Page 10 of Vengeful Guard

“I don’t want to be upset about it.”

“You can’t really pick and choose what’s going to upset you.”

I huff out a breath, knowing he’s right but not liking it one bit.

“I’m okay,” I insist. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

Gray looks at me for a moment before speaking. “I wanted to talk to you about getting you some protection.”

“I already have protection.” There’s always one of my father’s men following me and Lara around.

“Not like that. Someone permanent. Someone who can take care of you.”

“You better not be talking about marrying me off like you did with Declan?—”

“Nothing like that.” Gray hold his hands up as if in defense. “We just need to find someone to keep an eye out for you when the rest of us can’t.”

I glare at him. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Not a babysitter.” His tone grates on my nerves. As if I’m a little girl that needs patronizing.

Anger rises in me, and I try to push it down. I know that he just wants to protect me, but this seems extreme.

“It wasn’t even a big deal.”

“That why you woke up screaming last time you guys had a sleepover?”

“That wasn’t Lara’s story to tell.”

“The Burkes are a close-knit family, Paige. You know that. We all want to help you.”

I stand up, my chair screeching as it scrapes the floor, nearly falling over with the sudden movement. “I didn’t ask for help.”

Dizzy from standing up too fast and eating too little for an extended period of time, I stumble, and Gray jumps to his feet, steadying me with his hand on my forearm and sitting me back down.

“You can barely stand up without fainting, Paige. You need the help.”

“Fine,” I mutter, hating it but slowly realizing that he’s right. “I’ll accept a bodyguard. But one. I don’t want a carload of guys following me around. It’s embarrassing.”

Gray nods, smiling a bit. “I wasn’t planning on sending a clown car on your trips to the supermarket or anything.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that, but it’s a shadow of my old bubbly giggle. “All right, then. I won’t fight you on it. For now.”

“Good.” He sounds legitimately relieved. “Then we’ll find someone.”

To think, just two months ago, I’d been far more worried about my dating life than worrying about being kidnapped or killed. Now, it’s like I have a whole new set of priorities and fears. My hopes and dreams have dimmed, and I’m just working to keep myself from breaking down.

Gray, still standing, starts to head into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?”

“Making you something more substantial to eat.”

“I’m not hungry?—”

He turns to glare at me. “You’re eating a full meal before I leave here, even if I have to feed you by hand like when you were two and hated everything but applesauce.”

I smile a little at his aggressive enthusiasm and relax my shoulders. “All right, all right.”

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