The second man extended a hand she had no intention of shaking. “Special Agent Ronan Cross.”
She ignored his offered hand. “What do you want?”
Ronan slowly lowered his hand without appearing offended. “To keep you alive.”
She laughed bitterly. “So, these are my new guards.” She looked toward Dante.
Ronan winced dramatically. “Ouch.” Jasper gave him a warning look, but Ronan ignored it. “I was hoping for something more flattering.”
Sophia crossed her arms. “Like what?”
“Um, protective detail,” Ronan said, puffing out his chest. Sophia almost wanted to laugh at the guy—almost, but laughing was something that she used to do. Not anymore, though.
“Bodyguards,” she repeated.
He smiled. “Temporary roommates?”
She stared at him. “Do you usually joke around this much?”
“Usually.” His smile faded. “But I wasn’t joking about keeping you safe,” Ronan insisted. The shift happened so quickly that it caught her off guard. His easygoing demeanor disappeared, leaving behind an experienced operative who had probably seen far too much.
Jasper stepped forward just enough to be heard. “We've been assigned to your protection.”
“Twenty-four hours a day,” Ronan quickly added.
She immediately shook her head. “No.” Neither man argued with her. “I said no.”
Jasper nodded once. “I heard you.”
“You're supposed to tell me it's not my choice,” she said, “but it is.”
“No.” His answer surprised her. “I agree with you. It is your choice.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You're allowed to refuse our protection,” Jasper said.
Relief flickered briefly through her but then disappeared. “But?”
“But refusing doesn't make the threat disappear.” Jasper’s voice remained calm. “It only changes how difficult our job becomes.”
She stared at him. “You're not trying to pressure me.”
“No,” Jasper said.
“Why aren’t you?” she asked.
“Because you've had enough people trying to control you,” Jasper said. The room became painfully quiet. Nobody had ever said it like that before.
Ronan spoke gently. “We're not here to replace one prison with another. We're here to make sure nobody puts you back in one.”
Something inside her shifted, and she looked over toward her brother. “You chose them?”
He nodded. “I asked for the two agents I'd trust with my own life.”
Ronan smiled. “He left out the part where I annoyed him until he finally admitted it.”
“I've known you for over a year now,” Dante grumbled.
