“You know what’s more useful than vows right now, Max? A prosecutor ready to file charges, a judge prepared to sign a protective order, and a security detail that doesn’t sleep.”
“That’s not enough,” I snarled bitterly. “There’s something—someone—watching her constantly. Do you really think all that will protect her? We’re up against some crazy, sick conspiracy group, if everything in her file is accurate. Am I wrong? Is she part of that legacy program? They want to breed her, right? Don’t feed me bullshit.”
He paused.
“You dug farther than I thought,” he laughed softly, a hint of menace behind it. He hesitated briefly before adding, “Your dad will be proud.”
His eyes lingered on me, measuring, assessing. I could feel the weight of his stare. I rolled my eyes.
“Again, I’ll deal with my father later.”
He smirked darkly, nodding slowly.
“Listen, kid. You’re smart, real smart.”
His gaze dragged down my frame as if he was trying to see something deeper. I towered over him, six-four, broad-shouldered, more like a linebacker than a college ballplayer. West was barely five-ten, wiry, compact, bearing the mark of someone who’d seen too much. Age, training, the weight of the badge—all of it showed. But standing this close, the difference was impossible to ignore. I could crush him in an instant.
“I know you could handle yourself… handle Mackenzie. But you need to understand the stakes. This is adult-level shit that you’re not ready for. I can help you. I’ll cover the legal and security sides, but don’t think lying will protect you. It’s a liability.” The room seemed to close in around me with his next words, as if the shadows grew darker.
“They’re going to come for you, you know that, right? TheAlliance.”
I knew what he was talking about. I had read it in her file. The group that was watching us. But it was the first time someone had said it out loud. I should’ve been nervous, scared even, but I wasn’t. Because I’d do whatever I needed to do to save her.
“I’ll be ready,” I said, because Iwasready. I’d take on anything that came her way. “By the way, isn’t your job to protect her from them? Or have you fucked that up too?”
West’s jaw dropped the barest degree, then he nodded once.
“Fuck you, Max,” he said, his voice edged with a tense, almost threatening tone. “Just stay out of the way.”
I clenched my jaw so tightly my teeth ached. “You don’t get it. I already vowed. She’s mine. She said yes when I asked her. And if being her husband on paper makes one more person think twice about touching her, that’s what I’m doing.”
He studied me, eyes narrow, waiting for me to back down. I didn’t. My pulse pounded loudly in my ears, my chest aching at the thought of her slipping away.
Finally, West exhaled slowly, reluctantly. “Marriage is a big fucking deal, kid. You really want to chain yourself to that decision right now? You’re not even nineteen.”
“Yes.” My voice was sharp, unwavering, resolute. “I’ll call your boss if I have to. I’ll go to the media and tell them everything. An FBI agent marrying his protective order? An FBI agent shadowing two high school kids at a summer camp? An FBI agent letting a secret society surveil them? I know there’s someillegal shit happening here. Tell me that doesn’t reek of corruption.”
His brows drew tight, a faint tic in his jaw. He was already imagining the calls he’d have to make.
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, running a hand over his mouth. “You don’t let go, do you?”
“Not with her.” My voice broke, but I stayed firm. “Never with her.”
Resignation flickered in his eyes. He shook his head once.
“Fine. I’ll see what strings I can pull. I’ll get a protective order secured for both of you. I’ll reduce the number of people watching you two, but I’ll keep one or two protective assets in the shadows. But when this blows up, it’s on you.” He stepped closer, voice cold and final. “And when Mackenzie wakes up and finds out what you’ve done, I hope she beats the shit out of you.”
I laughed deeply and heavily. The sound of my laughter echoed off the walls, settling between us.
“Sounds like a plan…dad.”
I didn’t mean to say it, but the way his face changed told me I wasn’t wrong.
24
MACKENZIE
Arhythmic, shrill beeping echoed through my head.
