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“Yeah,” he growls slightly, “with her roommate. It was a smaller party, more intimate.” I growl when he says that fucking word in relationship to my Saoirse, but he ignores me—as he fucking should. “I couldn’t get too close so I’m not sure what happened inside.”
“You’re not telling me something,” I challenge him.
He sighs and I can practically see the grimace on his face. “They walked back to the dorm and her roommate was giving her a hard time about why she won’t give some guy a chance. That he’s a nice guy and he likes her.”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly through my nose.
Jamie can’t get too close because she would spot him immediately. He never spent that much time around her, but he was around. It’s not like Declan was going to ensure her safety with a complete fucking stranger.
Jamie has always been able to blend in and he’s closer to her age than a lot of the other options for her personal security. It was the best we could do and he’s more than earned his keep this semester.
I feel like a complete creeper, but I need to know. “What did she say?”
“Nothing. She just shrugged her friend off and said the guy was nice, but not the right one for her,” he sounds reluctant as fuck to give me this information. I get it.
When is it crossing a line and breaking her trust, even though she has no idea he’s been watching her? She’s been given enough room to enjoy her college experience without being in danger. For the most part, I’m okay with it considering caging Saoirse would be a fucking shame.
She deserves to be free. She deserves to soar.
“Did you catch his name?”
Too fucking far, Conor.
I just can’t find it in me to care. I need all the details I can get.
“Miles,” he grunts. “I’ve looked into him when I noticed him trying to get close to her. He’s from the Midwest. He’s a good guy. Nice and respectful, for the most part. He just watches her and has tried to be friendly.”
I bite out, “Should I be concerned?”
“From a safety standpoint or are you asking for another reason?” There’s no judgement in Jamie’s tone, but this is the first time he’s questioned my motives for wanting to know what is going on with his charge.
“Fuck off,” I bark.
He chuckles softly. “Look, Conor, I get it. I’m not stupid. She’s been a good girl while in college. She’s had a little fun, but none of it has involved guys. Some have wanted to get with her, and it’s been obvious as fuck. But she’s never given anyone a second look. She’s kept shit friendly.”
“Yeah,” I grunt, “fine.”
“She’s been,” he starts cautiously, “kind of sad, maybe? I almost threw out my orders to stay in the shadows a few days ago when she was in a coffee shop. She just looked so,” he pauses and blows out a breath, “lost and out of place.”
Relief fills me and it makes me feel like a giant fucking asshole.
I should not be relieved that Saoirse isn’t happy out in California.
But maybe it’ll make this next part easier. Because she won’t be going back there if I have anything to say about it. If she insists, I’ll be going with her. There’s no way I can have this much distance between us.
Not anymore.
“Thanks for having her back.” Those are the words that come out instead of telling him to go and grab her and bring her home right fucking now.
Tomorrow is soon enough. Maybe.
“Always. She’s the princess of the family and that means something. I’m honored Declan, and you, trusted me to watch over her.”
“Safe travels,” I extend before I hang up.
Tomorrow he’ll be coming home along with Saoirse. He doesn’t have a woman in his life. He’s devoted all of himself to the job since we brought him in. Just like me, he was a fighter and that’s how he got on our radar. He proved himself in the ring.
Maybe that’s why I was able to trust him to watch over the most precious person in the world to me. He would fight until his last breath to protect her. I’m glad nothing has happened, but if it did, I know he’d be ready.
