I see the shift before it even happens. The moment his eyes darken just a fraction. When he speaks again, I already know I’m not going to like what he says.
“You’ll need protection at the bookstore. Around town.” He pauses. Fuck. I know what’s coming. “It’s gonna be me.” There it is. I knew it!
No.
“No,” I bark, stepping back like the word might shield me. “No, no, no. Fuck no.” I cross my arms, trying to hold myself together. “Anyone else. I don’t care who. That biker with the dumbass name. He did fine last night. Use him.”
I feel the sudden urge to grab something again and throw it at him, but nothing escaped my meltdown.
He smiles tiredly and takes a step forward. I brace myself, but he doesn’t make another move.
“There’s an active threat against you,” he says, voice tight. Controlled. “And I don’t trust anyone else with your life. Not now. I won’t be able to think straight if I leave you in someone else’s hands. Not after those lunatics came so close.”
“I don’t care if you can think straight or not! And you said you’d take care of them!” I shoot back. “How are you going to do that if you’re playing bodyguard?”
“I have my ways,” he says and before he can continue, to my horror, a pitiful, exasperated whine escapes me.
My eyes go wide. I start pacing again.
“That didn’t just happen,” I mutter under my breath, trying to erase that stupid fucking whine from existence. I won’t show him weakness. He’s like a wild animal. He’ll focus on my every weak spot and tear through all my defenses before I even realize what’s happening.
He moves to speak. “Adora—”
“Nuh-uh,” I snap, pointing a shaky finger at him. “Shut up, Ghost. Just shut up. Let me think,” I order and resume my pacing.
To his credit, he does.
My brain spirals.
Ok, so snake-worshipping freaks are targeting me. No biggie. Except yes, biggie, because I hate snakes. And I can’t protect myself against a bunch of crazies. I’m a lover, not a fighter. And my physical strength is a joke. My aim, too. Proof that Ghost is still standing after I threw an entire room at him.
And now he’s just watching me. Quiet. Patient. Still fucking infuriating.
He’s not going to back down. This jackass won’t let anyone else guard me right now. And I know he’s a stubborn asshole. Just like all his brothers. There won’t be any negotiating withhim. I know him too well. He made up his mind already. He’s just waiting for me to fall in line. He can wait for all eternity, for all I care! I’m finding a way out of it!
Maybe… I narrow my eyes in thought. Maybe… I could negotiate with Bones? He’s technically Ghost’s boss. He could order him around. I groan and sigh, throwing my head back. Who the hell am I kidding? Bones isn’t taking my side in this. He’d probably hand me to Ghost with a bow and a reminder to play nice.
And I need the protection. Fuck. Why is my life such a trainwreck? I was doing so well. I was healing. Moving forward. Opening a business. New life. New me. And then the Universe just had to throw snakes at me.
To be fair to the Universe, though, I knew. I fucking knew some snake cult was targeting Ria, and possibly the people close to her. She told me the whole sordid story. I still chose to stay. Fuck. I did this to myself. I really am the worst at decision-making.
At least now, thanks to my therapist, I have a nice, shiny label to put on my poor decision-making skills. Apparently, I’m prone to impulsive choices on top of my shitty, defective mind. Lucky fucking me.
I clench my fists, and take a breath. Try to calm my brain down. Try to think through the spiral. And pray I can make it through the next five minutes without launching another chair at Ghost’s face.
“Don’t you have better things to do?” I bite out. “You’re high on the corporate ladder in this club. Shouldn’t you be off managing turf wars or interrogating someone in a cell instead of playing glorified babysitter?”
It’s a weak attempt. A last-ditch plea dressed up as sarcasm.
“Nothing’s more important than you.”
He says it without blinking. Like it’s fact. Like it’s true.
I almost burst out in hysterical laughter. Instead, I snort mockingly.
“Funny. Where was that heartwarming bullshit months ago?”
He just gives me a look. The kind that makes me want to punch him in the balls. But I don’t back down. Instead, I turn to him fully, arms crossed, jaw locked.
