“And you don’t think Willow has a right to know her life is being threatened?”
“Like I just said, she has enough on her plate to deal with now she’s Captain.” I don’t know about any of this. I don’t like the idea of keeping something this heavy from her. While I’m partially on his side, even if I don’t like his approach — those letters are fucked up — It feels off. Then again, I know Willow. Yes, she’s a very strong woman, outside and in. But I know the heart of her. I understand how she works.
One thing I can admit is that Willow suffers behind closed doors. In a lot of ways, she wears a mask. She has to in her line of work. But I know she feels things deeply, even when she isn’t good at communicating them.
“I agree with you there, but I also might remind you that we’re separated and have been for quite some time.”
“But you’re still in her life. You’re not on completely bad terms,” he says, and I wonder for a second where he’s getting his information from. Willow wouldn’t tell him shit about us.
“Willow still lets you bat an innings. She won’t do that for me because I’m her overbearing father who doesn’t show enough affection, even when he’s trying to protect her life.”
“Yet here you are.” Let’s give the man a medal, or throw him a parade.
“It’s what a father does for his daughter. I’d do it for both my kids.”
I can’t say in the time I’ve known him he’s ever talked to me like this. I’m usually a blip, or a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of his shoe. “Speakin’ of which, Max is back?”
“Let’s not get into it. I’ve got enough going on without adding Max into the mix. I also don’t know how long he’s in town for, plus he’s a wildcard. Max has a big heart, but he’s not reliable.”
And I am? I almost want to laugh at that one. “He doesn’t know?”
“No, he doesn’t. And I want to keep it that way.”
I point at him. “It’s a bad idea keepin’ the details from Willow, I just want that noted for when she finds out and kicks both our asses.”
“Don’t make me regret coming here.”
There he goes with his threats. Little does he know, they don’t mean anything anymore. “I know what I’m doing.”
But does he?
“Think about it. I can’t just get up in her business without her gettin’ suspicious,” I say. Okay, dearest Dad has no clue we’ve hooked up in the past, clearly, but that doesn’t mean I’m on Willow’s Christmas card list. “She’ll see right through it.”
He thinks for a second. “A protection order from the commissioner.”
Is that his fucking wildcard?
“Now I’m her bodyguard? Oh, she’s gonna love that.”
“Not a bodyguard. I’ll make sure the department hires the Nomad Brothers Security for an overhaul, including a new maintenance schedule for all their security cameras and surveillance, whatever you need, I’ll fund it.”
It’s laughable he still thinks I’m here for money. “So I’ll just ride shotgun whenever she has to go out?”
“The few people I trust will be watching her, but they can’t get inside and watch her every move. That’s where you come in.”
“I’ll need to know who those people are.” And I’ll also be implementing a team of my own, via the Rebels. Cameron doesn’t need to know about that, but the prospects are good for this kind of thing. From here on in, she will always have a Rebel watching her.
“So I can count on you, Austin?”
We stare at each other across the desk.
“You don’t ever have to ask me that question when it comes to Willow.”
“I’ll send the paperwork through.”
“I need that list of names,” I remind him when he stands. He nods. “And the ones I can’t trust,” I add.
“Just keep alert. If anything happens to her on your watch, I’ll make sure you’re buried for good this time. Mark my words.”
