Page 65 of Forged in Peril

He’d tried so many times, but in the end, perhaps he really was just pathetic.

She’d been telling him the truth from the start.

She didn’t want him. Maybe she didn’t want love at all.

Coming here was about nothing more than collecting a paycheck, and he’d been too naive to realize it.

Or maybe he’d just pushed her too hard, trying to force her to be vulnerable, even after knowing what that filth Warrington had done to her.

He’d been so focused on his picture-perfect idea of mending what was broken, when Bristol Chaplin had made it clear over and over again that she didn’t want to be fixed.

It was his fault, he knew, but still he couldn’t shake the anger that kept him rooted in place, facing off with a woman who had every reason to keep walking out of the lounge, out of the office, and out of his life.

Several more seconds passed.

Still, she didn’t leave.

He let out a sigh, his indignation melting away into defeat.

He lifted his hands in the air, as though he was surrendering.

Maybe that was exactly what he was doing.

“I understand what you’re saying,” he said. “I do. And I promise, I am not going to try and change your mind. If you want me to leave you alone, I’ll leave you alone. Message received, loud and clear. I should have figured it out before now.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, raising her eyes to meet his own for just a moment before her gaze fell to the floor once more.

“But,” he continued, trying to suppress the bitterness that had seeped into his words, “today has made it very clear just how much danger you’re in. Now. Present tense.”

“I’ll figure out a way to stay safe,” Bristol said. “I’ll get out of San Antonio, maybe even Texas. I can go back to New York if I really have to.”

He tightened his fists, his fingernails biting into his palm.

“Whoever is after you has almost succeeded twice now. All while you were under the protection of the best private security firm in the state. Not to offend your independent woman sensibilities or anything, Bristol, but you don’t stand a chance against these people on your own.”

He waited for her biting retort, but to his surprise, it didn’t come.

“I can’t stay here. I’m putting everyone at risk.”

“Everyone here has signed up for risk. It’s part of the job, even for non-operatives. This is the best place for us to keep you safe. Let me do my job.”

He paused, their eyes meeting as she considered his words.

Risking his life to protect his clients was something he’d gotten used to.

But risking his heart?

Maybe that was more than he’d bargained for.

BRISTOL

As she searched Cameron’s eyes, she felt her resolve beginning to slip.

He wasn’t so easy to push away, even if she knew she had to, even just to keep him safe.

The man was infuriating.

“I appreciate everything that you, your brothers, and your staff have done for me,” she said, knotting her fingers together behind her back so that her hands couldn’t shake. “But I have to go. I can’t just hide away here.”

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