Page 143 of Master of My Heart

“Yeah. I thought you were an angel.” He shook his head. “He’d have died if you hadn’t shown up. He was all sorts of fucked up. I didn’t know how you got there, but I was glad you did. Scared the fuck out of me at the time, but after dealing with the Brotherhood and all, supernatural shit doesn’t surprise me as much as it used to.”

“He really would have died?”

Ethan nodded. “When I dug him out, he was coughing up blood and his foot was crushed. I’d seen enough injuries out there to know when things are really bad.” He exhaled hard. “It was really bad.”

She looked down at the countertop and tried to imagine what would have happened had he died. Nothing good. I’d be back in hell permanently. “I’m glad I was able to help, however I managed to do it.”

“Me, too.” He smiled. “Anyway, he was discharged after that. His foot was really messed up and he could hardly walk for almost a year. And he... Well, the couple of times I visited him...” Ethan shook his head. “He was a total ass. Really unlike him, to be honest. He’s one of the most genuine guys I’ve ever met, so I was shocked when I saw him. Then again, I understood his anger. I’d be pissed if I went through that, too.” He shrugged. “I helped out as best as I could, with both him and his mom. When he started going to counseling, his anger began letting up. One day, I mentioned how he’d talked about starting his own security firm after he was done in the army. That seemed to cheer him up a bit.” Ethan was quiet for a few minutes, lost in thought. “He started working on it then, but it didn’t take off until he was able to get around better. I think having something, a goal, really helped him recover. It kept his mind off you, too.”

Her eyes widened. “Me?”

Ethan nodded. “He felt helpless. Not only because of his injuries, but because he couldn’t find you. He knew something was wrong, but had no idea how to help. He doesn’t do helpless very well. He always has a plan. Drives him nuts when he can’t figure something out.” He drained the juice from his glass and put it into the sink. “I was up for re-enlistment, but Chase asked me to work for him. That was about, oh, eight months ago.”

He laughed. “I guess that was a roundabout way for me to say it’s been a while. I was under him in the army, so I jumped at the chance to work with him again.”

“What do you do for him?”

“Pretty much anything that needs to be done. I was infantry in the service, but specialized in weapons. Now, though, I help him plan stuff and get everything ready to go. Basically, we do jobs together and kick ass.”

Sabrina smiled. “Are you sure you don’t mind babysitting me?” she asked. “Doesn’t Chase need you?”

“I can still do stuff from here,” he said with a shrug. “Technology and all that. Besides, I don’t think he’ll be taking any big jobs in the near future.”

“Why not?”

Ethan gave her a look. “You really need to ask?”

Sabrina looked down at her glass. Ethan certainly seemed to think Chase still wanted to be with her. “I don’t want him staying home because of me.”

“He won’t forever. But for now, you’re his priority. Keeping you safe and getting to know you. Then, well, we’ll see how things go.”

“But don’t you want more, I dunno, action?” He seemed like an action-oriented type of guy.

“Not at all. If it means you being safe and Chase’s stress level being normal for the first time in who knows how long, I’ll gladly keep an eye on you.”

“Stress level?”

Ethan shook his head. “Ever since he found out you were missing years ago, it was like he was wound too tight. Granted, there was a lot going on with his recovery and everything, but I know not being able to find you stressed him out.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Ethan said firmly. “Since we got home and he found you, he’s a lot calmer. Happier.

She set her glass on the counter and turned it clockwise in tiny increments, studying the motion while she considered Ethan’s words. I’ve made Chase happy? The thought brought a smile to her face. Aside from her doubts, finding him, talking to him, made her happy, too. She looked up at Ethan, who watched her.

“Thank you for being willing to watch me. I feel better, knowing you’ll be close. I don’t know if I could walk down the street without jumping at every car that passed.”

“Understandable.” He turned serious. “If you feel like I’m overstepping my bounds or crowding you at any point, please tell me. Chase is really protective of you and I’ll do anything to keep you safe. But if you need space, tell me so we can talk about it, okay? I can be invisible if need be.”

“Really?”

He smiled. “Well, not literally, but I can keep out of sight when necessary. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“I don’t mind. You’re nice.”

He chuckled. “Thanks. Do you mind if I use your shower? I don’t know if Jayson’s up yet.”

“Yeah, sure.”

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