"An officer will be waiting at the baggage carousel." My father tells me as I walk through the airport, my phone pressed against my ear. "You will go with him to meet your bodyguard."

"Why isn't the bodyguard just picking me up?" I question, my eyes scanning through the crowds of people rushing to get to their loved ones.

"Because." Is the only response I get from my Father. "He'll take you to the safe house that the two of you will be staying at. It's in a town outside the city."

"Wait," by feet halt in the middle of the bustling airport. "I'm not coming home?"

"No, that's puts us all at risk. We don't know who's watching us and when. You staying separated from your mother and I lessens the risk for everyone." My walking continues as I turn left toward the baggage carousels.

"What if I don't like the bodyguard?"

"That'll be too damn bad, Audrey." My father huffs, and I feel myself start to cower as if he were standing in front of me. "I have been assured that he is the best officer for this type of undercover work. I don't care if you come to hate him, Audrey, until this mess it taken care of you will remain under his protection."

"What do you mean by 'undercover'?"

"I'll let the officers explain that." And then I hear the distinct click of and an ended call.

"Thanks Father." I mutter while shoving my phone into my hoodie pocket. "I love being left in the dark about crucial happenings in my life. It's my favorite."

A sudden tap on my shoulder makes me jump. "Miss. Rush." A man in an officers uniform addresses me and it only takes a moment to recognize him behind the sunglasses.

"Mr. Evens." I greet him as calmly as I can. I haven't been back in New York for an hour and I've already been assaulted my memories of Xander.

"You can call me Jonathan, Audrey, it's fine." He has the same smile as the last time I saw him, the same kindness. Maybe they forgot to tell him about my deals with the devil.

"Maybe Jon-"

"Don't you dare bring my family into this!"

"I'd rather not." I tell him, with a shake of my head, knowing it's best to be as professional as possible. Every person in this family is poison to my soul. "Professionalism and all that."

Officer Evens and I wait in silence until the carousel brings my bag by. I go to reach for it, but Xander's uncle reaches from behind me, swiftly pulling it up.

"This it?" He questions, setting the bag down next to me and I nod. "The patrol car is right outside waiting."

Wordlessly, I follow him.

"This is Officer Larson." He motions to the young blonde standing by the trunk of the squad car. She's looks as if she were a model in her past life, tanned skin and legs that make her look equal in height to the six foot officer next to me. "She'll be helping your personal bodyguard."

"You can call me Lana." The exotic looking women tells me with a small smile which I'm almost entranced by, practically hypnotized even. I'm unable to stop myself from wondering if she's met the nephew of her supervising officer. Was he hypnotized by her?

"Miss. Rush will be keeping it professional, Lana." Jonathan breaks me from my pathetic pity party of thoughts that don't even matter. "I think we should prepare." The older officer smiles and the younger one laughs.

"He won't like that."

"Who?" I ask, not really understanding what they're talking about anymore.

"You're bodyguard." Officer Larson answers, still laughing while opening the door for me and I climb in the back. "He hates his last name being used at work, something to do with-"

"Lana, get in the car." Evens interrupts her, closing his door just as she closes mine.

I suddenly feel trapped in the small space. I've had nightmares of being in a police car since that night, years ago.

"He has a bad temper so you'll have to watch for that." Lana turns to tell me before sighing. "But he's hot as hell."

She winks at me and Johnathan starts to laugh as he pulls away onto a highway exit leading away from New York.

"He's somehow the neighborhood bad boy with has sharp edge, mixed with the boys next doors kindness."

After I give a quick little hum in response, we drive in silence for almost an hour, until we pull off the highway, heading toward a small town. Minutes later, we slow down by an empty, boarded up restaurant. A black SUV is in the parking lot and a guy, who must be six foot four when standing, leans against the car. The stone washed jeans fit snugly just like black t-shirt. His head is turned down looking at a file so I can't see his face but I notice the blonde waves so similar to the ones I used to run my fingers through.

My heart drops to my toes when I catch Jonathan's eye in the rear view window.

He's assessing me, my reaction to...

"I've always wanted to be an officer."

"My Dad is my hero, but my uncle is my role model. Does that make sense?"

"One day, I'll carry the badge like my Uncle, and save kids like me."

Jonathan looks at me as he parks the car, rising a brow at my wide-eyes. My attention is pulled away when I see Xander push off the SUV.

There he is, the officer that is meant to protect me for an unknown amount of time. The boy that caused a catalyst of events that lead me to Europe.

The world slows as he pulls the door open.

"Miss. Rush, my name is Alexander James, and I'll be your bodyguard for the time being."

Oh, eff me.

***

Xander has entered the chat.