“I’m doing it.” His voice came out hard. “End of discussion.”
“That’s not how this works,” Charlie said.
“My wife. My agency.Mycall.”
“Kyle, son.” Lachlan’s voice wasn’t loud but it was firm. “Your call is wrong.”
Kyle turned. Lach had taken the pen casing out of his mouth. The look in his sea-colored eyes was the same as when he’d once told Kylecome back wholewhen Kyle went after Camo—a move that had changed his whole life, bringing Arden into it.
Kyle had been a different man then. But judging by his behavior today, not by much.
“Let’s talk this through,” Lachlan said as he stood up.
“She came here,” Kyle said. His voice was controlled. Just barely. “She came here because of Sean—because Juni is family. That makes Maren family. And that means this is mine.”
“Yes, it does. Which means you’re too close,” Lachlan said.
“I’m aware of how close I am.”
“Then you’re aware that’s exactly the problem.”
Not the problem. The point.Kyle’s jaw set.
Arden’s hand tightened on his forearm. He’d been married to her long enough to read her touch.Let him finish, California.
“I was there,” Charlie said. “I owe him.”
“Charlie.” Shane’s voice came out rough.
“Iowehim,” she said again, quieter but no less certain.
“He wouldn’t want that.” Shane looked away. His throat moved. “He wouldn’t want you carrying it that way.”
She folded her arms. “You don’t know what he’d want.”
“I grew up with him.” The words came out sounding like gravel. “I know exactly what he’d want.”
“Do you?” There was an edge in Charlie’s voice. “Because I’ve been asking myself that for four years and I still don’t have a good answer.”
“Neither do I.” Shane turned to look at her.
They’ve been carrying this since the day he died.
And Kyle was trying to shove his way past them with his own claim.
Damn it.
“No,” Lachlan said.
Kyle opened his mouth.
“No,” Lachlan said again. “Kyle. You are her family now. That is not the same thing as being her bodyguard, and you know the difference.”
“Lach—”
“I know.” His voice was quiet. “I know exactly what you want to do. But you can’t be both. And right now, what that woman and that little girl need more than anything is someone who can think clearly.” He looked at Kyle steadily. “You cannot think clearly about this. I’m not criticizing you, son. It’s the truth.”
Kyle sat back.
