Page 63 of Merciless Protector

“Huh?” I asked, caught off guard.

“It’s a yes or no question,” Lizzy said, all business now.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

Bailey jumped in. “How are you feeling about him leaving? Does it bother you?” I nodded. “I was a dumb question. I can see it on your face. But your answer is a good sign. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t care, if that makes sense. Oh, my pregnancy brain. Anyway, do you miss him?”

“Yes,” I said.

Bailey smiled. “I think you know how you feel about him. It’s scary to give someone that power. Trust me, we’ve both experienced it. But when it’s right, it’s amazing.”

“I don’t know how to feel. I still call him Shawn, and his name is Matt,” I said, letting loose all my frustration.

“Connor told me how you were introduced. You can’t blame him for not giving you his name in front of those assholes.” I didn’t. “And to be honest, you should still call him Sean. Those bad people are still out there and you wouldn’t want to accidentally give up his real name to them if you cross their path.”

She was right, but it still bothered me. “Like I spell his name in my head S-H-A-W-N and his is spelled S-E-A-N.”

“So what? My brother wouldn’t care. Trust me.”

“He’s gone, and he gave me everyone’s number but his,” I grumbled.

Lizzy came over and wrapped me in a hug. I dissolved in a heap of tears. I wanted to blame it on pregnancy hormones, but that wasn’t the truth.

“Trust me when I say he’s not keeping secrets from you. He’s keeping you safe. That’s what he does. He keeps even me in the dark. Though he acts like a villain, he’s honestly a hero.”

Bailey came over and she started crying too. “Oh boy, look at us. A bunch of pregnant women crying.”

“You two are. I’m fine,” Lizzy said and wiped at a tear.

A knock came at the door. I stepped away from the pair and went to open it, knowing who stood on the other side as I’d called down to security earlier to give permission for her to come up. Kelsey entered.

“Hey,” Lizzy said. “I remember you. You work for Griff.”

“Yeah,” Kelsey said. Her hair was bone straight today, glossy black and bouncy.

“Going somewhere?” I asked Kelsey, grateful for a subject change.

“Where is Griff?” Lizzy asked almost at the same time as I spoke.

“Griff is pretending to be some starlet’s bodyguard,” Kelsey answered.

Bailey asked, “He’s a bodyguard now?”

“He was requested, and for the amount of money she’s paying us, he’ll entertain her personal request,” Kelsey answered with a roll of her eyes.

“Someone’s jealous,” Lizzy said.

Kelsey let out of humorless laugh. “No reason to be. He’s in his element.” Griffin was a flirt, and we all knew it. But even I could see that Kelsey might have a thing for her boss. “Anyway, I got your transport back to Chicago.”

“You’re leaving?” Bailey asked.

“It’s time to get back to reality,” I said.

“Matty brought you here for a reason,” Lizzy said.

“And he left me. I promised him a week. It’s time I got back to my life.” Truth was, Ruin would be looking for Shawn over me. Ruin was the kind of man who would underestimate a woman. He would likely think Shawn removed my tracker, but I was still with him. I felt sure I was safe to return alone.

“Do you have time for lunch?” Bailey asked.

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