Chapter 164
[ 517 words ]
Chapter 164:
He reached into a biometric safe bolted to the closet wall. He pulled out a custom, matte-black Glock 19. He checked the chamber with practiced efficiency, his left hand working the slide in a smooth, familiar motion while his right arm remained rigid at his side, then shoved the weapon into the drop-leg holster strapped to his left thigh.
The transformation was complete. The suffocating aura of pure, lethal violence radiating from him was terrifying.
Caroline sat frozen on the bed, the thick blanket pulled up to her chin. She watched him load the gun. A cold, heavy knot of genuine fear for his life formed in her stomach, twisting painfully.
Jarrod reached onto the dresser and grabbed a small wireless earpiece. He shoved it into his ear and pressed the comms button.
“Bell,” Jarrod’s voice was a low, brutal bark. “Initiate full lockdown on the penthouse. I want you fully geared and in the living room in three minutes.”
He dropped his hand, grabbed the heavy duffel bag by the straps with his left hand, and walked out of the closet. He stopped right at the edge of the bed, towering over Caroline.
He reached into his tactical vest, pulled out a thick, black metal keycard and a heavy brass physical key. He tossed them onto the nightstand. They hit the wood with a loud thud.
“Listen to me,” Jarrod ordered, his gray eyes locking onto hers with terrifying intensity. “No one opens that front door except you and me. Not my staff. Not my family. No one.”
He leaned closer, his massive shadow swallowing her.
“Whatever happens out there,” Jarrod commanded, “if you feel threatened, you run back here. This place is a fortress. You do not leave unless Bell is with you.”
𝖢𝘩𝗶𝘯𝖾𝘀𝘦 𝗻о𝗏𝖾𝘭𝘴 𝗍𝘳a𝘯𝗌lа𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼ո 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘯o𝗏е𝘭s.𝗰o𝗺
Caroline looked at the black metal card. She bit her lower lip hard, tasting a faint metallic tang of blood.
“When are you coming back?” Caroline asked. Her voice was barely a whisper.
Jarrod’s jaw tightened. A flash of complex, agonizing emotion broke through his cold military mask for a fraction of a second.
“I don’t know,” Jarrod said gruffly. “Days. Maybe longer.”
Suddenly, he dropped the duffel bag. He planted his left hand on the mattress beside her hip, his right arm held motionless at his side, caging her with his massive frame. He leaned his face down until his nose almost brushed hers.
“The thirty-day agreement stands,” Jarrod ground out, his voice vibrating with dark, territorial threat. “Listen to me, while I am gone, you stay away from those men. When I get back, I expect to find you here. Waiting for me. And only for me. Is that clear?”
Caroline’s fear instantly morphed into defensive anger. She scoffed, her eyes flashing.
“You are deploying to a warzone,” Caroline snapped back, “you should probably worry about surviving long enough to come back and check up on me, Colonel.”
It was a harsh, biting insult. But Jarrod heard the sharp, desperate current of anxiety hiding beneath her anger. She was terrified he would die.
The hard, cruel line of his mouth suddenly curved upward into a genuine smile.
Before Caroline could react, Jarrod dipped his head.
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