Page 36 of Her Faithful Protector

My face contorts, and my chest tightens.

“Ava, have you taken your medications?” Worries hinder the warmth of his touch.

I rub my sternum. “I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”

“Take it easy, sweetheart. You need to save up your strength for tomorrow.”

I turn to face him, feeling exposed as if standing naked in the snow. “I’m so sorry, Jack. I never meant to play with your emotions.” My guilt multiplies for both Quinton and him.

“Stop worrying about me.” His voice is firm yet filled with understanding.

“I don’t know where I am… I don’t know what I’m doing!” I slide out, leaving the bed. But Jack’s long arm stretches out to keep me in place.

“I understand,” he murmurs.

I shake my head, unable to believe his patience.

Jack pulls me close, burying his face in the back of my neck. “When I say I understand, believe me. I’ve known what it’s like to be trapped in a state of desperation when it felt like there was no way out. You never play with me, Ava. You’re being honest with me.”

“I want this nightmare to end, Jack.”

“You’ve got to believe,” he whispers in my ear as if casting a spell. “Quinton will be with you tomorrow.”

I try, but the darkness remains like a suffocating black net. “I’m scared.”

“Me too,” he admits. “But think about your fear as a bridge. Once you’ve crossed it, you will gain the strength to persevere. On the other side, there won’t be anything stopping you.”

My rigidness thaws. If fear can touch a man of his caliber, then my own fears are justified. Still, I need him to walk the bridge with me. “Hold me, Jack.”

He lies down, pulling me with him until I’m nestled against his chest. Then his arms swirl around me. So soothing that I’m weakening under his spell.

My lips press against his warm, gleaming skin as I add, “Hold me until morning.”

“My arms will still be right here when you wake up.”

Closing my eyes, I immerse myself in the comforting support of his broad chest. The rhythmic sound of his heartbeat resonates in my ears. His natural scent lingers in the air, drawing me into a state that’s as close as I can get to peace for now. At this moment, I understand why God created men. To shield and safeguard the delicate vulnerabilities that reside within every woman, no matter how tough she is. A good man recognizes this need and channels his inner strength to allow his woman to fall apart under the safety of his wings.

12

JACK

The morning arrives as the hours fly by like mere minutes. It feels like just moments ago she was in my arms, and now, we find ourselves standing face to face, ready to say, ‘stay safe.’ Or perhaps, ‘I love you.’ That’s what I would’ve said, but it’s not the time.

The Montana sun casts a glow on Ava’s hair, creating a display of sparkles. The bright rays make her blink instinctively as she tries to maintain eye contact with me. We exchange a kiss, and as if we had rehearsed this moment, we both pivot away from each other simultaneously. I don’t look back, letting the sound of gravel crunching beneath our shoes be a clue of how far apart we are. Until we enter our respective cars. This is our plan, and Sam is following her, but I can’t help feeling a twinge of unease as the reality sets in—I won’t be by her side.

“Let’s roll!” I tell my partner, who’s been observing me since the moment he got here.

Sam has entrusted me with Huxley Cometti, or ‘Comet,’ a twenty-seven-year-old former SEAL. Despite his celestialnickname, he hails from Montana, and I let him take the wheel so I can focus on our comms and the mission at hand.

“Should’ve gotten a bigger car,” he remarks, observing me fidgeting in my seat as we hit the road. “You’re packed tighter than a bull in a chute.”

What was Sam thinking pairing me with this whippersnapper?

I give him a death stare. “Don’t start, or I’ll throw your balls in the ring.”

He lets out a bark of laughter, surrendering with a raise of his hands.

Over the radio, Sam’s voice is a constant, coaching Ava. “Keep up that speed if you can. And, if you don’t see me, don’t freak out. I’m always close.”

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