She looked at Sandman, his expression just as firm. He was total military and yet, there was something in his eyes. Something deep and dark that gave her the chills.
As if knowing, he spoke. “Some one wants to hurt you?”
She shook her head.
Murphy gave her hip a squeeze. “Tell him the truth. You can trust him.”
She looked at Murphy. “I can’t believe that you would do this. I told you that I can handle it. You’re not getting involved with this and neither are your friends. He’s not going to bother me, Murphy. So what that he calls and texts?”
When the second set of hands landed on her shoulders, she looked back and up toward Brody.
“We think otherwise. Let Sandman do his thing, and if he thinks that this guy will stay in New York, and that he’s not a threat, then we’ll ease up.”
“No, Brody. No.” She turned toward the bar, trying to ignore them.
“Let me,” she heard Sandman say, and Brody released his hold.
Sandman spoke. “Amelia?”
She looked at him. She clasped her fingers together in nervousness. These men were intimidating.
“Your men are concerned. Why don’t you explain the situation to me, and then I can determine if they’re just being overprotective.”
She thought his statement fair, but she didn’t know this guy, despite the way he seemed to show love and affection when he spoke about his wife.
“I don’
t know you.”
He smiled. “No, you don’t. But your men do. I can be trusted. Grace was in major danger over a year ago. A serial killer was after her.”
“Oh my God.” Amelia felt her belly clench. “Well this is nothing like that.”
“He hasn’t threatened you?”
“Not really. I mean, just saying that things weren’t over. That he was giving me time.”
“Let him see the text message,” Brody interrupted. She held her purse tighter.
“That’s an idea. Can I see them?”
She didn’t see what harm it could do. He hadn’t texted since the night at the club and the Tucker incident.
“It’s not really that bad. He’ll stop if I ignore him.” She pulled out the phone. She slid her finger across the lock pad and saw that she had some text messages and a voice mail. She had left the phone on vibrate.
She would look at them later, but as she pressed the little letter, the latest texts came up and they were from Mano. She swallowed hard.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Brody asked.
She stared at the latest text.
Whomever you’re fucking is a dead man. I’ll find out. I’ll kill him and then I’ll kill you.
Sandman gripped her hand as she tried to close the phone and put it back into her bag. She felt Murphy’s arm move around her waist as he stood up and looked over her shoulder.
Her heart was pounding in her chest. Where did all this aggression come from? Why did Mano suddenly want her so badly?
Sandman was looking at the cell phone. She looked at Brody, who held her gaze, and she felt Murphy squeezing her tightly.