Chapter 9
BASH
Anya runs out of the coffee shop, and I’m so struck by the shock I don’t move for a second. I don’t react. A curse rushes past my lips. Shit, this should have never happened. Anya’s not only my duty in the job.
She’s also the woman of my life.
Mr. Taylor spews nonsense in my direction, but I ignore him. Shooting an apologetic glance at my boss, I dart out of the door after Anya. There’s no way I’m leaving her to run back home by herself. Doesn’t matter if her father breaks the contract, doesn’t matter if my boss fires me.
This job is important, but it’s just a job. I can find another. Hell, I’ve become so good at it I’m sure it wouldn’t be that hard. Besides, my sister’s already working, and she said several times she doesn’t need me paying off her loans. I only do that because it makes me feel like a good brother.
The job is important, but Anya is so much more. She’s the one; I know it. I feel it deep in my bones, in every kiss, in the way my stomach still churns every time I see her pretty face.
Instinctively, I know she’s going home. She’s locking herself inside her room, and I have to get to her before she does.
I have to tell her this doesn’t matter. That together, we can make it work.
We’ll work hard, and we’ll pay our bills, and I’ll keep her safe.
If the two of us stick together, no one can...
There. I see her. Her blonde hair catches the golden light of the morning sun, and she’s a beacon for me. She’ll always be a beacon for me. It’s easy to see her, to recognize her, even in a crowd. God, I would know her in the dark.
The crowd on the causeway opens a path for me.
It’s easy when you’re my size. When you’re someone this big in an emergency.
But they don’t part fast enough. It’s only then I see it.
There’s a man with Anya, and not a man chatting with her, making my possessiveness flare up.
No, he’s gripping her arm, shaking her, smirking at her.
And I see the fear on her face and it’s gasoline to the fire inside me.
A beast I did not know bursts from me. I shove people out of my way, a roar rising from my throat. My vision goes red. Red is all I fucking see. I don’t know who this man thinks he is, but no one is making my woman afraid.
Time slows down. Anya turns her head in my direction when I approach, growling like a wild animal.
I pull my elbow back and ram my fist into the man’s face.
He’s too shocked to react, and then he flies off.
His hand, still gripping Anya’s arm, tugs her forward.
She makes to stumble, and I shoot an arm out to grab her at the last second.
Folding an arm around her waist, I pull her to my body, then step around her to keep her safe.
The man comes back quickly. He’s not as big as me, but he’s tall. Cupping his jaw, he shoots me an angry look. Blood trickles down the side of his lip, and I smirk at the sight of it.
“Shit.” He spits blood on the pavement. The crowd parts, gasping, stepping away. Someone raises a phone. “Fucking bodyguard.”
“You won’t fucking touch her,” I roar.
The man gives me a once-over. “No matter how strong you think you are,” he says, reaching behind him, “no man can take a knife to the chest.” He pulls a kitchen knife from his belt. More gasps. Some people run off.
The man raises his arm and yells as he plunges the knife in my direction. No matter what problems he has with Mr. Taylor, no matter how dedicated this man might be to his cause, I was trained for this.
And I would give my life to keep her safe.
Crossing my wrists, I parry his attack, then shoot out a hand to grab at the arm holding the knife.
His eyes go round with how fast I move—bet he didn’t expect that from a man my size.
Twisting his wrist, I punch him in the face once, then at his elbow until I hear a crack.
His fingers go useless, the knife dropping to the ground.
The man screams in pain, his knees buckling.
He glares up at me, pure wrath in his gaze, and his other hand moves to do something else.
I don’t know what he has in mind, but he has no time to react.
Another person jumps on him, holding his other arm.
I look up to find my boss, taking his other arm from me and slamming the man to the ground.
My boss is even more skilled than I am, and he locks the man’s arms behind him, pressing a knee to the center of his back, restraining him against the pavement.
I move fast, calling 911 as soon as he’s restrained. He tried to attack her. He tried to kill me. I keep her safe, but it’s the cops that take him away. Whirling around, I see Mr. Taylor holding his daughter’s shoulders.
“You alright?” he asks, wide eyes taking her in.
She nods, then looks up at me. “Thanks to Bash.”
Mr. Taylor’s jaw works, but he says nothing.
He lets her go when she squirms out of his hold, and my woman slings her arms around my neck for a tight embrace.
I hold her, burying my face in her hair and soaking in her scent.
Shit. Now that adrenaline’s washing off, I notice how fucking afraid I was. How terrified of losing her.
“Don’t ever run off on me again,” I tell her. She nods against my chest.
“I won’t. I’m sorry, I was just?—”
“I know. I know, love. Just don’t. That scared the shit out of me.” And we stay like that for another moment. I hear the sirens, and even then, she’s still in my arms. The cops arrive and take the man out of my boss’s hold. The people who had been watching join him to tell them what happened.
“Good thing you reacted so fast, Bash,” my boss says, slapping my shoulders once. “You were fast.”
I nod gravely. “She means the world to me. I’m sorry, boss.”
“Sorry for what?” He laughs. “Your feelings saved her.”
I shoot him an odd look. “Well, it’s still...” Wrong? I can’t say it’s wrong. This thing we have going on is the best thing in my life.
My boss waves me off. “Honestly, Bash. What do you think? That I would fire you because of that? Okay, it’s not the best practice; it can get you in a tight spot...
But I saw the way you reacted. You love this girl.
I wouldn’t stand between the two of you.
” He grins. “And I wouldn’t be the fool to fire you.
You’re one of the best. Why the hell would I want to lose you? ”
What? Surprise takes over and I shoot a look at Mr. Taylor. He will certainly disagree. Instead, Mr. Taylor smiles, and it’s the first smile I see on his face. As in ever. Alright, it’s a tight-lipped smile, but still.
“Couldn’t agree more,” he says, looking at his daughter. “You kept her safe. That’s what matters.”
And something goes on between the two, a wordless dialogue that makes Anya smile back. The cops call Mr. Taylor, and he leaves with my boss so they can file a report. The crowd seeps away until there’s only Anya and me. I stroke her cheek, gazing into her eyes.
“You okay?” I whisper.
She nods. “Actually, yes. I might get jumpy for another couple of days, but... Yes. I think I’m alright.”
“Good. That’s what matters.” I kiss her plump lips until she’s sighing against me.
Anya breaks the kiss, blinking those bright eyes at me. “So, did that scare you?” She opens a smirk.
I press my fingers to her sides to tickle her. “Of course it did.”
“And why was that?” She bats her lashes coyly.
I hold her against my body, looking straight into her eyes.
She might feel the importance of what I’m about to say because her smirk melts off.
“Because I love you, Anya. I love you more than I thought possible. At that moment, I was ready to give my life to keep you safe. Not because of the job. Not because of duty, but because I love you.”
She pauses for a beat, her eyes glossing over. The most beautiful smile parts her lips. “I love you, too.” And she slings her arms around my neck again. “I love you so much.”
I press kisses to her shoulder and her neck, lifting her off the ground. We stay like that for a minute, our hearts beating in unison, her warmth against my body. She pulls back, and I put her down, still holding her close.
Anya grins. “Just one thing. I promise I won’t run off. You promise you won’t put your life on the line for me.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Can’t do that, love.”
She pouts. “Then I can’t promise I won’t run off.”
I chuckle. “Alright, alright. I promise I will do everything in my power not to put my life on the line for you.” But things might get out of hand, and I might need to do just that. I wouldn’t regret it for a second.
Satisfied, Anya smiles, intertwining our fingers together. “Great. Shall we get back for another frappuccino? I need one even more now.”