Page 85 of Duty Unbound

“Not possible.” I set my mug down harder than necessary. “My job is here, protecting Nova.”

“Bullshit.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me?”

Logan shrugged, unoffended. “We’ve done split security details before. If you can’t trust your own team to keep a pop star safe in what’s basically a fortress, then what the hell are we even doing in this business?”

“It’s not that simple?—”

“I think it may be exactly that simple.” Logan cut me off. “This isn’t about security. It’s about you being afraid to let yourself be vulnerable with the first woman who’s gotten under your skin in years.”

That hit too close to home.

“You may be my best friend in the world—” my voice dropped low “—but you’re crossing a line.”

He didn’t back down. “You know what I saw yesterday? Mel standing in the kitchen for ten minutes staring at a coffee mug like she’d forgotten what it was for. She’s falling apart, and you’re hiding behind your job.”

“I’m not hiding?—”

“Mel is not Samantha.”

The name of my ex hit me like a ton of bricks. Logan had been there through the whole mess with her—watched as she systematically chose her career over our relationship at every turn.

“That’s not what this is about,” I insisted, but my voice lacked conviction.

“Isn’t it?” Logan challenged. “Mel is organized and efficient, sure. But she’s not cold or career-obsessed. She’s kind and loving, and right now, she’s scared out of her mind. And you’re standing here pretending that your job is more important than helping her.”

I ran a hand down my face, the truth of his words sinking in. “She’s been through a lot.”

“No shit.” Logan’s voice softened. “Look, I can handlethings here. So can Ty and Jace. Take Mel somewhere quiet for a few days. Let her decompress without hired hands being around everywhere.”

I stared out the window again, considering it. The idea of getting Mel away from here, away from the constant stress and fear, was appealing. And Logan was right—my team was more than capable of handling Nova’s security.

I knew exactly where I could take her.

I set my mug in the sink. “I’ll talk to Nova first. Make sure she’s okay with Mel being gone for a few days.”

“And if she’s not?”

I shrugged. “Then I’ll deal with that when it happens.”

Before I could go looking for Nova, I wanted to check on Mel. I found her by the pool, sitting alone on one of the loungers. She wasn’t reading or looking at her phone—just staring at the water with vacant eyes. The sight made my chest ache.

“Hey,” I said softly, taking the seat beside her.

She startled slightly at my voice, then tried to cover it with a weak smile. “Hi.”

“Mind if I join you?”

“Sure.” She shifted slightly, making room even though there was plenty of space.

I studied her profile. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her usual vibrant energy had dimmed to almost nothing. She looked exhausted in a way that went beyond physical fatigue.

“How are you doing?” I asked gently.

She shrugged. “Fine.”

“Mel.”