Page 83 of Protecting his Secrets

Malachi would’ve loved to sleep for several days. His mind was completely fried. Information overload had nothing on him.It was a little easier to cope with Nick by his side, but he was done.

Tomorrow was another day, and hopefully, one they would all survive.

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Chapter 26

Brett

Brett kept his façade in place as Darius delivered the news of Foster’s death over the phone. Another bodyguard lost, and there’d be another, too, because there was no chance that Carl would continue working when his husband had just died. It had always played on his mind when Foster and Carl had requested having the same protectee. Usually, Brett wouldn’t have allowed it, but Carl and Foster had been willing to decline the jobs unless they did. They’d argued that they would never see each other if they were with different people, and Brett couldn’t deny the truth. Against his better judgement, he’d agreed. It had only taken two years for him to regret his decision, but at least Carl hadn’t been present when it happened. Small mercies.

He sat in his squeaky chair and rested his forehead in his hand, trying to rub away the tension. When he lifted his head, he caught Felix’s concerned gaze. The man saw too much.

Looking away, Brett tried to hide the news, at least for a little longer. The puzzle pieces were slowly clicking into place, and they were revealing a picture he didn’t like the look of. He didn’t want to be right, but it was looking more and more likely.

“What’s wrong?” Felix asked, and Brett sighed quietly, both wanting and not wanting Felix beside him.

He’d run out of time. “Can you get everyone together, please?”

Felix stared at him, and he saw the moment realisation hit him. “Who?”

Brett swallowed and stood, crowding closer to him and lowering his voice. “Foster.”

Felix closed his eyes and lowered his head, his forehead brushing Brett’s chest. He couldn’t resist and placed his hand on his nape. He wanted to do more, but he couldn’t. Too much was at stake.

“I’ll get everyone,” Felix said, clearing his throat.

“Thanks.”

When everyone, except for those currently guarding, was settled in Sec HQ, he broke the news of losing another of their own. Several asked about Carl, and Brett didn’t have an answer for them. He didn’t know what the future would hold for their friend, but they would be with him every step of the way. They spent several minutes cursing and calling out those who would do such a thing to them and then calmed and held a minute’s silence for their fallen comrade.

Brett would hold it for a lot longer. He had no choice. Far too many people relied on him, and if certain information got out…well, there would be too many casualties.

Most of the guards filed back out once they were done. He would break the news to anyone who hadn’t been there as and when he saw them. It was the risk they all took by taking the job. They could leave the house that morning and never return. Or they could spend years doing the job and never have an incident. It was…painfully unfair. But he wouldn’t change it for the world. Protecting the Sutcliffes was what he’d been born to do, and he would do it until he had no choice but to stop.

A short time later, when he was completing the never-ending pile of paperwork, Felix said his name. The devastation on his face was plain to see, and Brett glanced around the room, realising they were alone. He stood, dragged Felix towards him and held him as tightly as he could as Felix cried.

He wanted to join him, but he needed to stay strong. If he broke, there would be no putting him back together again.

****

Chapter 27

Nick

Nick could see Malachi had reached his limit. He had nothing more to give, and rightly so. The following day, he seemed much more himself, and they headed back to Sec HQ—they apparently lived there now. Nick wanted to go through all the information they had about this guy again to make sure they hadn’t missed anything.

“But where’s my blast from the past?” he said, and Brett frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“Dominic had Addams, someone he had met during his past. Owen had reminders of his sister, something from his past. Where’s that connection to me?”

“Maybe it’s nothing to do with you this time?” Felix mused.

“But it is for everyone else. We were wondering before if this had anything to do with it being because Dominic and Owen were friends, or because they were bodyguards. Well, it’s happening to me now, so I’m assuming it’s bodyguards. I didn’t know them before I started working here. Have we missed something, or has he changed his MO?”

“There isn’t anything else connecting the three of you, is there?” Brett asked. They shook their heads. “So, the connection is either the royal family or bodyguards in general, do you agree?”

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