Calculated Risk (Blackbridge Security 5)

My hands are shaking uncontrollably by the time I drag my luggage out to Quinten. He’s fully in the house with the front door closed, and he’s standing in the dark living room once again staring out the front window.

“Is there someone out there?” I whisper.

“Not that I can tell. Are you ready?”

He turns to face me, immediately grabbing the handles of the suitcases.

“Yes,” I say as I reach for my purse, phone, and keys on the table. “If I packed anything else, I might as well move out.”

He’s silent as he leads me out the door, waiting patiently with vigilant eyes as I lock up the house. He opens the passenger door for me and doesn’t even laugh when I practically have to jump to get inside his truck because of how big it is. He carries my suitcases around to his side, sliding them in the back seat before climbing inside.

“I need to check my account balances before we find a hotel,” I tell him as I log into my banking app. I have savings, but I try very hard not to touch that money.

“You can’t go to a hotel,” he argues as he backs out of my driveway.

I watch my car and my house as he pulls away, wondering how I’m going to get to work in the morning, and more importantly why did I climb inside without thinking of driving myself first.

“Do you need to call anyone? A friend? Your parents? A boyfriend?”

I look in his direction, my finger hovering over the face identity request on my phone.

“I’ll call Parker in the morning. My parents live out of state and do you really think I would’ve gone on that date with you if I had a boyfriend?”

His face transforms, that irritated scowl he’s had since I swung open my front door fading away to be replaced by a smile. “That was a date?”

“You know what I mean, and how are you suddenly calm?”

“Because I have you with me, and I know you’re now safe. Do you want to call, Parker?”

“I’m not waking her up, besides this isn’t her problem. A hotel is fine.”

“I’m not trying to freak you out, Hayden, but someone has had access to your security system, which according to Wren takes some sophistication. If they can do that, then they can probably track your credit card use.”

I snap my mouth closed. I didn’t even think of that. My hands begin to tremble all over again.

“You’ll stay with me.”

“The hell I will.”

His grin grows. “I have a spare bedroom, and it will only be until we’re able to find out what’s going on and get to the bottom of it.”

“I don’t want to put you out, Quinten. Seriously, a hotel—”

“You want to share a hotel room with me? My condo is bigger.”

“With you?”

“Yes, with. I haven’t told you much about work, and I can’t really tell you much now, but I can’t be certain that someone isn’t watching you because of my work.”

“Because you taught a shooting class that I just happened to be in?”

“Because I’ve been seen in public with you. Because I spent all last Saturday at your house.”

“Oh.” What else could I say right now? “Your job is that dangerous?”

“We’ve never had an issue like this before, so I can’t be certain. Is there anything going on in your life that would make someone want to watch you twenty-four seven?”

“I’m boring. Until the break-in, I really only left the house for work and when Parker wouldn’t stop hounding me, but that was for like one drink and then I went back home.”

“You’re far from boring, Hayden. Could this be something related to someone you know? Parker, maybe? Is she the only one you associate with?”

My mind goes back to two nights ago and how secretive Parker was being. I think that had to do with a man, not something that would make someone want to interfere in my life.

“She’s the only one.”

“No big dark secrets?”

I scoff. “No.”

“I’ll need your house key.”

I cock an eyebrow at him, but his eyes are focused on the road.

“Is that right? I’ve never given a key to a man I haven’t been sleeping with.”

His jaw flexes, and I have no idea why I even said that. I’ve never given a key to my place to a man before in my life.

He clears his throat. “I need it so I can send someone over to see if there are any clues as to who tapped into your system. And we left your car because I can’t guarantee that it doesn’t have a tracking device on it.”

My blood runs cold. His words make me realize this situation is just getting worse and worse. Maybe staying with him where he’s so certain he can keep me safe isn’t a bad idea.