Bear's Heart: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance (Bear Heat Book 5) by Natalie Kristen Read Free Book Online

their cards. “We will
be posting a police guard outside your hospital room, Miss Keller.
Unless—you have private security.”
    It took a moment for Jade to
understand the implication. “You...you think I'm in danger?
You think that man will come after me, try to kill me?”
    “We don't know who this
Rickson is, Miss Keller,” Detective Cruz said. The young
detective sounded earnest and nervous at the same time. “Rickson
might be the bomber. We don't want to take any chances. He might
try to...”
    “Kill me? You
think...the bearded man who pushed me, is Rickson,” Jade said
numbly.
    Before the detectives could
reply, Jade let out a low snarl. “I'm not afraid of him! Let
him come. You can catch him if he comes for me. The murdering
bastard!”
    “You are a crucial
witness, Miss Keller. We'll post a police guard...”
    “A guard?” Jade
took a sharp breath.
    “Or would you prefer
private security?” Detective Wong asked.
    Jade frowned.
    “A bodyguard.”
    “Oh.” Jade
worried the corner of her hospital gown. A bodyguard was supposed to
be with her at all times, right?
    Wouldn't that be a little
weird, having someone hovering around her twenty-four seven? She was
used to being on her own for so long.
    “I—I think I'll
get a bodyguard. My brother can arrange that. Luke works for a
security firm. The Black Bears Group.”
    Detective Wong smiled. “I've
worked with the Black Bears on a few cases. They're good at what
they do. I'll put in a call to them.”
    “Okay. T-thank you,”
Jade stammered.
    She smiled awkwardly at
Lindy, who was studying her with quiet concern.
    Perhaps the Black Bears would
send Luke to protect her. Her baby brother could be her bodyguard,
couldn't he?
    The detectives spoke in low
tones to Lindy for a few minutes, then nodded at Jade and left.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

    Once the detectives left the
room, Lindy came to give her a hug.
    Holding her shoulders, Lindy
said, “You're very brave, Jade. But you must be careful. I
will try to get a profile out quickly, but I agree with the
detectives. The bomber might or might not be Rickson, but if he is,
then you are in grave danger. From what you've told us, I think
Rickson is a manipulative, small-minded, bitter man who harbors
unrealistic ambitions and delusions of grandeur. He wants money, but
he doesn't want to work for it. He wants recognition, but he isn't
willing to earn it. He just wants to get it, grab it, steal it from
someone else. That was what he was trying to do with that woman,
Molly. He may have deceived and seduced Molly, threatened and
terrorized her and made her feel dependent on him and afraid of him.
The poor woman even got engaged to him and was too scared to break
off the engagement until you stood up for her. You broke his hold on
her and opened her eyes that evening. He hates you for it. He was
so close to getting his hands on her inheritance, and you thwarted
him.”
    “He had no right...”
Jade's voice quavered, her anger rising at the memory of Molly's
traumatized face. “That was her inheritance, her money and
property! But she looked so helpless, lost and defenseless. She
didn't even dare fight back.”
    “Rickson is sly and
scheming. Molly is probably a rather weak, insecure and lonely young
woman. Rickson would have picked up on these traits. He chose her
as his target and got close to her. He set to work cultivating her
trust and dependence, then slowly broke down her self-esteem and
spirit. She submitted to him out of fear, and her fear prevented her
from leaving him.”
    Jade's fists balled. “I
should have thrown boiling water instead of iced water on him,”
she snapped. “The bastard!”
    “Rickson harbors a
grudge, and he won't stop until he destroys your future. He thinks
you destroyed his future, his road to riches when you stood up and
stopped him from terrorizing his fiancee. What you did, your
actions, your words, gave Molly the impetus, the courage to finally
leave him.” Lindy paused