Page 6 of Guarding Bristol

“He can’t be all bad if he risked his life to protect Carly.”That spoke to the core of his character as far as Bristol was concerned.

Most traces of the riots were long gone from the streets, but there had been a definite change in vibe over the past few months.A surprising number of shops and businesses were still boarded up and covered in graffiti.Homeless people and their belongings littered the sidewalks everywhere in this area.

“It’s a lot rougher here than I remember.”

Cassie grunted as she waited for a pedestrian to cross the street before making a right turn.“Drug epidemic, housing crisis, and high cost of living.Reminds me of working the beat in Vegas.Day after day dealing with the same people and the same shit, rinse and repeat through a revolving door.”

“I’m so glad you got out of that.”

“Same.”Cassie gave her a pointed look.“Well, most days I am.”

“What, not today?Look at this adventure we’re going on together, both of us working for a good cause, trying to do something positive in this weary world.”

“Don’t try to make me feel good about this.It won’t work.”

Bristol was just glad Cassie had agreed to come.“That’s fair.”She eyed the tops of the construction cranes sticking out above the tops of the buildings near the river.“What are they building down here—any idea?”

“Industrial complex.”Cassie made a final turn, and the job site was directly ahead of them.She parked near the chain link fence and shifted in her seat to face Bristol.“You sure about this?He wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy with Gavin and me last time.He’s not gonna like us showing up now.”

Bristol undid her seatbelt, mind made up.“I’m sure.”

They were stopped by a security guard at the gate briefly before entering the site.A row of prefabricated buildings stood inside the entrance.Bristol followed Cassie up the wooden steps of the first one and walked through the door where a heavyset man sat behind a computer, a hardhat placed on the corner of his desk.

“Hi.Can I help you ladies?”he asked, fingers poised on the keyboard.

Bristol stood back and let Cassie do the talking.Her stepsister was far more imposing than she was, and radiated authority.“Yes.I’m with Crimson Point Security.”Cassie pulled out her company ID to show him.

“Oh, yeah, you called earlier.”

“I did.Is TJ Barros on site today?”

“What’s this in regard to?”

“A security matter relating to the Portland riots.Can you check if he’s here, please?”

The man frowned slightly, no doubt at Cassie’s tone, which made it more of a command than a request.Bristol hid a smile.“Hang on a minute,” he muttered, and pulled a radio from his belt.“Hey.Is Barros on site?”He released the key button.

“Yeah, he’s pouring concrete at the main site,” another man answered.

“Find him and send him to the main office, will you?”He set the radio on the desk and looked at them.“Not sure how long he’ll be.”

“That’s fine, we’ll just wait over there.”Cassie walked over to the plastic chairs set around the wooden cable spool serving as a table, and sat.

Bristol did the same, trying not to feel awkward as the man muttered something under his breath and went back to work on his computer.As the minutes ticked past, a sort of nervousness began to take hold.She wasn’t going to tell her dad about this to spare him all the painful memories about Eric—and also to spare her the lecture she knew she would get—but this was dredging up all kinds of memories and emotions for her.What if TJ wasn’t Tomás after all?Or what if he was, and he didn’t want her help?

Or, worst of all...What if he wanted her help and she failed him?

Her gaze shot to the door at the sound of footsteps coming up the wooden stairs.The door opened, and a man walked in wearing a hard hat, a neon yellow vest over a blue flannel plaid shirt and worn jeans.He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a dark beard and hair that needed a trim.He looked over at them, stilled for a second as he stared at Cassie.

Bristol stood, drawing his gaze.And the moment those dark eyes met hers, a current of warmth surged through her body.It was him.Had to be.She felt it in her bones.

Hiding her nerves, she put on a friendly smile.“Hi.Are you...Tomás?”

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