All Good Things (28 page)

"Who are the letters from, Liv? If they aren't from Jace, who is sending them?" Trisha's tone was tense. I never lied to her, but I lied about the letters. I didn't want to bring her into this. I still didn't want to bring her into this. Whoever the individual was behind the letters...he was creepy. And, he scared me.

I had already gotten one person I cared for deeply in danger...I didn't want to add Trisha to the list.

"I don't know." I whispered.

"Bullshit, Liv." Trisha yelled. "Where are they?"

I didn't say anything and Jace shifted beside me. "Where are the letters, Olivia?" His voice was so calm. Eerily calm.

I knew he was fuming inside...and I wished he would show me his feelings. This coolness that radiated off him was so much worse. It was devastating and fear provoking. I couldn't lose him. Not to this. If I did, then the writer had won.

"In my room." My reply was meek.

"Where?" Jace stood.

"Jace, please don't do this." I begged. Tears brimmed my eyes. "I don't want you to read them."

"What the fuck do you mean? You don't want me to read them?" He yelled. The vein in his neck pulsed and his hands fisted. It was evident; he was barely holding his anger together. "You don't have a fucking choice!"

I half expected Trisha to say something in my defense, but in this, she was standing with Jace. I couldn't hold back the tears a moment longer. "They are threats, Jace." I stood from the chair and begged him with my eyes for forgiveness. "I called Gabe. He should be here soon."

His brows rose and his blue eyes widened. "You called Gabe?" His words bit my skin and stabbed my heart. "You told Gabe, but you didn't tell me."

"I'm sorry. I don't want you to see them."

Trisha stepped behind me. "Where are the letters, babe? You need to go get them so Jace can look at them, and figure out the best way to protect you, okay?"

"I'm not the one in danger." I whispered and my eyes met Jace's. "You are. That's why I called Gabe."

Jace turned around and walked toward my bedroom. I knew it was only a matter of minutes before he found the letters. I hadn't exactly hid them well. I hadn't been prepared for a search. If I had...I may have tried to find a loose floorboard or something.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Trisha demanded.

"I couldn't. I didn't want you to worry."

Jace stormed out of my room with the letters in his hand. His face was red. If he were a cartoon character, smoke would be billowing out of his ears. "What the fuck were you thinking, Olivia? Whoever wrote these is clearly obsessed with you. Enough to kill me off to keep you away from me." He was yelling, but I expected that much.

"Jace,"

"What were you thinking?" His fingers wrapped around my arms and he shook me angrily before pulling me into his chest. His heart thundered against mine and his warm scent enveloped me.

"I thought you were the one writing them. At first." I admitted and he gasped. "I thought you were trying to make me accept Gabe as my bodyguard."

"I never would-,"

"I know that now, Jace. I'm sorry." I cried. I didn't know how many more times I could utter the apology. I just wanted him to tell me he forgave me and that we would work through this...together. He was Jace Rush...he could do anything...right?

Jace sighed, holding me tightly to his chest as though he was afraid I would disappear into thin air. His fingers worked the knots in my back absently, and his lips skimmed my hairline. His silence was deafening and a part of me was terrified this was his goodbye. I couldn't handle that. I needed him.

"I know, Angel." He kissed the top of my head. "We're going to figure this out and you aren't going to fight me on my decisions, do you understand?"

I nodded. "I understand."

The buzzer rang and Trisha moved to the door. "Hello?"

"It's Gabe."

She let him in and went to unlock the door. Jace's commanding tone filled the room. "Do not unlock that door, Trisha. Not until you can see his face through the hole."

She stiffened. Fear blazed in her eyes and her face paled. "I won't."

Jace pulled away from me. His blue eyes searched my face. "Are these the only letters?"

I nodded. "They are."

"Do you have any suspicion as to who the writer is?"

"No," I shook my head. I had tried relentlessly to come up with a name of someone who would do this...but each time I came up blank. "I have no idea. I don't know anyone who would do this."

"You would be surprised." Jace said stiffly. He rubbed my back when hurt flashed in my eyes. "I have to read through these, Olivia. How about you go have a bath and relax. You are not leaving today. I will have Jaylah start early."

I nodded. "You can have Jaylah start early, but I want to know what you and Gabe find. I'm not having a bath."

His eyes glowed as they trailed over my body. "Then at least go put some clothes on."

Gabe knocked on the door and Jace held my eyes. I nodded and walked back through the hall to my bedroom. I ran across the room to my closet. I pulled on a pair of black leggings and a heavy beige sweater that hung low on my hips before running back to the hall. I didn't want to miss a thing.

By the time I got out to the living room, Gabe was sitting in the chair with his elbows on his knees. He was reading through the first letter. His shoulders were tense and his eyes were sharp. He didn't say a word as he picked up the second letter and then the third. When he was done, he looked up at me, and then at Jace.

"The writer is a man. He seeks control, but he more than likely lacks it in his career. It's likely he is Caucasian, and he knows Olivia personally. He has not committed a murder previously, and he does not appear to want to kill now...but he will, if he is pushed." Gabe spoke with confidence and authority. Both of these things frightened me terribly.

"How do you know?" I whispered. I toyed with the hem of my sweater, trying to keep my fingers from shaking visibly. "The letters didn't say any of that."

"That is impossible to know by reading the letters." Trisha snapped. Her voice was strained.

It was obvious, her nerves were frayed and she was worried about me. It was evident by the way she moved to stand beside me, pulling me into her side. Trisha has always been protective of me. Sometimes it was good, but other times...like this time, I was afraid it could, and possibly would, get her hurt. I wanted to push everyone away from me so I was the only one at the mercy of the writers' psychotic threats.

Jace's eyes held mine. "Gabe was a profiler. He still does odd jobs when required. He knows what he is looking for, Olivia."

I felt a breath whoosh from my lungs as hope vacated my body. My knees were weak.

"Okay," Trisha took control. I was clearly unable. "What do we do now?"

Gabe's eyes were serious. "I don't think you should change anything right now. I don't think he will act on his threat soon." Gabe placed the letters onto the coffee table. "We are going to up your security. There will be someone standing guard in your condo each night and someone will be with you at work. You are not to be left alone, but the writer cannot think the sudden security is because you have shared his letters. As I said, he knows you personally. We need to make your relationship with Jace public. He will assume that is the reason for the added protection and will not think it is because of him. We do not want to make him feel threatened. We do not want him to act irrationally."

"But wouldn't that be like taunting him?" I asked. "If we were to make our relationship public?"

Jace dropped his head into his hands. His fingers weaved into his hair before cupping the back of his neck. This was taking a toll on him and I didn't like it. If there was anyone I loathed in this world...it was the unidentified writer.

"No. So long as he believes you have kept the letters to yourself, then he should not react irrationally." Gabe held my eyes. "He believes he is saving you from Jace."

"I think we should stop seeing each other." I said slowly. Jace lifted his head and his eyes were filled with...fear. Why was he afraid? "It's the only way to ensure you remain safe."

"That's out of the question." Jace growled. "We will not stop seeing each other because someone feels they have the right to dictate your life."

Gabe shook his head. "I agree with Jace, Olivia."

My brows rose. Surprise and...hope...bloomed in my lower belly. "You do?"

"I do." He nodded. "I believe, so long as Jace allows a security team to work with him for his protection, then you can remain seeing one another."

Jace stiffened and I stared at him. "Will you take a bodyguard, Jace?"

"I will take one if you agree to continue to be a part of my life. If you walk out, then all bets are off." Jace's eyes burned, daring me to argue. Daring me to walk away from him.

"Fine," I said. I hugged myself. "What do we do from here?"

Jace smiled. "From here, I'm taking my girlfriend for lunch. I'm sure our new security team can be ready within the hour?" He looked at Gabe.

"Of course, Sir." Gabe nodded. He pulled a phone from his pocket and walked to the kitchen.

Trisha blew out a breath as she watched him move away from the living room. For the first time since Gabe walked in the room, I noticed how Trisha watched Gabe. It made me feel almost sad for her. She liked him. That much was obvious. But it was also obvious; she felt he was out of her league.

She turned to face me and her cheeks warmed when she noticed me watching her. "I'm going to take a shower."

I watched her move from the room with a frown on my face. I remembered Gabe telling me he had a teenage daughter and an ex-wife. He was too old for Trisha. I hoped he didn't notice her interest in him, and I hoped the crush she had on him...or whatever it was faded. She deserved someone young and filled with life. Someone like Trey.

Jace weaved his arms around my body, resting them on my ribs beneath my breasts. He dipped his head and kissed my neck. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"It's not me I'm worried about."

Chapter 21

I stepped into the sun, but did not feel warmed by the glow. Jace stood beside me as Gabe strode to the Audi SUV and opened the door. Jace's hand on my back steered me toward the car and I couldn't help but look around for watching eyes. Jace noticed my screening of the street and stiffened.

"Get in the car, Olivia." Jace commanded. I quickly stepped into the backseat and Jace moved in beside me. The windows were tinted, so dark, I knew no one could see inside. I was safe to scour the streets. "You need to act normal." He scolded me and I blushed.

"It's hard." I murmured.

"Come closer." Jace lifted his arm from his side and I wiggled across the seat so I was nearly on top of his lap. "I'm taking you to lunch because I want to date you. This is not an act for me, Olivia. I want you to know that."

My heart fluttered. I felt alive for the first time since news of the letters broke loose. And, it was because of Jace. I sighed and leaned my head onto his shoulder, inhaling the warm scent that only Jace possessed. "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me." He replied gruffly. "Is it not obvious, I would do anything for you?"

I lifted my head from his shoulder and looked into his brilliant blue eyes. "What's that supposed to mean, Jace?"

He smiled and his hand cupped my cheek. "It means exactly what it should. There is nothing I would deny you, so long as it doesn't affect your well-being." He pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was sweet, and powerful, and intense, all in one. I felt as though it were my lifeline. It was beautiful.

Jace was beautiful. Everything he did reminded me, that apart from the dreariness I had come to know as my life, there was still a fire burning within me. There was life. And, it was vibrant. With Jace, anything was possible...any dream could become a reality. He was my undoing and my rock. He was everything. I loved him.

"I-," I stopped myself at the last moment from saying those three little, but very frightening words aloud.

Jace stiffened. His hand was still cupping my face and he looked into my eyes. I didn't know if he was waiting for the words, or if he was begging me silently not to speak them. I shook my face from his hand and curled into his chest, content to just sit beside him.

He wrapped his arm around my body, holding me tight. His breathing enveloped me in a cocoon of comfort. In his arms, I found a place in the world where I was completely safe and entirely impenetrable. So long as his arms were around me, my life would be perfect...I could continue breathing and laughing. He was my lifeline. The thought was both devastatingly terrifying and earthshattering in its greatness.

When the car pulled up outside a very elegant looking restaurant, I was almost disappointed. I wanted to stay with him...just the two of us. I wanted to stay in his arms, where I felt the safest. Away from the world...alone with Jace, was the perfect escape to the fright of my thoughts and stress of the day.

"Are you all right?" Jace asked when Gabe stepped from the car to get the door.

I nodded and smiled; a smile I knew did not meet my eyes. What was wrong with me? Here I was with the most perfect man alive; he was taking me on a date, and I couldn't find the desire within me to step from the car.

Jace frowned, but didn't say another word. Gabe had opened the door and was waiting patiently for us to step from the car. Jace stepped out first and waited for me to exit the vehicle. I took one look around while the tinted windows hid my scrutiny, but found nothing out of the usual, so I stepped from the Audi. Jace placed his hand on the small of my back and walked into the restaurant with me.

Jace opened the door and I stepped through. My mind was frazzled, but I was not oblivious enough to miss the gawking hostess. Her eyes drank in Jace's fill as though she was standing in the desert sun, and he was a tall, icy, glass of water. I rolled my eyes. Okay, maybe I preferred not to go out in public with him. At least, when we were holed up in either of our homes, I had no fear of anyone else stealing him away from me.