“A bodyguard isn’t enough anymore,” he said.
Julia looked up immediately. “What else is there?”
“Protective custody,” he replied. “A safe house with controlled access. Full coverage.”
This couldn’t be happening. Julia shook her head. “No. I have a job,” she said. “A life.”
Emily stepped in immediately. “We’ll handle work. Don’t worry about that.”
“For how long?”
Silence, which meant they didn’t know. Panic climbed another notch inside her chest.
“There has to be another option.”
Leland held her gaze. “There isn’t.”
The blunt certainty landed harder than if he’d shouted.
Julia turned to Alec, her last hope.
“You do have an option,” he said, calm as ever.
Relief flickered. Briefly.
“You can let us keep you safe and come out of this alive.”
Beside her, Emily sucked in a breath. Because it was harsh. And because it was true.
Firmly, but with more finesse, Dev assured her, “Leland will make sure that happens.”
It fell short. “Isn’t there someone else?” she asked, stiffly.
Something dangerous moved through Leland. Not so much anger but resolve,the kind that didn’t bend.
“Mateo’s out,” Dev reminded her. “And my twenty-four-hour options are limited.”
“Leland is the best man for the job,” Alec said, backing the call without hesitation.
Julia looked between them. The decision had already been made. “It sounds like I don’t have a choice.”
Leland’s restraint finally cracked. “You don’t.” Silence settled, heavy and absolute, as his gaze locked on hers.
“And after tonight? I’m done pretending otherwise.”
***
The door slammed hard enough to rattle the frame. He didn’t slow, crossing the condo without bothering to turn on the lights. He stopped at the windows overlooking downtown Miami, the skyline glittering in fractured reflections on the glass. The city below was bright, alive, and unaware.
His jaw tightened. His control had slipped tonight. Not completely. But enough to irritate him.
She hadn’t been alone. Not once. Not for days.
Devlin’s men, damn them, had closed ranks around her faster than expected. They were alert, efficient, and everywhere. As though they alone understood how to protect a woman.
He replayed the events in the parking lot again in his head. When they left the safety of the kitchen, his approach and timing had been perfect. The moment the hair tie disappeared from his hand into her pocket went unnoticed.
Satisfaction curled through him. He had breached their perimeter without detection. Walked in and back out under their noses while they stood believing themselves completely in control.
