Page 84 of Quiet Protector
I’m carrying more than my load. I don’t know if I can take another ounce.
“What are you doing here, Blondie?” Hugo snarls, strutting my way. “You sniffing around hoping Isaac left out a bone?”
A wish to ram Grayson’s suggestion for me to rile Isaac slams into me. Ever since I kissed Isabelle, I’ve taken hit after hit after hit.
I guess that’s what happens when you mess with a taken girl.
When Hugo stops in front of me, he puffs out his chest, ensuring I’m aware he has a good six to eight inches on me in height. Although his cocky stance would have most men running, some things Mr. Gregg taught me will never be forgotten.
“I just want to make sure Izzy is all right,” I reply, fighting to hide my smile about how intimidated he is of me. He wouldn’t be parading around like a peacock if he thought he had one over me. The fact he’s constantly on alert assures me he knows I can give as good as I get.
“Then why not go knock on the door like a real man?”
An unexpected chuckle rumbles in my chest. “Been there. Done that.”More than once.When Hugo glares at me, confused, I relieve his confusion. “I’ve tried numerous times to see Izzy since she left the hospital. My attempts were always denied by Isaac.”
He hates giving me any leeway, but the honesty in my reply doesn’t give him much choice. “Izzy is fine. She’s with Isaac… where she belongs.”
Hugo’s brisk strides to his classic ride halts when my curiosity gets the better of me. “Even with Ophelia being alive?” I didn’t mean to voice my question out loud. I was just too shocked to hold it back.
Hugo pivots around to face me, his brow cocking. “How do you know about that?”
My throat works hard to swallow when it dawns on me that I blew my cover. I’ll blame my woozy head for my mistake.
“You gave Izzy the photo, didn’t you? You thought it was your way in, the key to breaking up Isaac and Izzy.”
I shake my head, both stunned by his suggestion and agitated by it. I may be an agent, but that doesn’t automatically place me on the opposition’s team. I’ve helped Isaac many times the past few months. I let his team into Megan’s ranch before authorities, and I got Isabelle out of Theresa’s clutch before the damage of her claws was irreversible. I’ve helped.
Not that anyone ever notices.
Hugo’s reply ensures I can’t be mistaken about this. “Bullshit. You weaseled your way into Izzy’s life by pretending you’re her friend,allso you could undermine her relationship with Isaac. I’ve got news for you… you can’t fight fate, so I suggest you give up while you’re ahead.”
“I'm her friend,” I retaliate, my anger rising. “Everything I’ve done is because I’m trying to protect her,” I continue to shout, unaware I’m projecting my fears for Melody onto Isabelle.
“She doesn’t need your protection!” Hugo’s roar is as violent as the bomb ticking deep in my gut. It’s indestructible and seconds from detonation. “She has Isaac. She has me.” He bangs his chest during his last confirmation. “She doesn’t need you, so go jump on your white horse and find another damsel in distress to save because Izzy doesn’t need saving.”
When he stalks back to his car, I fight to control my anger. I remind myself time and time again that I’ve done nothing wrong, and that he’s just taking his anger out on the wrong person. But no matter how hard I fight, no matter how much I try to be the bigger person, I can’t.
I’m done playing nice.
“Are you going to protect her like you did Gemma?”
Hugo’s spin this time around is faster than his previous. With his steps fortified with anger, he storms my way looking as if he wants to kill me.
I could only be so lucky.
After fisting my shirt, he drags me to within an inch of his face. He stares at me for what feels like minutes but is barely seconds. I can see the hate in his eyes, the anger. It mimics the hurt in mine to a T.
“Who are you?” he asks, shuddering through the shivers wreaking havoc with every inch of his body.
Pissed by my lack of response, he repeats, “Who are you?”
Needing the pain to end, I mutter, “My name is Brandon James…” He grips my shirt tighter, his fury uncontained. “McGee.”
Shock fills his face as he scans mine, seeking similarities only brothers have. When he finds them, he takes a stumbling step back. “You’re Grabby McGee’s brother?”
Grabby McGee?I wish that were the worst of it.
When I nod, answering the unvoiced questions in his eyes, he yanks me forward before ramming me back. The brutal crunch of my body into my car is sickening, however, it fills me with calm. Pain is good. Pain reminds me of how I failed.
