Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“Wow.”
“It’s a lot to take in.” Bain leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Tell me, did you ever tell anyone about the things you see?”
Clive nodded. “My parents took me to mental health professionals. A lot of them. They tried putting me on medication. I even told my first boyfriend, who dropped me right away.”
“I’m sorry. You aren’t alone, if that makes you feel any better. There are others who can see us, too.”
“That actually does make me feel better.” He lowered his legs and scrubbed his hands over his face. “If the person after me is one of you, what do I do?”
“You continued to let me protect you while you figure it out. Xavier is working on it, too. He has people going through your list of clients. Probably your files as well.”
“Wait, what? My files? How?”
“He has his ways.” Bain chuckled. “Why? Do you have some personal things in there? If it’s porn, don’t worry. We all have that.”
“I’m not worried about the porn.” Clive felt his cheeks warm because he definitely had that in his files. “I was thinking more of my clients. I promise complete confidentiality.”
“You can trust anyone in my company. You can trust Xavier. And Clive, you can trust me.”
Clive stared at him as he dug deep inside to figure out how he really felt, and the answer was easy. “For some reason, I do.”
“Then listen. I really feel, and Xavier agrees, that we should move you to a safe house.”
Alarm shot into Clive, and he started shaking his head. “No.”
“If you had hired a human bodyguard, he wouldn’t have been able to fight a wendigo. They’ll send more. And probably something more powerful.”
That did scare him.
But so did leaving his home. Years of a certain behavior weren’t going to be erased that quickly. Not even knowing what he did now.
But his home no longer felt safe either.
“Where would we go?” he quietly asked.
“We have a bunch of safe houses. And they’re all warded so nothing could just walk in.”
“Couldn’t we ward this place?”
“We could. But it would take time we don’t have. Your life has been threatened three times now. Whoever this is, they’re serious. It’d rather take you to a heavily warded house.”
After a moment, Clive sighed and nodded. “Okay. You know best.”
Bain stood. “Good. Pack a bag, and I’ll take care of everything else.” He paused and gave Clive another kind smile. “It’s going to be okay. Don’t forget your teas.”
Chapter Thirteen
Bain
Bain should have insisted on the safe house from the beginning. As he led Clive up the porch steps, the power of the wards enveloped his body as if he were walking through thick gelatin, then popped free. The Protective Solutions offices felt the same, so he was used to the sensation. The power of those wards stayed humming in the background of his mind at all times after that, but that never bothered him. He felt so much better here with Clive. Felt he was safe—and he wanted this man safe more than he’d ever wanted anything.
He looked around as they stepped inside and he set the bags down. He’d always liked this home. One story and set far back off the road, it was one of the older houses with exposed high-ceiling beams and a stone fireplace. A dark brown leather L-shaped couch faced the fireplace and the large flat screen mounted over it. The house held three bedrooms, the master being a real thing of beauty with a sitting area nook.
“This is really nice. No one lives here?” Clive wandered to the fireplace, then turned in a full circle.
“It’s kept for this sort of thing, so no. Every now and then, we use it for vacations, but it pretty much stays empty.”
Clive set his laptop bag on the small desk in the corner, then stood nervously wringing his hands. The poor thing looked like he was going to crawl out of his skin, and Bain hated that he was so uncomfortable.
He needed to set him at ease somehow.
“How about I show you to your room and then we’ll continue our Star Trek marathon?”
“My movies are at home.”
“We can order them here.”
Clive just nodded, chewing on his plump lower lip. Which only reminded Bain of the kisses earlier. The ones that had blown his mind so much he hadn’t stayed aware of their surroundings. That wendigo should have never gotten so close, and he was fucking angry with himself over that. He’d have to do better because there was no way he was keeping himself away from Clive now. Luckily, with the wards and Alaric out doing his commune with nature thing, the chances of something getting through the wards were slim.
An hour later, they were settled on the couch, Clive cradling a mug of one of his teas.