Page 113 of Bossy Hero

Sawyer and Sammy opened their house so we could all stay together for safety. Leo and Sue went with them. However, Maddie insisted I sleep in my own bed and wash in my own shower, blah, blah, blah. Always putting herself last and endlessly concerned for everyone else.

I agreed on the condition she came with me.

Now, it’s time for me to return to HQ to brainstorm with the intel team about how we’re going to take Lenkov down.

And she wants me to go to work without her. Even if it’s only for a few hours, I don’t like it. Logically, I know she’d be safe at Sawyer’s house. Will someone tell that to my fucking gut?

But this is more than concern for her safety. Ineedher with me. My world has been rocked. Maddie grounds me. Keeps me sane.

All I can do is try to reason with her. “Leo won’t be there. He’s going to HQ with me, so Josh and Scotty are en route to Sawyer’s place. They’ll be guarding your daughters for the evening while Sawyer rests.”

“Great. So I can stay with them.” She tilts her head to one side, hitting me with an uncharacteristic pout. “I should be with my girls to keep them calm. Are you going to deny all three of us during such a stressful time? Six of us, counting the babies growing inside Sammy and Sue.”

I pulse my hands around her waist. “That’s unfair manipulation.”

Her chin lowers to her chest, and she deepens her voice to impersonate me. “I never said I play fair.”

An unexpected laugh erupts from me, shaking my shoulders. Despite the intense drama of the last twenty-four hours, I’m happy to simply exist in her orbit.

“Throwing my words back at me, Maddie? Really?”

“At least you smiled.” She winks, rising to her tiptoes to place a chaste kiss on my lips. “May I please skip out on another all-nighter at Redleg? I’m tired, sore, and just want to watch trashy TV with the girls.” Batting her eyelashes at me, she goes in for the kill. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Oh, how do youproposeto do that?”

Was my word choice intentional? Yes. It fucking was.

I’ll never stop reminding her that the offer is there. After coming so close to losing her last night, my desire for a more defined future has intensified.

With her good arm, she reaches behind me and squeezes my ass. “I’ll think of something.”

More eyelash batting. My resolve is weakening.

I want to make her happy. Always.

But I alsoneedher with me. Having her out of my sight right now is like a dagger to the chest.

“Hold on.” Huffing like the Big Bad Wolf, I release her to look for my tablet. “Give me a damn second to see who else I can send to protect you.”

“Excuse me? My pregnant daughters only needed three guards—counting Sawyer—but ifIgo over there, you need to send more? If there’s additional protection available, they deserve it more than me in the first place. Adding me changes nothing.”

“Not answering that.”

Maddie was fucking shot last night.

Her. Not them.

She was targeted because of her proximity to me. Sure, Sammy and Sue are also at risk, but Maddie’s already in Lenkov’s sights. And her level of dismissal of it is becoming alarming.

The screen lights up as my fingers fly across the tempered glass. Once I find a few potential guards, I send them messages to see if they’re available. Given the threat level, I don’t want to pull anyone with a family tonight. Yet I refuse to let Maddie out of my sight without more protection.

She’s my only weakness, and Lenkov must know it, which is why he sent his hit man after me on a night I was with her.

Well... I suppose shewasmy only weakness. Now, I have another woman who’s vulnerable because of her affiliation with me.

A daughter.

After what Lettie’s been through, she already...

---