Page 25 of Second Chance Savior

“I’m waiting.”

“And I’m starting. There’s a group I’m part of. The Last Refuge Protectors. That’s what I’ve been doing since leaving the Agency.”

I told her a little about my friends. Our mission. How we found out about Stillwater. For simplicity’s sake, I left out the personal stake we had in the fight. How that organization had indirectly helped abusers like the ones who’d hurt Trace’s wife and Aiden’s fiancée. How a Stillwater henchman had tortured Genevieve.

“So you’re vigilantes.”

“I’m working for causes that I know are righteous, and that’s a far cry from what I used to do overseas. My friends and I have spent months on this investigation of Stillwater. Meanwhile, what has the FBI or anyone else in the state or federal government done to root Stillwater out? Nothing.”

“I’mtrying to do something.”

“I know, Charlie. And that’s probably why Stillwater is targeting you. But there are too many forces working against you, mostly from the darkness. I intend to bring them into the light.”

“You and the Protectors.”

“Exactly.”

“But you didn’t have five minutes to spare, in between all the heroics, to get in touch with me or my mom or any of us? No. I had no idea where you were or how to reach you. You probably didn’t think of us at all. Because we don’t matter to you. Not until you suddenly decide that we’re interesting enough to pay attention to.”

“Wow, that’s quite the stump speech. Were you working on that since last night?”

“Screw you.” She dished up eggs, splatting them onto a plate, then dumping the plate in front of me.

Fuck, I was doing this all wrong.

Charlie started walking out of the kitchen. I jumped up and held onto her arm. “I’m sorry. You know I’m an idiot who can’t control his mouth.”

“Bullshit. You’ve always done and said exactly what you intend, River. Everything is a calculation. I’m sure it made you an excellent government operative.”

“And you’re any different, Madame Lieutenant Governor?”

She yanked her arm away. “What do you want from me? Really?”

“Isn’t that obvious? I want you to accept my help for once. Let me protect you.”

“How, exactly?”

“Keep you away from Stillwater’s lieutenants. I have contacts who could arrange a safe house.”

“Like the friend you said would watch my condo building?”

“Possibly.” I’d called one of my ex-SEAL buddies, but it had been a last-minute scramble. He hadn’t caught up with her before she’d fled her condo for Brynn’s house. “Meanwhile, I’ll continue working with my sources to find out where this threat is really coming from and how to shut it down.”

“I can’t just vanish. I have meetings today. A major fundraising event tonight for a charity benefiting trafficking victims.”

“Then youdefinitelyneed to skip that.”

“What am I supposed to tell the organizer? The donors?”

“Tell them whatever you want. We can come up with a cover story.” Somewhere in the last several moments of rapid-fire conversation, I’d backed her up against the kitchen counter. “I want to nail Stillwater, but more than anything, I care about keeping you safe.”

My hands rested to either side of her, caging her in. Her chest lifted and fell with shallow breaths. In my nose, the smell of breakfast mingled with the more delicate scent of her hair and skin. Soft, herbal. Intoxicating.

This was a different kind of danger. One I’d avoided in the past for reasons I would never admit to her. Things did get chaotic whenever we were together.

She had no idea how much I’d craved it.

“You matter to me,” I said. “You have always mattered to me.” So much more than she’d ever know.

---