Page 47 of You Found Me

The night had started out so well. He’d thought the concert would be the prime target, which was why he’d focused so much attention on it. Satisfaction at a job well done had evaporated the second they’d arrived at the broken gate, leaving him with mounting irritation and a heavy dose of frustration.

Zig this way and the stalker zagged that way.

He’d left the grounds covered. It should have been fine. He’d planned for every contingency except for a Trojan horse disguised as a midnight snack.

The guy wasn’t just smart, he was damn devious to have used a pizza delivery as a distraction at exactly the right time.

The ultimate goal was always to keep the principal out of harm’s way, and while Ms. Bellamy had never been in physical danger, her safe space had been violated.

That was unacceptable.

Della curled up into a ball, her arms squeezing the life out of the blanket, and stared at nothing.

It was no longer a question ofifthey should relocate. They needed to relocatenow. The longer he took to settle that point with her, the harder it would be.

“Ms. Bellamy, we need to talk.”

Della glanced up at him, but he had a feeling she didn’t really see him.

“Did you put together a go bag like I asked?”

She frowned.

“I’ll take that as a no. Doesn’t matter. Annie?—”

The front door banged open. Della jumped and made a high-pitched sound of terror.

“Della!” Diggs bellowed.

Ward stiffened. The last thing they needed was an overemotional, overzealous, over-the-top reaction from his principal’s personal protection.

Della closed her eyes in what looked like relief. “Here.”

She spoke barely above a whisper.

Diggs pounded down the hallway like someone was about to be tackled. “Della!”

“In here,” Ward called.

Diggs thundered into the room. His head swiveled left to right, and when his gaze locked on Ms. Bellamy, he shot straight to her, his face a mess of fury and concern.

He knelt on the floor in front of her and took her hands in his. “Look at me, girl. Look at me. Are you okay?”

Ward could smell the problem coming.

The man was way too close to his protectee. He’d lost all objectivity.

Ward needed to take his principal off the grid. Diggs had to stay behind.

He had a feeling Diggs wasn’t going to like that idea.

Ms. Bellamy wouldn’t either.

“I’m fine.” She shook her head as if talking herself out of something. “It’s just a letter. Just words. But…I don’t know if Scott is hurt. I don’t know.”

“Scott who?” Diggs looked at Ward over his shoulder. “Where’s the letter?”

Ward wasn’t about to show the already agitated man the actual letter. “Scott Baldwin. The guy in the pool with her.”