Second Chance for my Brother's Best Friend: A Small Town Enemies to Lovers Romance by Bella Brandon

Author:Bella Brandon [Brandon, Bella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

JULIAN

The first light of Monday morning brings with it a sense of unease. Even as I say goodbye to Aria and leave her with the sitter, the normalcy of my routine is hardly a comfort. Knowing she'll be safe at home, a small part of me relaxes, but the bulk of my concern still rests with Natalie and the situation we're embroiled in.

Pulling out of the driveway, I dial Natalie's number, needing to hear her voice, to know she's safe. She picks up after a couple of rings.

"Hey, Julian," Natalie's voice comes through, sounding calm but with an underlying tension that I've become all too familiar with these past days.

"Morning, Nat. Just wanted to check in. Are you okay?" I ask, trying to be a solid anchor for her despite my own anxiety.

"Yes, I'm at the building now with my team and a few of your guys," she replies. "We're all being careful. I’ve asked around, but so far, nobody knows anything. It’s like hitting a brick wall."

My grip tightens on the steering wheel, but I keep my voice level. "I’ve got two extra sitters on standby for a few days, just until we have better leads or the police make some headway. I don't want to have to bring Aria to the site again,” I explain, bridling the anger that rises at the reminder of my daughter's threatened safety.

"That sounds like a good idea," Natalie agrees. "How about you? Are you keeping safe too?"

"Don't worry about me, Nat. I'll be fine," I assure her, though my mind races through a dozen precautions I've yet to take for myself. "I’ll be there soon. Just want to make sure everything’s alright over there."

"Okay," she says, her voice a comforting balm amidst the churn of my anxieties. "See you soon."

We hang up, and as I drive towards the Langford, the weight of responsibility for both Natalie's and Aria’s safety settles heavily on me. The decision to ensure Aria has extra protection eases one concern, but the mystery of who might be targeting the project—and potentially anyone involved with it—has sweat beading on my forehead.

It's still fairly early as I pull into the site, and most of my guys haven't arrived yet. I need to talk to Gabriel before we get things started today, get on the same page and set up a game plan. Hopefully as my second in command he'll be able to take some of the load of off me.

I spy Natalie through the front glass doors, coordinating with her team. She looks up as I approach, and our eyes meet. There's an unspoken communication in her gaze, a mix of reassurance and resolve that steadies me the tiniest bit.

I’m ready to discuss our next moves, to strategize and strengthen our defenses. The potential danger of the situation bulled Nat and me into an even tighter orbit. I’m grateful for her presence, her strength and support. It's what’s keeping me focused and determined to see this through.

The mood outside is palpably grim.

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