Page 37 of Let Me Protect You

Turning back around, Serenity’s eyes are on me, and her lips are tipped down. Well, fuck, Mama Bear Serenity is here, and she’s ready to tear me to shreds.

“Can we speak privately?”

Though Serenity poses it as a question, it’s more of a command.

I nod and lead her into the kitchen. We’re only twenty feet away from the rest of the group, but no way will I shut myself in a bedroom with a claws-out mama bear. “What’s wrong?”

“Harmony is my baby sister.” Serenity points at Harmony, who is playing with Summer and paying no attention to us. “I’ve taken care of her for her whole life while our mother was working. I’ve protected her.”

“So, what? You don’t think I’m doing a good job?”

She leans in and lowers her voice. “I witnessed you throwing yourself into danger’s way to protect Harmony. I’m not bullheaded enough to miss that. But I thought I made myself pretty clear at your house. Do you really think you can keep her safe from you?” She cocks an eyebrow. “I see how you look at her like she’s your own personal buffet. I’m not an idiot. I also know you’re not over her, and she sure as hell isn’t over you.”

Wait. Harmony still likes me? My lungs constrict. I sneak another peek at her as a bright smile takes over her face, and she starts chasing Summer like a tickle monster. Other than maturing, Harmony hasn’t changed one bit. She’s still the woman I fell in love with. But is she really not over me like Serenity says?

Serenity slaps my arm. “Seriously? What the fuck? You can’t even keep your eyes off of her for the few minutes you talk to me.”

Harmony tucks a strand of her wavy brown hair behind her ear before she falls down to the ground with Summer, both giggling. Warmth lingers in Harmony’s amber eyes, lighting up as she continues to play with her niece.

“If you don’t stop looking at her, I’ll march over to Sully right now and tell him to assign someone else. How the fuck will you protect her if you can’t stop staring long enough to keep her out of danger?”

I blink a few times. Serenity’s angry words pull my attention back to her. “I can protect her. You just said you know I can do it.”

“Then don’t get distracted. I don’t know what I’ll do if I also lose my baby sister.”

Her words finally sink in. She’s already lost her mother and late husband.

“I get it.” When Serenity shoots me a glare like she doesn’t believe me, I say, “I really do.”

“Good. Then let’s get back to the others.”

A dull ache starts to spread through my chest. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about Harmony. Even with a crowd here, my eyes stray back to her. For the millionth time, I remind myself she and I don’t have a future together. If I go with her and Tía Vicki relapses while I’m gone, she won’t tell me. She won’t want to “interrupt my life” as she’s said over the years. And I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened.

Chapter 19

Harmony

Vicki’s home is like being hugged by something familiar and comforting. Squished between Serenity and Sully at Vicki’s kitchen table, I don’t miss the glares my sister sends Elias’s way. He doesn’t react. Vicki fusses over everyone, making sure all the plates and cups are full. Summer leans closer to the table and swipes her fingers through the green sauce on her enchiladas.

“Have you received any more texts?” Sully casually asks before scooping a bite of rice into his mouth.

I shake my head.

“Make sure you tell Elias right away if you do,” he says around a mouthful of food.

“I will.”

Although I’m praying there won’t be any more messages. If they were going to attack me, wouldn’t they have done it already?

Sully nods and stuffs another bite of enchiladas into his mouth.

“Have you found anything out?” Serenity asks Sully.

A little bit of the green sauce is caught in Sully’s mustache, and he dabs at it.

“Well, first we’re trying to see if we can find out where the messages were sent from. The members of my team aren’t experts on that as we are usually just security detail, but I have an acquaintance that might be able to help. If he can find out who is threatening Harmony, we can relax a little.”

“So, I might be stuck with a shadow for like, ever?” I ask, interrupting before Serenity can speak.