Page 77 of The Forbidden Bodyguard

“Good plan. Miles, Jayden and I have some training to do back here. Call us if you need more bodies,” Ryder says, and the three of them pack up their things and head out.

Grayson follows.

“Something is off with Marino’s men visiting earlier,” I say to Josh as his phone beeps.

“Looks like they’ve gone. If we’re right and Voss is being blackmailed into giving him his daughter...” He frowns. “They left in a white van that none of them noticed earlier.”

I glance at the clock.

It’s almost ten.

“What’s going on?” My instincts are on fire. “Something has changed.”

“You.”

“What?” I ask, my brows bunching.

“You. You are what’s changed. She’s in love with you,” Josh says.

I silently curse, threading my fingers through my hair.

“His men have been following you for weeks, and it doesn’t take a mind reader to see she’s mad about you.”

“Shit.”

He doesn’t say anything more, but I can read it on his face. Josh knows.

“Man, fuck, I’m sorry, I know what the—”

He holds up his hand. “Dec, it’s not necessary. We served for over a decade together. That rule is in place to stop the younger crew from fucking every starlet and billionaire’s daughter that comes onto our books.”

From what I’ve heard, pretty unsuccessfully, but anywho.

“I met my Cassy while she was under my care. As you know. Ryder met Savannah.”

Case in point.

“My point is,” Josh says. “It’s there to curtail fornication with clients as a sport.”

A laugh bursts out of me. Stella would die if she heard someone say that about our sexual relationship.

“So, I keep my job? Christ, Mom is already furious I got out. She thinks Dad would be disappointed in me for leaving the Navy.”

“Commander Sloan was an incredible man, but you can’t live your life doing what a dead man might want. With all due respect to the great man.”

Josh met my dad just before he died, but most Naval Special Warfare have heard of him.

He was a hero.

“Yeah, I’ve figured that out finally.” I rub my jaw. “So Marino is nervous his bride-to-be has a SEAL boyfriend. What do we think he’ll do?”

It’s not like I’m a cop. It’s unlikely he thinks I’ll rappel out of a chopper and drop into their wedding tomorrow.

I mean, I might. I’ll check my calendar, but I’m sure I could make it happen.

“I don’t know, but we need to get over there now.” He climbs to his feet. “Let’s go.”

I curse and gather my things. “Tony is a sociopath, Josh. I’m not letting him marry her.”