Page 58 of Protecting the Nerd

“I’ll be damned.” Remington let out a dry chuckle. “That’s the last thing I had expected from you, yet it’s strangely fitting at the same time. You’re as loyal as they come, Quillon, and I appreciate you being honest with me.”

“Thank you.” The tension seeped out of me. “Do you have anyone else available?”

“That’s a bit of a challenge, not gonna lie. You’re the best I have. Are you comfortable handing over that responsibility to someone else?”

I pondered that question. The idea of leaving York in someone else’s hands didn’t sit well with me. But what choice did I have? “I’ll still be around him, protecting him. Just not in any official capacity.”

“It’ll be hard to find a reason for another guy to move in with you two. I’m assuming two boyfriends wouldn’t work in a small town.”

Despite everything, I laughed. York Coombe in a triad, now there was a thought. Nope, not gonna happen. I wanted him all to myself. “I’ll talk to him and Auden, see what we can come up with.”

“Auden?”

“Sheriff Frant, the local sheriff.”

“Sounds like you’re already settling in there.”

He wasn’t wrong. I did feel at home in Forestville. “It’s a cute town.”

“There’s one more obstacle…and it’s a big one.”

Shit. What had I overlooked?

“Whoever replaces you is going to need security clearance. The FBI is not gonna be happy about that…and they may not even cooperate. I don’t like that part, Quillon. You’ll have to sort that out yourself and make sure they know this was all you. I don’t want my company to take the blame for that.”

Fuck. He was right. I hadn’t factored that in, but Coulson wouldn’t be happy about giving someone else clearance. “I’ll talk to Agent Padman.”

“Please do. Once he’s on board, I’ll see what I can do.”

I ended the call and twirled my phone in my hand. I didn’t like being away from York for this long, but I didn’t want to make these calls where he could overhear. So, steeling myself, I hit the speed dial for Coulson.

“Quillon, everything okay there?”

“Yes, but can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Of course. Gimme a second.” I heard some muffled conversation in the background. “Sorry, just needed to tell my husband to watch our daughter.”

Shit, he was home already. He was on Eastern time, of course, so three hours ahead of me. “I apologize for disturbing you at home.”

“It comes with the job, so no worries. What’s on your mind?”

“I don’t know how to say this, but I need to be replaced.”

“You’re quitting?”

“No, I’m…transferring, I guess you could say. I’ve decided I want the job as York’s real-life boyfriend more than my position as his bodyguard.”

Coulson was quiet for a beat, then burst out laughing. “You had to pick the one reason I can’t argue against, huh?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I would imagine so. Love has a funny way of showing up when you least expect it.”

“It does, but I am sorry. I know the timing couldn’t be worse.”

Coulson sighed. “No, unfortunately, you’re right about that. I was going to call you tomorrow, but now that I have you on the phone anyway… We’ve found the leak, and it wasn’t inside EDS.”

“Then how did they get that name that was only used internally?”

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