Page 40 of Nanny for the Bodyguard

“Hesays hello, bitch. That’s what he said. Just like that.”

Hazel is trembling even harder, and I press her tighter to my chest. She cries harder and harder, every bit of her breaking down with the words she’s just said.

I know this truth was one sheneverwanted to share, and I silently promise to doeverythingin my power to keep Hazel safe from this fucking maniac.

“I think…” Hazel’s voice is muffled and mournful as she shoves her face into my chest. “I…I think I’m alive because James wants to torture me. To make sure this hurts.”

“Hazel, that’s?—”

She snaps her gaze to mine. “I ruined his entire empire, Easton. The last thing he said to me was that he’d ‘get me’ one day. He’s making good on that threat.”

I don’t fight her on it. Lord knows that’s more than enough reason for a guy like this Neil James to come after her. If he can.

He’s supposed to be in jail, but he clearly has people on the outside who he can use to get at Hazel. She isn’t safe alone in that apartment if that’s the case.

She needs state-of-the-art security and a bodyguard to keep an eye on her. She needs me.

“Move in.”

“What?” Hazel reels back, clearly shocked.

“You need to move in with me. Your apartment isn’t safe. Hell, it’s right by where you were attacked.” She’s staring at me like I’ve lost my mind, but I keep going. “We don’t know how much this guy knows. How much the person here knows ifthey’re two separate people. I have security and training. I can protect you.”

“Easton, I can’t?—”

“You can. You will. This is the best option you have to keep yourself safe. That’s all I want.”

It hits me again that itisall I want.

I’m not looking to push anything else on Hazel. Her safety matters more to me than anything else.

It matters to me as much as Jade’s, and I remember that night with the fever. I felt about as panicky and terrified now as I did then.

So much of me hates to admit that, to fess up that this woman still means the world to me. But I can’t deny it.

I won’t say anything, though. I burned that bridge a long time ago. I just need Hazel to be free from harm.

That’s all.

“What are people going to think if I just move in with you?” Hazel shakes her head, her eyelids drooping. “I’ll be fine at the apartment.”

“No way.” I shake my head right back at her. “It’s not safe enough. Besides, we can tell people exactly what we want the trafficker to believe. That we’re dating.”

“I’m sorry, what?” She eyes me hard, little hazel daggers that pierce my chest. “Have you lost your mind?”

Yeah, probably.

“If it gets back to James that you have someone protecting you, someone living with you and at your side at all times, he might be too scared to try anything again. Jail’s not pretty, from what I understand. He might not want to risk going back or staying there for longer.”

Hazel stills, her eyes still wide as saucers. “You want me to move in with you to pretend we’re together to scare off some trafficker. Do you hear yourself?”

“I do. Trust me. But, like I said, I do this for a living. I know how guys like James think. He’ll either back off or, if he sends someone again, at least I’ll be with you this time. I’m an ex-military bodyguard. I’m pretty sure I can handle some thug.”

Sighing, Hazel drops her head, and I can tell that what energy she has is about to be used up.

“I’m not going to win this, am I?”

“No.”