35. Restless feel

Brice's POV

Clara had done her job, the announcement of our engagement was out there. She even put our picture on social media. And just as we expected threats came a couple of hours later.

Ella and I were at my place having a conference call with her brothers. "Forward us the emails." Grady calmly said while Ella looked a bit nervous, though trying to cover it up in front of me.

I took her hand and caressed it with my own while telling her brothers I'll do it later. "Anyway, I have meetings for the movie deal, my agent wants to ride the engagement wave and push forward with the deal. I can't stay with Ella. I need your guards to arrange their schedule to stay with her for a couple of days, I'm pretty sure it's two days from now, but I need to reconfirm it with Clara."

"I want to visit mom and dad. I'm bored here," she shifted her eyes from the television to me, she did look bored and I feel bad for letting my stalker impact her daily activities.

"Actually I think staying at mom and dad's for a couple of days is a good idea. The fresh air should be good for you." Grady replied from the other line.

"Are you feeling better sis?" Percy asked, cutting her brother.

"I'm better, I think I'm just tired." Ella smiled as she looked at me, she does appear to be healthier than yesterday.

"Okay, just leave the issue to Brice and us, I'll call mom to let her know you're staying there for a couple of days, and Grady will arrange the guards and your transport there."

"I can take her before the meeting date," Brice jumped into the conversation.

"No dude, you stay back, pop your head let your stalker see that you're in town. We'll make sure that Ella will be inconspicuous. I'll sort out the detail and get back to you both on that matter." Grady was quick to reject him.

"Okay, I guess that's the best solution." I relent and ended the conference call after a few meaningless talks between Ella and her brothers.

"I want this to be over with soonest and I know this is the best way for the time being. But I already hate the idea of being away from you." We were back to lounging on the sofa, she curled to my side, flicking the remote trying to find her next series to binge on.

"Me too," Ella sits up and turned the TV off, get up to straddle me, and started planting her sweet sexy kisses that turn hot in seconds. "But I really think this is the best way, I know you guys will take care of everything."

"I truly hope so." I kissed her back with all my love, while my hand cradle her with such intensity that made her blush and whimper under my touch.

God, I love her so fucking much...

*****

It was three days later when her brothers and I set up for Ella to stay at their parents'.

I wasn't restless anymore when Grady decided to pick her up himself telling me that it's been a while since he got back. "But Percy is in the city to back you up. He's more than capable." I nodded and thanked him, he perfectly understand my gesture was for making sure personally that Ella will arrive safely.

"Right, Ella, can I talk to you before you go?" I took her hand as she smiled. "Everything's going to be as planned, Brice."

The plan that you don't know about.

I hate keeping secrets from her, but she wouldn't agree to get out of town if she knows. Grady assured me on the matter.

"I know." I kissed her lips swiftly knowing Grady was watching us, though he pretend to be busy with his phone. "Just need you to be okay, promise me you take every precaution that we've discussed?"

"I will, Brice. I love you. I want us to happen. I won't let anyone ruin what we have." She put my hand on her ring finger, and remind me about our future.

Ella had changed so much, she had become a stronger woman, a bit too fearless for my liking. She seemed to take it easier than me, while I couldn't stop worrying about her.

Last night was the worst. I couldn't sleep, I don't want to freaking let her go. I want to be beside her. Always. Though I knew I couldn't. I hated myself for not finding the real stalker sooner.

"Okay, I love you," I whispered and kissed her forehead, one last time. "Grady, please give my regards to your parents, I'll see them soon. And thank you for doing this, I feel better that you're taking Ella there."

"No problem man, we need to sort everything out soon. I don't like dragging out this thing. I'll text you once we're out of the city limit, so we can continue with the rest of the plan."

Fuck...he shouldn't mention it right now.
Not in front of Ella.

"What plan? Grady? is there a reason why you're so eager to get me out of the city?" Ella looked back and forth between both of us.

"Sis, we got this. Your job is to stay out of town."

" But,"

"Ella, you owe me and Percy this. After what you've pulled months back, you will let us do this for you." Grady looked at her sternly, honestly, I was thankful that he had assured me days ago that the plan was a go and that he'd take care of any issue with Ella not agreeing to our plan.

I was desperately taking any kind of suggestion that her brothers were throwing at me, all of us wants Ella safe and I think I was the most invested in the cause whether or not her brother said otherwise.

Half an hour later Ella and Grady were on their way to their parents and I went directly to Clara's office telling her that the plan was in motion.

"I don't know how those guys are coming up with this shit, but I think their plan is the best. I don't know why we didn't even think of it before."

"Because it's dangerous? fuck, Clara, I think I'm having second thoughts about this. Maybe sending her away isn't such a good idea."

She shook her head and told me that I was crazy. "If anyone is in danger, it's definitely going to be you."

We talk some more and actually prepared me for the meeting. Because it was a real meeting, Grady didn't want our plan to be interrupted by a simple knowledge that the stalker find out that the meeting was not even real.

It was almost six when Clara took her keys and we're on our way to our meeting for the movie contract, she had set it up in one of the Markov hotel chains downtown. Her team had been putting hints on Twitter and Insta story that I was going to sign the movie deal and that my fiance was going to attend the meeting to support my decision.

A car was waiting for me in the office driveway, Percy and Grady had set it up, my bodyguard was in the car. "I'll see you at the restaurant," I told Clara as I stepped into the car and she nodded and gave me her look. Her serious look that made me curse on the inside.

Fuck, we're really fucking doing this.

And when we arrived at the hotel lobby, the paparazzi were there, not much, but I know that Clara had her marketing team involved just to make a big deal out of a simple contract signing dinner arrangement. I was holding my bodyguard who looked like she could pass for Ella's doppelganger. Her height, her hair, even her skin color, though her nose looked a bit different she's passable from afar.

The meeting took place for about two hours. More was actually being discussed, then when it ended we head back out and my heart was pounding ten times faster.

"Okay Mr. Durant, this is what we've been anticipating. If your stalker wants to take me out. This is the most vulnerable moment." Jill, my guard reminded me seconds before we walked out of the hotel lobby to the car that was waiting for us. Clara stayed back and wishes me luck.

These all feel too familiar.
Just like last time. Fuck.

The snaps of the cameras were blinding but I stick to our plan and hide Jill from the flashes and I thought our plan fail when nothing happened on our way to the car. There was no crazy stalker ambushed us just like what happened to Summer. We were in the car when Jill, grabbed me and kissed me inches from my lips.

What the fuck?

I was about to push her away when she whispered. "He's not our driver." I stole a look to our front and she's right.

Goddamn.

And just like that, the car doors were locked and a gun was pointed at us the second he put the car in motion. "Good evening Mr. Durant, don't move and listen to me carefully and you'll both survive."

Motherfucker! I can't believe I'm in the same car as the man who killed summer. What does he have against me?

"Why?" I had to ask, I need to figure out the why. But the man just laughed and told me to put zip tie cuffs placed in the backseat console on each other and show our wrists to him. The stalker gave the instruction easily as if he knows that he was going to kill both of us and leave the crime scene unscathed.

Deep down I know I have a fighting chance with Jill by my side, but still, I wonder if anything might go wrong. My mind quickly trails to Ella.

At least she'll be okay. Safe and unharmed.