Wanting to sound professional, detached, I chose my words carefully. “He wants her back, and I think he’d do just about anything to get what he wants.”
“I was afraid you’d say that,” Jamie said. “Ashley won’t like it, but we should have someone covering the house just in case.”
“I can take—”
“I’ll do it.” I cut Jack off.
“Why aren’t I surprised?” Jamie asked. Jack just grinned.
“What? You both have pregnant wives at home, so it only makes sense for me to be the one.” My defense fell on deaf ears.
“Sure. You keep telling yourself that. But since we’re doing this off the books, it has to be Jack or me.”
I failed to hold back the growl in my throat. “Then don’t bill my hours,” I said, giving them more evidence that I was doing this because of my feelings for Ashley. “My schedule’s open, so if you’re good with it, I’ll leave now.”
They shared a look before Jack nodded and Jamie said, “You can go.”
“Since we’re doing this, you should know her call sign. It’s Flirty,” Jack said.
“Excuse me?” I barked. “Why does Ashley have a call sign? Has someone threatened her before?” Who did I have to strangle? And who the hell decided on Flirty?
“No. She wanted one when we protected Emily, whose call sign was Snow White. We argued over which dwarf suited her, but she had the last laugh and named herself. I see no reason to change it,” Jamie explained.
Knowing she named herself didn’t make me feel any better, but knowing she’d never needed their services did.
“Flirty it is.” It wasn’t my job to like it.
“Before Meg started at SSI, we used boring call signs for clients, if we used them at all. Meg thought using princes-themed names would help lift their spirits while we helped them,” Jack answered a question I hadn’t asked.
I couldn’t argue with her logic.
“Blake hated it.” Jack laughed. “She thought it was dehumanizing to use call signs. But everyone else seems to like it.”
I nodded, hoping story time was over. “I’ll call when I get there.”
As I walked out, I heard Jack say, “He’s got it bad.”
And Jamie’s reply. “Let’s just hope it’s not a problem.”
It won’t be. I won’t let it.
But Jack was right. Despite trying to ignore and deny my feelings, there was no point in lying. I had it bad for Ashley. Maybe I could’ve ignored my feelings, but the idea of her being in danger made me act like a fucking caveman.
Not that it mattered. She’d never forgive me for standing her up. For hurting her.
I ran my hand down my face, the scar a reminder of all I’d endured. Holding the panic at bay, I grabbed my gear from my office and took off.
Forgiven or not, I can protect her.
And if Finn made the mistake of threatening her again, I’d make sure he lived to regret it. I parked far enough from the house that Ashley couldn’t see me, unless she walked outside, but close enough that I could easily close the distance if needed.
Meg and Jack stopped by to drop off a burger and fries, plus a few bottles of water, for dinner. My stomach appreciated the food, and my bladder appreciated the bathroom break.
“I’ll be back to relieve you at ten so you can get some rest,” Jack said after I gave him my update.
When I opened my mouth to argue, he held up a hand. “Don’t.”
Knowing he’d never let anything happen, and that I’d be no good to Ashley without at least a few hours of sleep, I nodded. “Thanks for the grub.”
