Page 44 of The High Priestess

As I let the tears flow, his palm brushes up and down my back and I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head.

This man is quickly becoming more than my bodyguard. He’s doing so much more than protecting me.

But from the things he’s said, I get the feeling he views me as a little sister. He’s doing all of this to make up for failing Ronnie.

I’m nothing more than his chance at redemption.

The thought has me pulling back. “Thanks, but I need to freshen up. Do you mind waiting in the living room?” I avoid meeting his eyes as I move around him and start to walk to the bathroom. “Or you can go to your apartment. After a shower, I’m going to get to work.”

“I’ve moved into the room beside yours,” he mutters, stopping me dead in my tracks.

I turn around. “You moved in?”

“Yes. I’m not leaving your side.”

“Oh.” I turn back to the bathroom. “Okay.” I step inside and take hold of the door, thinking to add, “Make yourself at home.”

“Don’t lock the door,” he reminds me, and in return, I mutter, “Don’t come in.”

“As long as you’re alone in there and you don’t scream, you don’t have to worry.”

When I push the door shut, I swear I hear him chuckle, and I yank it open again, but Knight’s already gone.

I must’ve imagined it.

Chapter 15

KNIGHT

I check the room I’ll be using, and finding my duffle bag at the foot of the bed, I zip it open and dig between the three machine guns, a Beretta, and a Glock for a fresh shirt and cargo pants.

I’ve been living out of this bag since I started searching for Ronnie and have never bothered to set down roots.

There’s been no reason for me to have a home.

I zip the bag closed and walk to the ensuite bathroom. I drop the clean clothes on the counter before pulling the Heckler & Koch handgun from where it’s tucked into the waistband at the back of my pants.

Out of habit, I release the magazine and check that it’s loaded before slamming it back into place. I set the weapon down on the counter, then crouch to remove the K-Bar knife from where it’s tucked into my right boot.

I reach up and drop the blade beside the gun before focusing on taking off my boots.

As I undress, my thoughts turn to Cassia. It’s so fucking sad that she’s not able to mourn her family. All the heartbreak is justbeing bottled up inside her, and it will either harden or break her.

I don’t want her to harden like I did.

When Cassia’s working, she can be the badass queen she needs to be, but when we’re home, I’ll offer her all the comfort she needs. Hopefully, it will help her take the time to grieve.

I switch on the faucets, and as soon as the water warms up, I step beneath the spray. I don’t waste time as I wash myself, and minutes later, I step out of the shower and grab a towel.

After drying myself, I quickly put on a clean shirt and cargo pants. Just as I’ve stepped into my boots, I hear voices, and it has me grabbing my weapons.

I race out through the bedroom and burst into the hallway.

Cassia’s aunt shrieks with fright, and the man dressed in the island’s uniform freezes, his eyes widening as he stares at me.

“You’ll give me a heart attack,” the aunt chuckles, breathless from the fright.

“Sorry, ma’am,” I mutter.

---