. I made a beeline straight for the shower, wishing Julian was there to keep me company.