Page 77 of The Desperate Warrior

“I can’t,” she rasped.

“Why not?”

“You can protect me here,” she insisted.

“We’re sitting ducks. That is not a strategy.”

“But what about my coworkers?” Her voice broke. “I can’t just leave them. Knowing they’re in danger …”

He grabbed her hands. “Jules, I have to protect you.”

Her lower lip quivered. “You don’t understand.”

“Help me understand.”

“I can’t abandon them,” she said stubbornly. “They have no idea what’s coming, and I have to warn them.”

“I can’t protect everyone.” Pain lined Brock’s voice. “It’s all I can do to protect you.”

“Alyssa …” Jules choked, removing her hands from his.

He blinked in surprise. “Are you talking about your friend who died in a car accident?”

“It’s my fault.”

He looked at her like she was losing it. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Alyssa had an abusive boyfriend. She found out that she was pregnant and wanted a better life for herself and her child. Even before Alyssa got pregnant, I urged her to leave her boyfriend. She listened to me, even thanked me for giving her the courage to act.” Her voice broke. “If I hadn’t told Alyssa to leave, she wouldn’t have been on the road that day.” Her throat closed. She coughed to open it and managed to suck in a sliver of air. “It’s my fault that she died.”

Tenderness wrenched his expression. “No, it’s not your fault. You tried to help your friend. She died in an accident.”

“I know,” she gulped. “Logically, I know all of this.”

“But?”

She touched her heart. “But in here … it still eats at me.”

“This isn’t about Alyssa. It’s about you. I will protect you,” he vowed. “But you have to work with me.”

She took in a shaky breath. “Is Luke okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine. Handling things with the police.”

A sudden fear overtook her. “Where’s Nikki?”

“Still upstairs asleep. She was wiped out after the party.”

Jules closed her eyes, relief flooding her.

“We need to go. I have to get you someplace safe.”

“I haven’t agreed to go anywhere,” she shot back. “This is my life, Brock.”

“Steve Randall’s armed and dangerous, and he’s coming for you. He’s even more desperate now that his cabin has been discovered. Desperate people do desperate things. I’m trying to save your life here!”

“He’s coming for all of us,” she hissed. “He’s desperate and unhinged, which is why we need to warn my coworkers.”

They stared at one another in defiance.

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