Chapter 26

HUXLEY

“Fuck, Zainab, are you okay?” My brother’s voice is panicked.

“Yeah, I’m all right. Jake got me.”

“I know.”

Something in my brother’s tone makes me think he saw something.

“I’m so sorry this happened. This is my fault.”

“You should have told me that you have a stalker, Faisal.”

“That’s what I have security for. I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Still, you should have told me. I’m your sister.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry he went for you.”

“I’m okay. Jake is taking me to the station tomorrow to give my statement.”

“What was Jake doing there? You said you only had Ben tonight.”

I know that Faisal suspects something. I can hear it in his voice. I don’t want to keep lying to him.

“He wanted to check on me.”

“That goes above and beyond his duties,” Faisal says curtly.

“I know. We’ve, um, been dating for a month now,” I tell him and cast a glance at Griff.

He’s white-knuckling the steering wheel, his eyes on the road.

It’s so awkward to have this conversation with my brother over the phone while Griff is in the car.

“You’re banging your security? I hired him to protect you. I didn’t think he’d—”

“I’m not ~banging~ him. We’re dating. I pursued ~him~.”

Griff tenses up even more.

“Yo, does Dad know about this?

“Dad does not know about my love life, Faisal.”

It’s a weak defense, and he knows it.

“When Jake and I started dating, we agreed that he shouldn’t be my bodyguard anymore.”

It hurts to say this out loud. I miss him hovering over me. It was weird having Ben escort me into the club.

Griff coming out tonight showed me something. He cares about me. Not just because it’s his job, but because he genuinely ~cares~.

“That’s a smart move. Wait, is Jake still being paid to be your security when he’s not doing his job?”

“He paid for Ben’s salary,” I reply. “But I don’t know how to tell Dad.”

“Why do you have to tell Dad? It’s not like you’re marrying the guy. Wait, tell me you’re not marrying him.”

“No, I’m not.” I roll my eyes. “But Jake needs a job.”

“He can be my security again,” Faisal offers.

My brother is so nonchalant. He’s acting like we weren’t just attacked ten minutes ago.

“What, really?!”

“Yeah, why not? He was mine to begin with.”

“Faisal, that would be amazing. Honestly, thank you!”

“Don’t sweat it. You guys almost home?”

London traffic is a bitch, but I can see that we’ve made some headway.

“Almost, yeah.”

“All right. Stay safe, sis. Text me when you’re home.”

“Will do.”

HUXLEY

Zainab is quiet after the phone call.

I’m proud of her for holding back on the drinks tonight. I know she’s talked about her reliance on alcohol with her therapist, and it’s clear she’s made some good steps forward.

“Reagan is back soon,” she says quietly.

I clench my jaw. Seeing her under Ben’s protection tonight has shown me that I don’t want to step back. I want to be both her bodyguard ~and~ her boyfriend.

I know I panicked at the awards ceremony, but I still found her and got her to safety.

I would rather rely on myself. Even though I’ll be less calm than I would with another client, I know I can protect her better than anyone else.

But she doesn’t want the roles of her boyfriend and her bodyguard to be filled by the same person.

Zee doesn’t want me to be in danger.

I understand that. But I want to be her bodyguard because I don’t want ~her~ to be in danger. We’re both coming at it from the same angle, just in opposite directions.

The thought of not seeing her as often, of someone else monopolizing her time, is hard to swallow.

Even if I did keep living with her, I would feel emasculated that we had to have her bodyguard with us, like I couldn’t do the job myself.

I felt that way tonight. I hated watching Ben do my job.

“Can we talk about what happened?” she asks when we enter the apartment.

“About how Ben failed to protect you? Yes,” I retort, a little more bluntly than intended.

“He was doing fine up until that stalker.”

“But he wasn’t there when it mattered most.”

She sighs and nods. “So you’ll find me someone new?”

I step closer to her and wait until she tilts her head back to look at me.

“I don’t want to. I want to be both. Your security and your partner.”

Her eyes widen, and she doesn’t say anything for a moment. I can see her working through the idea in her head.

“Look, I’m happy for Reagan to step in for events where we could attend together, or if you want my attention to solely be on you and not your safety. But for the everyday stuff, I want to be your bodyguard again.”

She chews on her bottom lip as she contemplates what I’m saying.

“I understand where you’re coming from,” she says slowly. “I’m glad that you’re on board with having extra security on nights where you’re going to be my date.”

I nod in agreement. I like the sound of being her date. It fills me with pride that, at her next big event, I could arrive with Zainab as her boyfriend.

I would be at her side, rather than her flank. I would still be protecting her, but I’d get to do it with her in my arms.

I don’t know that her dad would like it… Actually, I’m betting that he really wouldn’t like it. He’s big on optics, and I don’t think bringing your ex-bodyguard as a date is a good look.

“As for keeping you as my bodyguard…” A wry smile spreads over her full lips. “Who better to protect me than the man who already has his arms around me?”

Her arms wind around my neck, her body pressing against mine.

Her beautiful eyes sparkle as she studies my face.

“Griffith Jake Huxley,” she says, making my brows raise. “I love you.”

My heart stutters and then overcompensates by thumping fast. My lips part a little in shock, and I suck in a sharp breath. My chest feels so full it could burst.

~She loves me~. Instead of answering her straight away, I capture her lips with mine, pressing my mouth to hers before she can say another word.

Her lips soften after a moment and kiss me back. When I lean back, I rest my forehead on hers. “I love you, Zainab Qadir.”