Page 62 of The Forbidden Bodyguard

She’s wrong.

I’m about to change the game.

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I CARRY THE takeout boxes into the kitchen and throw them into the trash. Josh hasn’t responded to my message yet, but I know they’ll be working behind the scenes.

The details don’t matter. My job is to kick off the conversation and let her know there are other options.

I can’t kidnap her. Much as I’d like to. A year on a tropical island while this all passes wouldn’t be horrible. Sex, cocktails, fresh seafood...sex.

It’s not a horrible idea.

I could tend bar, and she could have my babies.

In reality, that’s illegal without her consent, so I push that down to Plan C for the meantime.

Settling back on the sofa, I lay my arm behind her, playing with her hair. She leans into me and I kiss her head.

“It’s time.” My voice is rough, the pit of my stomach gnawing.

“You want me to go?” Stella’s face drops.

I take her chin. “I never want you to go. Ever. It’s time to talk. To tell me everything, sweetheart.”

She pulls in a breath, her eyes growing bigger, fear front and center.

I want to kill whoever is doing this to her.

“I wish—”

“No more wishing. No more platitudes, Stella. You hired me to protect you, and that’s what I’m doing. Even protecting you from yourself,” I say firmly.

“What do you mean?” her voice is small. “What are you going to do?”

“I mean...” I shift to face her better. “Forget your fucking NDA. You need to tell me everything, and once you do, then I can help you. I’m not signing away my rights that could cost you your life.”

“That’s not—”

“Talk.”

“Don’t speak like—”

“Talk,” I growl, knowing I have to be firm to cut through her fear.

She begins to move, and I grab her, not letting her go.

“Declan, you’re scaring me.” Stella cries.

“What does Marino have on you? Who is he threatening to harm unless you marry him?” I demand.

She gasps.

I wait.

“No one. That’s. It’s. No. I just...” Stella tapers off, and for a split second, I feel a flicker of happiness that she’s struggling to lie to me.

Telling me she wants another man doesn’t sit right with her. So, because I’m training to do this, I push down the part of me that doesn’t want to hurt her and use it against her.