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“She’s right, Jackson. She needs to be here to consult with the doctors.” Becky’s eyes pleaded with him, and Reagan believed he would cave to Becky’s request. They seemed to care for each other like a family, so she couldn’t imagine him ignoring Becky’s pleas.

“The doctors only need her for one decision now. She can talk to them before we leave. As long as she’s accessible by phone and she sets up an ID verification before we leave, the doctor said he could check in with her about Gish’s condition and needs regularly. He would rather have the gunfire moved away from the hospital,” Jackson explained.

“What? One decision?” Becky fixed those worried eyes on her, and Reagan suddenly wished she could leave so she wouldn’t have to explain to Becky the impossible choice she had.

“About whether or not to approve surgery for English. It’s a complicated decision, and the doctor assured me I could take a little time to make it.”

Jackson crossed his muscular arms over his chest, a move meant to intimidate. Reagan drew herself up to her full height, her jaw set stubbornly and her anger shining through her eyes. She was not easily intimidated.

“What’s to think about? Your answer is yes to the surgery. He needs it.”

“It’s risky,” she argued.

“Not having surgery is riskier.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had a medical degree which qualified you to make such a determination.”

She thought she detected a smirk on Luke’s face, but the man standing behind Jackson grinned outright at her sarcasm. Their reactions fueled her confidence in standing up to Jackson.

“I won’t be forced to make a decision by an unknown gunman who can’t get to me inside the hospital anyway. I don’t even know what English would want. I don’t know anything about him. I didn’t even know he had built a second family. This is all a shock to me, so forgive me if I need a minute to decide the right thing to do.”

Jackson looked ready to explode, but when he spoke, his voice was calm. “I’m not trying to force you to do anything in haste. I’m worried for Gish, but I’m also responsible for your safety. I have to consider every angle, and this is the best solution we have right now to keep everyone safe and stop whoever is targeting you.”

“I’m not your responsibility. I never asked you to protect me.”

He lifted his chin in English’s direction. “He did though. So you’re my responsibility whether you want to be or not.”

Before she could reply, he turned back to Becky and motioned to the two strangers behind him and Luke.

“This is Alex Crandall. He’s a good friend and served in my Army unit.”

Alex smiled kindly as he moved his hands to sign words Reagan recognized. She cried out softly in surprise, not expecting the bodyguard to be deaf or hearing impaired. Her cry drew everyone’s attention, but she only spoke to Alex using what little American Sign Language she knew.

“Nice to meet you. Do you read lips?”

“I’m mute, not deaf,” was his reply. “You can speak to me or use sign. Do you know someone who’s deaf?”

She smiled and shook her head. “I learned a little ASL for a book I wrote.”

“What kind of books do you write?”

Her smile widened as it often did when she spoke about her job. “Mystery.”

Jackson chose that moment to sign to Alex, surprising her again with the fact he was fluent in ASL. She didn’t catch all the words, but she thought he accused Alex of flirting with her. Alex grinned as the man behind him chuckled.

“I don’t understand,” Becky said as gaze between them all, trying to figure out what they were saying. “I don’t know sign language. How will I know what’s going on?”

“That’s what I’m here for, Ms. Lathan.” The man with Alex stepped forward to shake Becky’s hand. “Alex and I work together, ma’am. I’m Turner Drake. Alex can hear everything you say, but if he needs to tell you something, I can interpret. I promise you, we’re the best at what we do. There are others who work with our company who will be helping out, but you’ll meet them later. For now, Alex and I are on the protection detail. All we ask is for you to listen to us, do exactly what we say as soon as we say it, and trust us to keep you safe. If you need anything while we’re here, all you have to do is ask.”

Turner may look scary, but his gentle demeanor as he spoke to Becky put everyone at ease. Reagan wondered if she could request Alex and his company to protect her instead of Jackson and the other boys.

Becky released Turner’s hand with a tired smile. “Any friend of Jackson’s is considered family to us. Thank you for this. I hope we’re overreacting about the threat against us, but since I don’t think we are, I’m glad you’re here.”

“I still don’t understand why I need to leave when you have Alex and Turner here. They can protect me as well as you can, right?”

Reagan couldn’t resist challenging Jackson’s plan. She’d never liked men who bossed women around as if they had every right to control their actions. She’d been taking care of herself too long to believe she needed a man now.

Jackson breathed heavy through his nose, as if he needed a minute to compose himself. “Our plan is to draw the gunfire and attacks away from the hospital. We can’t do that if we don’t get you away from here.”