Page 2 of Hers to Claim

Kima burst out laughing. “Okay, point taken, but I still don’t know why you’d want to offer it to me. You’ve got quite a few folks to choose from.”

Cisco sighed. “You’re the best and you know it.”

“Oh.” Kima fluttered her eyelashes with a degree of false modesty that almost made Mari laugh out loud. “Tell me more.”

Cisco relented with a shake of his head. “You’re the best fighter. You can follow a paper trail and a scent trail better than any of the other guards. And most importantly, you always stood up for those who were not as strong as you even when it cost you.” His lips curled slightly. “You’re the best person for the job and that’s all there is to it.”

Kima huffed with satisfaction. “I suppose I could consider the position.” She cleared her throat. “But I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me we’re not doing it like he did.”

Cisco met her eyes without hesitation. “I swear to you on my life that the cruelty died with Basilio. And part of your job would be to stab me right through the heart with the rustiest piece of iron you can find if you think I’ve stepped even one foot down that path.”

Kima accepted his assurance with a curt nod. “I want to talk with some of the guards first.”

“I’d expect nothing else.”

“And I want to stay in the main house.”

“That’s fine with me.” Cisco glanced toward Mari for her approval.

“Sure, pick a room and we’ll put it at the top of the renovation list. I’ll have the designer contact you about what you’d like.”

“You’ll have my answer by the end of the day.” Kima turned to leave.

Rio spoke up before she got to the door. “You should apologize to Tilly.”

Kima snarled, but aside from sliding a dirty look his way, didn’t reply. She yanked open the door and left it swinging slowly shut as she exited.

“She’s going to say yes,” Rio said.

“Yeah.” Cisco turned to regard him with his black-on-black eyes. “You want to talk to Tilly, or should I?”

“She was doing what you asked her to do.”

“I know, but I didn’t think she’d confront Kima like that. It was ballsy, but not smart, especially considering their history.”

Rio snorted. “She’s been looking for any opportunity to get under Kima’s skin since the fight night where the first hooked up.”

“Either of you want to let me in on what that’s about?” Mari asked, not bothering to hide her irritation about not having been told something so obviously important.

Rio gestured that Cisco should proceed. “All yours.”

Cisco sighed. “I assigned Tilly to be in charge of your safety when we can’t. I intended it to be when we were offsite but apparently Tilly has decided that includes anywhere you might be where Rio and I aren’t. I should have anticipated that she would be overzealous. Harpies can be very literal and very territorial. I’ll take care of it.”

Mari blinked. “You made her my bodyguard? Without asking me?”

“You would have said no.”

She glared. “You’re damn right I would have.”

The patient look Cisco sent her way made her want to growl. “And yet, we need someone prepared and equipped to protect you when we’re not around.”

She held on to her temper by her fingernails. Barely. What he was saying made a lot of sense, and she could see the logic in it. “I get it. You want more than anything to protect me and we’re smack in the middle of something really dangerous. There are people out to get us that we don’t even know about. So many people want to bring us down and we’re just trying to keep moving forward.” She took a cleansing breath. “But we need to talk about this shit, Cisco. You can’t just decide you’re going to assign me a bodyguard without telling me.”

He stared into her eyes for a long moment before his expression softened. “You’re right. I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, Rio tried to convince me to talk to you about it.”

Mari grumbled. “Well, one of you has sense at least.”

Rio stepped closer and lowered his face to nuzzle her temple. “I would have told you before it became an issue, querida. Tilly just got a little ahead of us.”

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