Sworn to Protect by Katie Reus Read Free Book Online

she looked otherwise okay.
    “No, I’m fine. I keep thinking maybe I overreacted but my gut tells me I didn’t.” She shot a quick glance at the man named Stephanos, and whatever her look conveyed, the man just nodded once, then motioned to the manager.
    “We’ll be nearby if you need us.” The man shot Quinn what could only be described as a don’t-mess-with-her look before he and the manager strode away and out of earshot.
    They only moved to the entrance of the deli where an unhooked chain ‘separated’ the small eating area and the rest of the grocery store. Looking back at Athena, Quinn took her hands and motioned for her to sit. He would have preferred to stand but she looked like she needed a break.
    “Tell me what happened. From the beginning.” He didn’t drop her hands as they sat across from each other. He wished they were dating or in an actual relationship so he could comfort her more. Because right now he wanted to pull her into his arms.
    She gave him a shaky nod. “Okay, and thank you for coming.” He just grunted, not wanting her thanks, not for something like this, and she continued. “I just stopped in here to grab a few things. I didn’t want takeout tonight and wanted to make something for myself that would last for a couple days of leftovers… And I’m rambling.”
    He just squeezed her hands. “It’s okay. Take all the time you need.”
    Taking another breath that seemed to steady her, she started again. “I felt like this guy, this man, was following me or at least watching me. And not in the kind of way where he was working up the courage to talk to me, you know?”
    He nodded, understanding perfectly.
    “He was just sort of watching and following me around. I didn’t realize that at first but when I was in the produce section it hit home that he didn’t have a buggy or a handbasket. He wasn’t shopping at all and he was doing a poor job of pretending. So I made the decision to go find Steven… Ah, Stephanos is the owner and Steven—whose name is actually Stephanos, too—is his son and the manager. It was just luck Stephanos senior was here. Anyway, I was going to go find Steven but the man, the stranger, sort of came out of nowhere.” She shook her head, as if clearing her mind and when she shivered, Quinn wanted to punch the unknown fucker in his face.
    He hated that anyone had scared Athena.
    “I told him to move out of my way and I was intentionally, well, bitchy about it. I wanted to stun him a little.”
    That was damn smart. Quinn didn’t respond though, not wanting her to lose her steam.
    “He didn’t move and for about a second he tried to make it seem like he hadn’t intentionally tried to block my way, but his charm—and I use that word lightly—faded pretty fast. He told me, and this is a direct quote, ‘Tell that fucker Quinn that his time is coming. No one close to him is safe’. Then…he sort of chomped at me, like a shark or wild animal. It was seriously creepy. And the guy had like, a violent energy. I know that sounds weird, but I was scared of him. And I’m pretty sure hurting people makes him happy.”
    Iciness chilled Quinn down to his core. He didn’t have enemies, not truly. There was only one potential man who Quinn could imagine doing this. And the guy had gotten out of jail less than two months ago so it was a definite possibility. Stupid of the man, but a possibility. “What did he look like?” Quinn asked, all his focus on Athena, who was breathing steadier now and had more color in her cheeks.
    She brushed at stray strands of hair that had escaped the low twisty thing she’d done with her hair. “Tall, like you, uh, white guy, blond hair and dark eyes. This might sound weird but he was good looking in that classic American way I guess some people might describe, but his eyes…” She shuddered and glanced down, swallowing hard before meeting Quinn’s gaze again. “He looked wild-eyed, it’s the only way to describe him. His