Slater

I got Izzy settled in her mother’s room and then stepped outside to speak to my cousins, knowing damn well that we all felt bad about what happened to Izzy’s mother. Izzy may not blame us, but Elena had been shot on our watch.

“Do the cops have any leads? This is turning into a cluster-fuck, and we can’t let things get away from us again. From here on, we can’t let them take any risks.” There was no way I was going to take any chances and let anything happen to Izzy. I didn’t care if I had to drag her off to the middle of nowhere until this was resolved.

Emerson ran a rough hand across his clenched jaw, his entire body tense. “The police will now have more leads and evidence to work with, so I’m hoping this will all come to an end soon. But from here on out, we’re locking this shit down. Home, work. Work, home. That’s it—and they’ll be lucky if they even get that, since I want to limit any exposure to the outside world until this bastard is caught.”

I couldn’t blame him for putting his foot down, after what had just happened. I knew he felt responsible—we all did. And we couldn’t let this happen again. “I’m staying by Izzy’s side until this fucker is caught. I don’t know who else you want to schedule, but I’m still going to be there.”

Emerson tilted his head toward the hall, motioning for me to follow him, which I did since it was clear he wanted to speak to me away from the others. And if I had to guess, I was about to get my ass chewed, and would rather not have an audience for it. Not that there was a snowball’s chance in hell that I was backing down when it came to Izzy.

Emerson took a deep breath, his eyes pinning me to the spot, though when he spoke it was with a calm and understanding tone. “Look…I get it. The girl is smart, sweet, and pretty. But she’s also our client. You can’t go there, Slater. I’m sorry, but you can’t. Not even if this thing between you is the most irresistible thing in the world.”

“I know—and I’m sorry if I’ve put you in a difficult position. But I’m not backing down, which is why I’m quitting.” It fucking sucked, and I didn’t want to disappoint Emerson, but I could see no other way around this. There was something about Izzy that had stirred up emotions I’d never felt before, and though I knew she was in a vulnerable position, I just wanted to be there for her beyond my capacity as her bodyguard. But that also meant I couldn’t be dragging my cousin’s firm into my actions. “If I’m no longer an employee of Blackthorn Security, then you’re no longer responsible for my actions when it comes to Izzy. The decision will be hers to make as to whether or not she wants me around, and if she does want me around, then it won’t be as her security detail—though I’ll keep her safe in any way I can.”

He shook his head, his hands on his hips as he looked at me in disbelief. “Are you sure this is what you really want?”

“I’m not saying I won’t keep my distance, since I’d be nothing but a fucking asshole if I tried to pursue her with everything that’s going on. But I want to be there for her and not just until my shift ends.” The girl had brought out my protective streak, and it wasn’t something I could just switch off when I clocked out for the night. I needed to make sure she was okay, and I needed to be there for her, no matter what she needed.

I’d heard my brothers joke about how when a Blackthorn fell for a girl, he fell fast and hard—and I’d always laughed it off, thinking it’d never happen to me. Yet now…I let the thought drift away, not ready to go there just yet.

“Look…I get it. I really do, especially after what happened to your father. Which is why I’m not letting you quit—at least not yet. Like you said, this isn’t going to go any further anytime soon, given the current circumstances. So stay on until this gets sorted, and if circumstances change and you have to quit, I’ll accept your resignation then.” Emerson clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Right now, she needs you to be there. Nothing more. So go, and keep her safe. And Slater… Keep a clear head on your shoulders. This asshole’s dangerous.”

“I’m not letting her out of my sight.” We headed back to Elena’s room, and I sat by Izzy’s side, saying nothing, though I did take her hand in mine, letting her know that I was there for her, should she need anything. And when she could no longer keep her eyes open, I was there to offer her my shoulder, as I continued to watch over them both, the silence of the room interrupted only by the muted yet constant beep of Elena’s heart monitor, turned down low.

Yet by morning, Elena still hadn’t awoken. Izzy finally got changed out of her dress and heels and into a comfortable sweater and pair of jeans, though there was no remedy for the worry in her green eyes or the dark circles that left her looking haunted. Colton brought us all donuts and coffee from one of the local coffee shops, though Izzy didn’t touch any of it, leaving me even more worried about her.

“You need to eat something to keep your strength up, Izzy.” I handed her a cup of coffee, hoping that she might drink it if she was holding it, and if nothing else, it would warm her hands and give her a small sense of comfort.

“Thank you.” She took the cup from me and took a sip, before holding it in her lap, her head hung low, looking defeated. “She looks so unlike herself, Slater. So weak and lifeless, when she was always such a force to be reckoned with. Shouldn’t she be awake by now?”

“I don’t know… I think it changes from patient to patient, depending on the injuries. My father…” Fuck. I hated that the mere thought of my father’s murder could still make me so emotional. “It took my father some time to finally wake up. He…he’d been targeted. His vehicle was hit at full speed…”

“Oh, Slater…I’m so sorry.” Izzy’s eyes glistened with tears, as I was left feeling like a shit for making her feel bad when she was already dealing with her own problems. “I hadn’t realized. But…he was okay afterwards?”

“He was.” Until his murderers came back and finished what they’d started, though I wouldn’t tell her that. She needed to hold onto whatever hope she could find, instead of having me bring her down and make things worse.

Yet she was too smart for her own good—or I was really crap at hiding my feelings. “What happened?”

Fuck. I didn’t want to go there, but I knew I had no choice. “The men who’d hit him eventually came back. At least we think it was them. He was ready to come home, and then all of a sudden he was gone. The doctors said it was a heart attack, but…it wasn’t. They somehow managed to get to him.”

“I’m so sorry, Slater.” Her tears rolled down her freckled cheeks as she reached out and gave my hand a squeeze. “I don’t even know what to say.”