Page 50 of Protective Phlox

My phone buzzed, and I smiled as I pulled it out and was greeted with an adorable pic of the troublemaker himself and Cutter. They were eating ice cream and smiling for the camera. The nickname I didn’t understand. YSAH. What the heck did that mean?

YSAH: Thought you’d like to know we are having a good time, but miss you.

S: I miss you two as well. Question. What does YSAH mean, and did you put it in my phone?

YSAH: I did, and you’ll have to figure it out. Telling you would be too easy.

S: Seriously?

YSAH: It will be a fun game to keep your mind busy while I’m not there to keep you from getting bored.

S: True, boring is not a word I would ever use to describe being with you. I’ll message you when I get to the hotel. Tell Cutter I love and miss him.

YSAH: Just Cutter?

Smirking at my phone, I could see Shawn glaring at me from the corner of my eye. There was something so satisfying about pissing him off.

S: I guess you’ll have to wait and see. Telling you would just be too easy.

YSAH: Touche

S: Thanks for the pic. I needed it.

YSAH: LV U

My heart fluttered like a teenager over their first crush with the simple little message.

S: LV U 2

Stuffing the phone into my pocket, I walked the remaining distance to Goran and Shawn. Goran stood, his large size towering over the top of me.

“Are you ready to leave?”

“More than ready.” I looked at Shawn. “She wants to see you. Feel free to stay as long as you like. In fact, keep it up, and she’ll put you in the will over me. Not that I care. I don’t want anything from her.”

“Don’t be so crass, Anna. You know that’s not why I’m friends with her.”

I shook my head. “I honestly don’t care anymore.” Turning to leave, Shawn made the grave error of grabbing my arm. Before I could react, Goran had him pinned to the floor with a hand around his neck.

“I told you not to touch her,” Goran whispered, his voice raspy and threatening.

“Let me up. Are you crazy? This is a hospital,” Shawn said, but his eyes were wide with terror.

“It’s fine, Goran. You can let him up. I’m sure that Shawn has learned his lesson.” I pulled on my jacket and kept my face blank.

Goran stood, jerking down the front of his suit jacket as he glared at Shawn, who was rubbing at his neck as he slowly peeled himself off the floor.

“He’s crazy,” Shawn said, pointing at Goran.

There was no point in talking to a wall. The wall would never understand. This time, as I walked for the door and my guards followed, Shawn didn’t move or say anything.

“I really fucking hate that guy,” Goran grumbled as we stepped out into the hallway.

“Would it make you feel better to know that I broke off our engagement by kicking his cheating ass out of the house, naked, at gunpoint, and it was snowing outside?”

Goran gave me a lopsided grin. “Oh yeah, that makes me feel a lot better.”

Chapter