Page 17 of Second Chance Savior

“I don’t know that yet. But I intend to find out.”

“There seems to be a lot you don’t know,” Agent Somerton complained.

She had a point. Even now, Cerberus was trying to uncover more. But now that Stillwater had issued the order and left the details up to its lieutenants, we had no idea how it would go down. My top priority had been reaching Charliein time, both to warn her and to make arrangements for her safety.

I was only certain of two things. One, that Charlie wasn’t working for Stillwater. Her reactions had convinced me.

And two, that I wouldneverlet Stillwater touch her.

“Intel can come later. The most important thing is keeping the lieutenant governor out of sight and protected,” I said.

Charlie glared at me. “Which is why I called Brynn. You can turn over everything you know to her and the FBI, and they’ll look into it. They’ll handle it.”

“I trust the FBI with exactlyjackandshit.” My gaze cut to the side, where Brynn was smirking again. “No offense.”

“None taken,” the agent said breezily.

“But I refuse to turn my life inside out unless I can verify what you say is true. I want to know every detail of how you got this information. How you know it’s authentic, and how we can confirm it.”

“There are some things I can’t reveal. This is a time that I just need you to trust me, Charlie.”

She flinched when I used the nickname.

Then she launched up from her seat and grabbed hold of my arm. “I need a word, River. In private.”

“I’ll go willingly. You don’t have to manhandle me.”

She glared, clearly not appreciating my humor. When we reached the kitchen, she poked me in the chest. “Start talking.”

“I didn’t remember you being this violent,” I said.

“Yet Idoremember you being exactly this infuriating.” She rubbed her face. “You have to give me some kind of evidence to back this up. I hold a state office. I can’t just go into hiding based on your word. You had to expect there would be questions to answer.” She dropped her voice to a harsh whisper. “And if you got your intel illegally, hackinginto who-knows-what, you have no right to expect me to shield you. No fucking right at all.”

“I would never expect you to shield me, Charlie.”

“Quit calling me that,” she hissed.

She turned around and put her hands on the kitchen island. I leaned back against the opposite counter, tucking my hands into my pockets. Because I had the urge to touch her, comfort her, and that wasn’t a good idea.

Emotional attachments tended to lead to poor decision-making, and my actions so far were probably evidence of that.

“I had a strong reaction when I heard Stillwater was targeting you. I didn’t have time to carefully plan this out.”

“Except the part where you hacked my computer.”

“Took all of five minutes. Hardly a challenge.”

She scoffed, looking at me incredulously over her shoulder.

I could admit my behavior had been extreme. Dropping everything to get in touch, then driving into the night to reach her. But there’d been no time to do anything else. Not even to call on the other Protectors, the brothers I would trust with my life. Or with Charlie’s.

I had no regrets.

“Your safety is what matters. And I don’t care what the FBI or the governor or anyone else thinks of my methods. Especially when any of them could be on Stillwater’s payroll.”

“Even Brynn?” she asked sarcastically.

“I don’t think so. But I’ll let you know if my opinion changes.”

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