Page 11 of Renegade Rift

“But—”

“No.” It’s the one line I won’t let him cross. My family is the only thing I still have that’s mine. The one thing I won’t let anyone take from me.

You’re assuming they’ll still want you after what you did.

My conscience gives life to my biggest fear. But I cut them off to protect them. They’ll understand. They have to. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

“Let me help you, Ju—” His throat bobs. “Etta.”

“No.” I pick up the caddy of supplies at my feet and skirt around him, half expecting him to throw out a hand to stop me.

When he doesn’t, I keep going, and grabbing my coat off the back of the sofa, I head for the door. I’ve got my hand wrapped around the knob when he springs into action, crossing the space. His hand covers mine and gives a gentle squeeze.

In any other situation, alarms would sound, and it surprises me to find none where Ford is concerned. Then again, I don’t see him as a threat. Just a problem.

I tip my head back, actively ignoring the way his body dwarfs mine. A weird expression crosses his face, lips parting slightly and his deep blue eyes widening a bit before desperation settles in their depths.

“Can you at least tell me why you disappeared? Tell me you’re safe?”

I could lie. I could tell him again it’s none of his damn business, but there’s a part of me that wants him to understand what I’ve been through. I want him to hurt as much as I have these last eight months since the crash. Hell, the last five years of my marriage. I need him to know what his actions set in motion.

My lips edge into a sneer. “Not all of us can be you, Ford. Not all of us can escape the darkest parts of this world.”

He flinches and steps back like I just delivered an earth-shattering punch to his gut.

I might not believe Tyler became the monster he was because Ford helped his mother escape a terrible situation. But there’s no doubt that moment served as the catalyst for the darkest years of my life.

And Ford knows it too.

At least he has the decency to look remorseful.

* * *

Every ounce of confidence I had in that apartment falls away the moment I shut the door. Thankfully, the shaking doesn’t start until I’m in the elevator and I wrap my arms around my midsection to steady myself.

One step at a time.

I just need to get to the lobby.

Then out the door where Isaac is waiting for me in the car.

As one of the bodyguards for Bare Necessities, he’s required to go with me to the job and respond if I press the panic button in the bottom of my supply caddy. Thankfully, I’ve never needed to.

A weighted sigh escapes me when I reach the lobby, and it’s empty. My knees shake as I click my way across the tile, the blacked-out sedan already in view through the doors.

Isaac is out of the car the moment he sees me, rounding it, tight lines creasing his brow. The second I hit the balmy summer night air, he’s there pulling me into his arms.

“Are you alright?”

I bury my face in his chest, shaking my head back and forth. When I look up, his head swivels, checking to see if anyone followed me. His watery blue eyes meet mine, and I give him a reassuring nod.

There’s a reason he’s my favorite of all the bodyguards, with Phillip, his partner, being a close second. The two of them treat each of us girls like we’re their younger sisters. He knows and respects the work we do and protects us without a single ounce of judgment.

Isaac pushes me back far enough to look me over.

“I’m fine,” I reassure him. “I just want to get out of here.”

“Done.”

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