Andria and Suzy pulled up in front of a building a few miles in from the coast of Virginia Beach. Andria stepped out of the passenger side, allowing her sister to drive this morning. She felt it best considering the circumstances. Depending on the outcome of the situation, Andria did not want to be held responsible for senseless driving.

Or drinking.

Or binge eating. There would be food, alcohol and chocolate, but maybe not necessarily in that order. She had a predator after her and what she wanted more than anything in the world was to disappear. But she was no ostrich. She wanted the turn the tables on that asshole, Draven. She wanted to become the predator now and make him feel like the prey.

Maybe GAPS would do this for her. Maybe whoever was hired to protect her could teach her a thing or two on fighting, or at least self-defense. She was tired of feeling like a sitting duck in a wide pond. She was ready to be the shark in an ocean full of fish.

“Are you ready?” Suzy walked up to the door and gripped the handle. “We can go in and state our case, or turn and leave if you want.”

Andria shook her head. “No. I’m tired of being scared. I’m tired of always looking over my shoulder. I’m tired of the nightmares, Suzy. I’m tired of running. I’m ready to change all that.”

Suzy smiled. “That’s my sis.” She opened the door and motioned for Andria to pass.

Letting out a long sigh, Andria rolled her shoulders, cracked her neck, then passed through the entrance. The air conditioning of the building gently blew over her body and she had a thought of being in a boxing ring. She would wear a silk pink robe with bright pink boxing gloves. Black would be smeared under her eyes like football players wear, and in the corner, Suzy would be her personal cheerleader.

They approached the GAPS door and Andria settled back into her own reality. She looked to Suzy then back to the door. “Do we walk in or knock?”

“Well,” a deep, gravely male voice sounded behind them.

Andria gasped and quickly turned around to a tall man standing behind her. He was quite tall as she looked up to his full height. Maybe six-foot-four? He had wide shoulders and brown hair. He smiled and she saw beautiful white teeth and lips.

“You’re welcome to hang outside if you like, but I suggest the interior. It’s much cooler inside. And by cooler,” he said as he reached for the handle between the two women, “I mean we have cookies and coffee.”

He stepped through the opened door and held the door open for Andria and Suzy.

Suzy smiled and looked to her sister. “You ready?”

Andria held her breath and twisted her hands in front of her. Nerves plagued her and she felt cemented to the ground. She could not hear her sister when her lips moved and could only stare at the man in front of her. He was so different from Draven in looks, size and build, but she had no idea who he was. He came so close reaching between them, and he smelled so good.

Stumbling slightly, she grabbed the wall when she realized her sister pushed her. “What the hell?” she whispered.

Suzy pointed to the door with a raised brow.

“Oh,” Andria said and looked to the man once more. “Yeah, we’re here for, umm…well, I’m here…” She trailed off and lowered her gaze to the floor. She felt as tiny as a flea on a mouse. Her eyes burned and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

“What my sister is trying to say is, we’re looking for personal protection for her. Is this the right place?”

Andria raised her eyes to her sister and mouthed thank you. She then closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She opened her eyes and looked to the man. “She’s correct. I need to hire security, please.”

The man smiled and offered his arm as an invite to the office. “Then you’ve come the right place. My name is Jackson, but you may call me Jax. Welcome to GAPS.”

* * *

“Why not get a restraining order?”

Andria stared at her lap when the GAPS manager, named Jon, asked her about an order. She sighed and looked up to him. “Forgive me for being so blunt, Jon, but please understand a restraining order is merely a suggestion in the eyes of Draven Combs. He will continue to come after me regardless of whatever order I have in place. He broke out of prison, as I stated earlier in my reasoning for being here. I’m looking for something heavier, deeper, and more personal.”

She raised her eyes to the man named Jax, felt a blush rush over her, and lowered her eyes once more with a clearing of her throat.

“Andria has been through hell and back, if I may be so bold,” Suzy stated. “In the documentation supplied, if you’ll take a moment to review it, you’ll see why she needs a bodyguard.”

“We have had a few cases similar,” Jon stated, “but business is business.” He opened the manila folder and began to review the contents. His brows furrowed as he flipped the page and continued reading. “Shit,” he whispered and shook his head. He removed pictures from the file, sighed, and closed the folder. He handed them to Jax and sat back in his chair. “Miss Huffton, please allow me to personally apologize for questioning your need for the personal guard. After reviewing your file, we’re happy to take your case. I’d like to introduce you to our latest team member, Jackson Masters.”

Jax looked through the pictures and furrowed his brows. He sighed a long breath, then looked to Andria. “Please, call me Jax,” Jackson stated when he held out a hand to Andria.

She took his hand and shook it. “Nice to formally meet you, Jax. And Draven has my social security number. So, he can find me anywhere.”

“Understood,” Jon started. “Jax will be assigned as your security detail. I’ll let you two discuss how this will go down and what he’s able to offer you by way of security.”

Andria nodded. “May I ask what this will cost me?”

Jon rubbed his chin and looked up to Jax, then back to the folder. “I won’t lie, Miss Huffton.”

“Please,” she interrupted him. “Call me Andria, and don’t treat me like a fragile creature. I’ve fought to live on this earth from a man hell-bent on taking me off it. Be frank with me.”

Jon and Jax both smiled. “I like your spunk, Andria,” Jon told her. “I’ll be frank then. It will not be cheap. We can do a monthly cycle and go from there.”

“That’s good for me. I can have the first month’s payment wired over immediately.”

“Just like that?” Jax asked.

Jon looked up to his guy and frowned. “Seriously?”

Andria looked to Jax as he raised his brows. “I meant nothing by it, but you have the ability to wire it now?”

“Why not?” she asked. “I was left with a healthy trust to do with as I please. I would like to put it to good use with hiring your firm.”

“Sounds good to me,” Jon stated and wrote something on a piece of paper before sliding it over.

Andria picked it up, read it, then nodded. She pulled out her phone, punched in a few keys, used the numbers on the slip, then put her purse away. “Consider it done. It will show up in your account in a few minutes.”

“Great, but I wish we could do the paperwork first,” Jon said with a chuckle. “Here you go.” He slid over a stapled document and Andria picked it up.

She read it over with Suzy and initialed where she needed, signed where it required, then slid it back. “Do you require anything else?”

“Nope. That’s it. Jax here will follow you home and get started on detail.”

She nodded and stood. She held her hand out to Jon and he shook it. “Pleasure doing business with you. And thank you for making this easy, rather than taking pity and telling me he won’t be back for me.” She dropped her hand and looked to the floor. “No one knows Draven the way I do. He’s pure evil incarnate.”

“I’ll second that,” Suzy whispered and stood. “Thank you for looking out for my sister, Jon and Jax.”

“Are you in need of detail as well?” Jon asked Suzy.

She shook her head no. “I’m good. Draven has never come after me.”

He nodded. “Thank you again, Andria. We’ll be in touch soon if anything comes up on our end. Otherwise, you’ll have Jax here with you.”

She nodded and looked to Jax once more. She bit the inside of her mouth to control the sob she wanted to let go. She was a big girl and didn’t need a big brother that she never had to watch over her night and day. But in reality, she did. She needed Jax in her life.