Protective Arms (Completed)

24. Willing

Biting the tongue hurts, but I figure it is for the best. I have never seen Zack start turning red in the short time I have known him, but he just did a few minutes ago when Brit mentioned using me as bait.

Honestly, I am willing to do it because of the amount of cops around I would be safe. If it could mess with court and everything else than that is where I am not fine with.

It wouldn't make sense to catch the person doing this to me just for him to be released from jail.

Bethany and Chasity stand close to me the entire time Zack, Brit, and Gaperal are talking over things. We probably look ridiculous with our heads swiveling between the three, as one talks we look to that one then the next.

"Are you okay?" Chasity whispers in my ear.

I nod my head and keep my eyes trained on the guys.

"Are either of you starting to feel like a yo-yo?" Bethany whispers.

Chasity and I both nod this time. If it was not extremely serious we would probably be snickering at how we feel.

"For now we just have to talk to the waiter and see if the kid can describe what the person looked like." Zack sighs.

"That is if the kid can remember a couple of nights ago." Gaperal grunted.

""He needs to remember something and surely that cash pay off would help him remember." Brit speaks up.

"Or all he seen was the cash and done what was asked not bothering to pay attention." Zack chimes back in.

I wave my hands in front of me.

"You all three are going in circles." I catch myself before I go further.

Zack spins to face me completely, but his expressions soften as he looks to me.

"I would be willing to help in any way that I can. To me it is not a problem unless it can effect the system when he gets put behind bars." I say with more stern and hardness in my voice than I have ever heard myself speak before.

Bethany and Chasity touch my arms and hold onto my elbows. To me it is like they are giving me the support.

"When I got the threatening text this time, I was not scared. Just followed instinct to call you because your the head one on this case involving me. So, I believe I can do this if need be."

"I am not willing to risk your safety either. We have no clue if this the suspect will hold up to the threats and for now it has to be assumed that he will." Zack sighs, with a sad look in his eye.

"The last victim seven years ago, she was physcially harmed. If it is the same person and not some copycat since we are still unsure and just guessing." Gaperal rubs a hand through his salt and pepper hair.

"What injuries did she have?" I ask.

"She was in the hospital a few times. Once for the glass that broke next to her. Second, for having rocks thrown at her body and striking. Third, for a hit and run to her vehicle. Then the last time right before she moved away, she was blindfolded and cut up with a knife, which was the worst out of everything that happened."

I can feel my body shaking slightly as he lists it all out.

"No one knows who done it she had been grabbed in the middle of the night during a midnight shift. She gathers she was held possibly a couple of days and she escaped but the suspect wasn't around." Gaperal finishes.

"How can it be said this suspect isn't violent then? Because it is assumed that it is the same person from the cold case to now Athena's." Bethany furrows her brows.

"We are going based off how the wording is and actions taken. So far yes the suspect is following right in line but there are also a few things that are different this time from the cold case." Brit looks over at her when he talks.

I could almost see something flash in his eyes for a moment. It seems like how Zack used to look at me, but Bethany seems to be blind to it all because she is techincally dating Dason.

Brit and Gaperal leave out to go speak with the waiter to see if they can get at least a description of the person that paid him the wad of cash from what they have said.

Bethany's next client just walked in a few minutes before the guys left. Zack comes over to Chasity and I standing by my station.

"I don't like leaving you alone." Zack kisses my forehead.

"She won't be. I can stay with you tonight Athena." Chasity smiles to me.

"Thank you, but you don't have too."

"If she doesn't I will stay, either way she has to get a bag from her place or I have to from mine. You don't need to be alone with the texts coming in more it should seem"

"Hmm, on second thought there is one thing I need to tend to tonight at Mom and Dads. Could you go ahead and stay with Athena?" Chasity looks to Zack with a glint in her eyes.

"Right here. I am standing right here. What is it with all of you talking about me like I am not even here?" I wave my hands and smile some.

Zack looks like he is stumbling for words and Chasity is grinning like a fool. Bethany seems to be doing no better, trying not to laugh along with her client.

"I would love for you to stay if that is what you truly want to do. Even though I don't need a babysitter."

"It is not babysitting. This is to make sure my precious girl stays safe." Zack wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest.

I melt against him with the smell of his cologne. It is so manly but spicey. Definitely something that I could just stay surrounded in because for me it is a smell that means I am safe. Maybe that is why I am not fighting hard with him wanting to protect me because I feel he means it and I know he will do all he can.

A/N---
Hey Hey Guys!!!

Athena is willing to give things a try to help but Zack isn't willing to have her in harms way.

Will there be a break for them soon?

Seems as though Athena and Zack will be spending the night together again!