Page 116 of No Apologies
“Yet.” Lincoln corrected, “They haven’t gone after the girls yet but there’s no guarantee they won’t and I’m not taking chances with them.” He met Skylar’s gaze and when she was looking at him he shook his head, “You’re getting a guard, doll-face. Get over it.”
Skylar harrumphed, “And if I say no?”
“You’re still getting one.” Colt turned her to face him and tilted her head back until he could meet her eyes, “You’re going to do this and keep yourself safe for me. We protect each other, remember?”
She frowned but didn’t argue and the tightness that had begun to permeate his chest again eased. He’d fight with her on this if he had too. She had wanted to be part of his life, had stepped into this dark and dangerous world and refused to walk away from him. He was getting out, was out, but he would always be a Bomar and as long as that meant there was a threat to her, he would use his family to protect her. It was their fault she was in danger. It was the least they could do.
“Okay.” She finally nodded.
“Thank you.” He brushed his lips across her forehead and hugged her close. “Thank you.”
“God I hope Jemma agrees that easily.” Cash snorted.
Skylar pulled back from his embrace, “I’ll talk to her. She’ll be fine. Promise.”
Cash gave her an indulgent smile and Colt listened as his cousins talked through the specifics of who would be expected to play bodyguard. It wasn’t ideal. He knew that. This wasn’t the way he’d wanted it all to go down. But considering just how rarely in his life he’d gotten what he wanted, he couldn’t say that he was surprised.
He’d gotten Skylar though, and that was all that mattered. She was his. She was here, with him. She had seen the darkest, ugliest parts of him and his world and she had accepted him. She loved him. And he was going to keep her safe or die trying.
From the looks on both of his brother’s faces, he knew that they felt the same way. They weren’t the most conventional family. Not by a longshot. But no matter what people said about them, one thing had always been true. Bomars protected each other and Skylar, she was one of them now.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?” He glanced down when she nuzzled his chest.
His cousins were still talking. Names were being thrown around now and he suspected that they would find their rat sooner rather than later. Lincoln would see to it, just like he would see to it that they were all safe. He wasn’t a bad guy, not really, but he would do whatever he had to in order to protect the family.
“I know you’re worried about keeping me safe, but who’s going to keep you safe?”
Colt grinned, “You are, of course. You promised.”
Skylar lit up and he cupped her cheeks lovingly. God she was beautiful and she was all his. She loved him and he loved her so damn much it scared him. He wasn’t sure if he would ever get used to that tight feeling in his chest when he looked at her but he doubted it. He’d been living with it for months, ignoring it for years, but now she was his and he didn’t have to keep it trapped inside of him anymore.
“I love you.” He whispered softly, just for her to hear as he brushed his mouth over hers.
“I love you too.” She caught his wrists, holding him close when he would have pulled back, “We’re going to beat this, ya know?”
“I know.”
“Lincoln’s going to find out who is after you guys and we’re going to be free of all this drama once and for all. I promise we will.”
He tipped his forehead down against hers and smiled, “I know.”
“And we’re going to build a life together. You and me. Jemma and Cash. All of us.”
“Don’t forget about Remy.”
“I haven’t.” She glanced over at where his brother was arguing something with Lincoln, complete with hand gestures, “I like him.”
“I’m glad.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“He’s trying to be.” He nodded his agreement.
Skylar bit her lip, “You think we can get him out too?”
Colt chuckled because he’d had a feeling this was coming. She just couldn’t help herself. As much as he needed to protect the people he loved, Skylar needed to save people just as much. If she saw someone in need, she had to help. She’d befriended him when he needed a friend, loved him when he needed it most and now she’d set her sights on his brother.
