Page 20 of My Damaged Protector

The stunned expression that stays on his face for a few seconds before he gathers back his bearing tells me that I may be on the right path.

“What?” he asks, feigning confusion.

“You do realize that I'm a writer, right? Figuring things out is part of my job description.”

“That doesn't make you a specialist.”

“Maybe. It still doesn't explain why you've put yourself in two life-threatening situations in one night.”

“I am a firefighter. Saving people is what I do,” he snaps. I can tell I'm getting him angry. Now would be a smart time toback down. But I'm on a mission here, and I'm not backing out without getting the answer I want.

“Nobody was in a fire tonight,” I say calmly. Regardless of the tone I use, my words only add more fuel to the fire that's already burning.

“So you're saying I should have stood aside and watched you get killed?”

“That's not what I said.”

“Then what are you saying?” he thunders, now on his feet, his breath coming out of him in large spurts.

I'd like to believe that I know Ian very well, but this angry and wounded man in front of me is not a man I recognize, at all.

“Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.” I offer an olive branch.

He nods, shaking his head before he releases a frustrated breath. “I shouldn't have raised my voice.”

“We'll call it a truce then.”

He shrugs at my words, his height towering over me before he turns to walk away. His hand grabs at the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head in one swoop.

My mouth opens at the sight of his scarred back.

My God.

He looks like a man whose body has been through many hells, some, no doubt, life-challenging. How he's still alive with all these scars is beyond me.

If, for a moment, I let myself believe everything that happened this night is because he's a man who's driven by his instinct to save others, what I just witnessed has me questioning everything.

Something is going on with him, and I'm not so sure I want to find out anymore.

7

IAN

As I take my seat,I allow myself to feel like shit for raising my voice at her.

She didn't deserve it.

But I was already on edge from all that's been happening tonight, and seeing her analyzing me just pushed me to the brink.

It doesn't help that she is spot on.

Have I really been trying to kill myself?

Is my guilt that deep-rooted?

Richard has been saying the same thing all these years, but I've refused to believe him.

Why?

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