Page 120 of Nuclear Option (Owens Protective Services)

“Fox!” Eli snapped. “She gets the point.”

“See, this is why I don’t work with people. None of you know how to conduct yourselves in a civilized way. I was just standing here, trying to be helpful.”

“You’re being an annoying ass.”

“Well, if that’s the way you feel, I’ll just leave,” Fox said, narrowing his eyes at Eli. “Besides, I have someone to gut.”

“Yeah, that really makes you more civilized than us,” Rae muttered.

Eli followed him to the door. “I’m going to grab Hensley. Don’t go anywhere,” he said with a grin.

Damnit, this was going to be annoying as hell, having to listen to them say shit and not being able to respond. Rae made herself scarce while Eva moved in closer, heaving a sigh as she ran her hand lightly down my face.

“I swear to God, when I saw that bullet strike you…”

I smiled at her, wanting her to know that I was okay.

“I was so scared. I’ve never felt like that before in my life. Fox had to drag me into the car screaming, and I couldn’t stop crying.”

I gripped her hand tighter. I hated that she had to go through that. I never wanted her to witness anything like that, but it was worse that it happened to me. I knew she was feeling guilty over what happened, but there was no point. I would step in front of a bullet for her any day. She was the love of my life, and I was just lucky I was still alive to tell her.

She bent over and pressed her lips to my cheek, then whispered. “Fox has been training me with knives. I swear to God, I will kill you myself if you ever do something like that again.”

I would have swallowed hard if it wasn’t so damn difficult. When she stepped back, she gave me a look that didn’t leave any room for interpretation. I always knew this day would come, that she would want to spread her wings and fly. I just didn’t assume it would come with a death threat.

But then a tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. I breathed a sigh of relief. Obviously, she wasn’t quite as far along as she wanted me to believe. She was putting on a good face because she wanted me to think she was stronger than she was. I should have realized she was fucking with me when she said she was being trained by Fox. I’d checked in with him regularly. She wasn’t that good yet.

She opened my hand and set something inside. I couldn’t really move, but my eyes followed as she lifted my hand up for me to see. Opening my palm, I smirked as I saw Betty resting there.

“You’re lucky Jones was the one to collect your belongings when they brought you in. They almost threw her away.”

That would have been bad luck, indeed. Betty had always been with me, and even though things felt like shit right now, she really had my back out there…in my pocket.

The door shoved open and Hensley walked in, followed closely by Eli, who stared at him like he was a mass murderer.

“Would you stop walking behind me like that?”

“Like what?” Eli asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Like you’re stalking me to kill me.”

“Maybe I am. Do you see my boss?”

His eyes flicked to mine and he winced at the sight of me. It was clear that Hensley had nothing to do with what happened. But the man that turned on him was on his team, and that was a hard reality to face.

“I’m really sorry, man. I never suspected him.”

I nodded as best I could, then my eyes flicked to Eva’s.

“Right, I was able to convince the judge to let her testify in two days from a remote location. You can have as many guys as you want to be there with her. I’m assuming you won’t be there for it.”

I quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Just thought I’d check. You never know with you.”

I would give my left nut to be there with her, but that was highly unlikely. He started going over plans for what would happen, but as he droned on, I found myself falling asleep. My eyes drooped shut and I vaguely heard Eli tell him to shut the fuck up and leave me alone. But the most comforting thing was when Eva placed her hand on mine and rested her head on the bed. Only then did I allow myself to fall asleep.

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