Claimed by My Silent Protector

Chapter Five

Abbey’s POV

I don’t know what to do, I need to go home, pack, RUN! But I can’t leave the bakery. What if they are outside? Just waiting for me and Robyn to step out, for us to head home alone, on foot so they can pluck us off the sidewalk?

I suppress a shiver of fear as I run my fingers over my daughter’s hair, the four year old curled into my chest as she grips me tightly. She doesn’t know, has no idea that we are hiding, but she’s still scared. She saw the remains of our car, heard the explosion as it blew up, will she ever forget it?

I glance up as Lincoln and Hallick start toward the door, I didn’t hear what they said, to consumed with my thoughts and my daughter to listen, but it seems like they are leaving.

Panic surges through me as their broad figures reach the door, and I have to swallow down the urge to shout at them both, well, shout at one of them, not to leave me.

I force my mind away from the dark haired, brooding Navy Seal, refusing to let the words pass my lips. I have no right to ask anything of Lincoln King, I lost all rights to ask him anything after what I did. Instead, I watch them leave, the door between us closing behind them, blocking my view and the weight of my reality crushes down on me so hard that I can barely breathe.

Memories of earlier slam into me, the feel of Lincoln’s body as it covered my own, how he engulfed me. Even as fear gripped me, for myself, my daughter, in that one moment, I had felt safe. I haven’t felt safe in a long time, not since I stared at my husband’s panicked expression as he told me to run.

I snap out of my thoughts when Hallick walks back into the room, this time alone, and I hate the fact that I automatically search behind him for the familiarly broad shouldered Navy Seal.

‘Linc has gone to talk to the police’ he informs us, and I shrink back into my chair, they are going to want to talk to me, I don’t want to talk to them, I don’t want to be anywhere near them! The police are not good people, not when it comes to me.

‘Do we need to ring Abbey’s insurance?’ Seona asks reluctantly, breaking the silence that had descended over us.

I glance at Hallick who flicks his gaze to me, wincing before schooling his expression.

‘Not yet Love’ he murmurs to his fiancé, wrapping an arm around her comfortingly. ‘Best to wait for the cops to tell us the cause before we involve insurance companies.’

I try not to choke out the laugh that bubbles up within me, not matter what he said before, I can see that the soldier believes his faulty wiring story as much as I do.

Seona merely nods, accepting the man’s words and we sit silently until three sharp knocks sound from the front door.

Releasing Seona, Hallick heads back into the store, we hear the door open and muffled voices before he returns with Lincoln and a man dressed in a blue suit who I’ve never seen before.

‘Abs, this is Detective Nilsson, he’d like to speak with you’ Hallick murmurs as the stranger steps forward, extending his hand toward me.

I hesitate for a moment before slowly removing my hand from my daughter’s back, grasping his rough palm as he grips me firmly.

‘Ms Sinclair’ he rumbles, his voice deep and commanding as his penetrative gaze studies my face. ‘I apologise for intruding, I’m sure you are still quite shaken, and I promise not to keep you for too long, I just have a couple of questions if you don’t mind.’

I nod jerkily as the detective flicks his gaze to Hallick who frowns but straightens up regardless.

‘I’ll take the girls into the front, give you some privacy’ he huffs, taking Seona’s hand as her eyes widen slightly in surprise but she allows him to lead her out without protest, Eralia behind them.

Nilsson’s gaze turns to Lincoln, but the Navy Seal merely crosses his arms over his chest and glowers back.

‘I’m staying’ he growls determinedly.

‘I really don’t think that’s necessary’ the detective replies, obviously not happy that he’s not being obeyed, something I’m sure he’s used too.’

‘I don’t give a f.uck what you think is necessary, this is my wo . . friend’ he snaps back, faltering slightly as my eyes widen, what was he going to say? ‘Her daughter is terrified and they don’t know you for s.hit. I’m staying and you can either accept it or try and arrest her to ask your questions and I can promise you, you go for the second option, I’ll have a lawyer at your precinct before you can get your cuffs out.’

The detective’s nostrils flare in anger, but after holding the Seal’s gaze momentarily, he finally nods in agreement.

Turning back toward me, his gaze scrutinizes me again, and I struggle not to squirm under his accusing attention.

‘I understand that the vehicle outside is yours Ms Sinclair’ he starts, pulling out a notepad and flipping it open.

I nod, my tongue darting out to lick my lips which feel dry and chapped.

‘Do you know what happened?’ the detective pushes, glancing up at me as the pen he pulled from his jacket is held poised over the page.

‘There . . there was an explosion, my car was on fire’ I mutter raspily.

Nilsson nods, scrawling my words down, ‘and what was it that caused the explosion?’ he asks, catching me offguard.

‘W . .what?’ I stammer.

‘The explosion, what caused it?’ Detective Nilsson repeats.

My eyes widen as I stare up at him, ‘I don’t know’ I reply honestly, though I have a good idea why it happened, I add mentally.

The detective must see something in my face as his features harden, ‘are you sure about that Ms Sinclair, what you say now can and will be used in a court of law should it be required.’

My lips part but no words come out, is he . . threatening me?

‘I’m sure’ I reply, my voice coming out higher than intended, ‘I have no idea what happened, I parked up about an hour ago, my daughter and I went into the café for milkshakes. We came out, spoke to Lincoln and Hallick . .’ I wave my hand toward the man beside me, ‘and then there was an explosion and my car was on fire.’

Nilsson’s eyes narrow, his gaze flitting over me as he sneers ever so slightly.

‘I see’ he mutters, ‘it’s just . . it’s not uncommon for people to manipulate situations, when they have financial difficulties . . ‘

‘She said she doesn’t know’ Lincoln suddenly snaps loudly, his voice making me jump as Robyn grips my coat tighter. ‘If she says she doesn’t know then she doesn’t know. She was standing right next to me when the car exploded, not even looking toward where she parked, concentrating on her daughter who had run over without waiting. So, whatever the f.uck you are trying to insinuate, you’re wrong.’

Lincoln glares with open hostility at the man in front of me, taking a step closer to me when the detective scowls, hovering over Robyn and myself in a way that makes me feel protected.

‘I think this interview is over’ the Navy Seal growls pointedly.

‘I’m only asking routine questions Mr King’ the detective snaps back.

‘No, you’re on a fishing expedition, you know it wasn’t an accident what happened out there, and you want to pin it on an insurance job so you can file it away without doing any f.ucking work.’ Lincoln’s shoulders are bunched with tension, anger rolling off him in waves as he stares down the other man.

My gaze bounces between the two, not sure what to do, what to say as the tension mounts between the two men.

‘Fine’ the detective huffs, snapping his notepad shut, ‘that will do for now, but don’t wander off Ms Sinclair, I’m sure we’ll have more questions for you once the cause of the fire is established.’

With a final distrustful look my way, he turns on his heel, storming back out toward the shop and disappearing from sight.

As the door between the kitchen and bakery swings shut behind him, my shoulders sag, a small sob leaving my lips unbidden.

‘Abs?’ the Navy Seal is in front of me immediately, his worried expression roaming over me as he crouches beside my knees, his hand reaching out for me before he stills, glancing from his flattened palm to me and back again before changing route and placing it on my daughter’s back.

‘I didn’t do it’ I murmur brokenly, ‘I didn’t do anything.’

A growl rips from Lincoln’s throat as his eyes narrow, ‘I know you didn’t Abs’ he mutters darkly, ‘that guy can go f.uck himself, you did nothing wrong.’

‘Linc, you said a bad word’ my attention snaps back to my daughter as she lifts her head slightly from my chest, looking over her shoulder at the Navy Seal with a frown. ‘You said a bad word, that’s naughty’ she repeats softly.

The corner’s of Lincoln’s lips twitch upward as he focuses on my daughter, his expression softening.

‘Yeah, my bad, sorry short stuff’ he replies, rubbing his fingers over her back, the tips catching my skin slightly, sending tingles up my arm as I gasp in surprise.

Lincoln’s eyes connect with mine, his chocolate brown eyes darkening as we stare at each other silently.

‘Abs?’ he chokes out, lips parting as if he wants to say something, but he presses them together again, shaking his head slightly before pinning me again with his hypnotic gaze.

‘What do you need Abs, tell me what you need’ he mutters hoarsely.

A tear falls down my cheek as I stare into his eyes, ‘I . . I want to go home’ I reply.