Chapter 22 Head On A Swivel
Damian’s POV
The flashing blue and red lights were visible from the end of the street. Even before I turned onto my block, I could see the police cruisers stationed along the curb in front of my house. Two patrol cars idled quietly, their lights casting long streaks of color across the pavement. I slowed the car as Courtney leaned forward slightly in the passenger seat.
“Well,” she murmured, “that’s subtle.”
“Police rarely are.”
I pulled into the driveway and shut off the engine. For a moment neither of us moved. The house looked the same as always—clean lines, wide glass windows, perfectly trimmed hedges. Yet the police presence gave it an entirely different atmosphere. Like the calm center of something dangerous.
Courtney exhaled slowly.
“Let’s see what the damage is.”
We stepped out of the car just as one of the officers approached.
“Mr. McKay.”
“Officer.”
The man nodded toward the house.
“We did a quick perimeter sweep. No signs of forced entry.”
“That’s good.”
“But the vehicle was definitely seen circling this block.”
Courtney crossed her arms.
“Any idea how long?”
“About twenty minutes before patrol arrived.”
My jaw tightened.
“Thank you.”
The officer nodded and stepped back toward the cruiser. Courtney and I headed up the walkway together. The moment I unlocked the front door and pushed it open, she moved past me like she’d done it a thousand times. Straight down the hallway. To the guest room.
“Court—”
But she was already gone. I sighed and stepped inside, closing the door behind us. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I stood in the living room for a moment, scanning the windows and the dark corners out of habit. Everything looked normal. Still, the idea of Hargrove circling my house sat like a stone in my chest. My mind immediately shifted to logistics. Security. Precautions. And one particular solution kept rising to the surface. Move Courtney. Somewhere safer. Somewhere off the radar. A secure location that no one could trace. I was still considering the options when I heard footsteps in the hallway.
Courtney appeared a moment later holding her laptop under her arm. Her eyes narrowed the second she saw the expression on my face.
“Oh no.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Think about what?”
Her eyebrow lifted.
“You shipping me off somewhere.”
I opened my mouth. She pointed a warning finger at me.
“Don’t.”
“Court—”
“I swear, Damian McKay, if you try to stash me in some remote safe house like a fragile princess—”
“I was going to say secure location.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Same thing.”
“You’d be safer.”
“And bored out of my mind.”
“You’d be alive.”
“I’m perfectly alive right here.”
I crossed my arms.
“You’re a target.”
“So are you.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
I started to answer. She beat me to it.
“If you say because you’re used to it, I will throw this laptop at you.”
A small laugh escaped me.
“You’re threatening violence while holding expensive equipment.”
“I’m making a point.”
“You’re being stubborn.”
“I’m being practical.”
She stepped closer.
“If you try to send me away, McKay…”
Her eyes flashed with dangerous amusement.
“I will end you.”
I chuckled despite myself.
“You say that like it’s a real threat.”
“It is.”
Before she could say anything else, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her waist. Courtney gasped softly as I pulled her closer. Her body fit naturally against mine. Warm. Familiar. I leaned down and kissed her. Deeply. The tension from the entire evening seemed to melt into that moment. Her good hand came up to rest against my chest as she kissed me back. For a few seconds, the world outside the house disappeared. The police lights. The threats. The war brewing around us. All of it faded. When we finally pulled apart, Courtney’s cheeks were flushed but her eyes were sharp.
“You can’t distract me,” she said, slightly breathless.
“Wasn’t trying to.”
“Yes you were.”
“Maybe a little.”
She poked a finger into my chest.
“I have my head on a swivel.”
“I noticed.”
“Do not test me, Damian.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Her lips twitched slightly. Then—
Both of our phones started ringing. At the exact same time. We both glanced down. My screen lit up with Marcus’s name. Courtney’s phone displayed Sarah. She groaned.
“Work never sleeps.”
“Neither does chaos.”
We separated to take the calls. I walked toward the living room windows while answering.
“Marcus.”
“Hey, man.”
His voice came through immediately, calm but alert.
“Peter texted me something about a police station.”
“He’s fine.”
“What happened?”
“Hargrove.”
There was a pause.
“I knew it.”
“He confronted Peter earlier.”
“Is he still around?”
“Ran before the police could grab him.”
Marcus exhaled sharply.
“That’s not good.”
“No.”
He hesitated.
“What do you need from me?”
Trust Marcus to go straight to logistics.
“For now? Stay where you are.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
I leaned against the window, watching the patrol cars outside.
“We’re handling it.”
“And Courtney?”
“She’s handling it well.”
“Good.”
Another pause.
“She okay?”
“She’s arguing with me about safety protocols.”
“That sounds like Courtney.”
I smirked slightly.
“She threatened to end me if I try to relocate her.”
Marcus laughed.
“I'm liking the whole you two cohabitating more every day.”
“Join the club.”
Then, partly because I knew it would amuse him, I added—
“Peter’s currently being held at the station with a very cute blonde detective.”
Marcus snorted.
“That sounds dangerous.”
Across the room, Courtney suddenly turned her head. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Oh,” she called out loudly. “You find blondes cute now?”
I blinked.
Marcus burst out laughing on the phone.
“Was that Courtney?”
“Yes.”
“Put me on speaker.”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“Absolutely not.”
Courtney walked into the living room, still holding her phone while Sarah’s voice chattered faintly through the speaker. Her eyebrow was raised. Dangerously high.
“Did I hear you correctly?” she asked.
“You were eavesdropping.”
“You were loud.”
Marcus was still laughing in my ear.
“Tell Courtney I said hello.”
Courtney crossed her arms.
“Marcus, I can hear you.”
“Hi Court, Anna and I miss you lots!.”
“Stop encouraging him.”
“Never.”
She rolled her eyes and turned back to her call.
“Sarah, I’m still here.”
A moment later she began discussing media monitoring and security alerts with her assistant. Meanwhile, Marcus finally calmed down.
“You two sound busy.”
“You have no idea.”
“Call me if anything changes.”
“I will.”
“And Damian?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful.”
“I always am.”
I ended the call and slipped my phone back into my pocket. Across the room, Courtney finished her conversation as well. She sighed and dropped onto the couch.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“Did Marcus give you any brilliant insights?”
“He suggested not getting murdered.”
“Solid advice.”
I walked over and sat beside her. For a moment, we simply listened to the quiet hum of the house. The patrol cars outside. The distant city noise. Courtney leaned back against the cushions.
“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “if someone wanted to intimidate us…”
“They picked the wrong house.”
She turned her head slightly to look at me.
“And the wrong people.”
I nodded slowly. But deep down, one thought kept circling my mind. Daniel Hargrove wasn’t just making threats. He was preparing something. And whatever it was—
It hadn’t happened yet.