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I shoot the guy a glare and shrug. "Worth it so long as she's safe."
The question is—will I be able to keep her safe?
Chapter 34
Violet
* * *
The trip home—back to Sully's, I quickly correct—is filled with tense silence. Sully doesn't live far from the bar, and the moment the truck comes to a stop, I'm out and stalking toward the door, ignoring the men lounging outside who give us a head nod of welcome.
My irritation cranks up another notch. I hear Sully behind me, his long strides eating up my head start until he reaches the house first and unlocks the door before stepping back to allow me entry.
He pauses to speak with the two members of the Saints while I go to the fridge and stand there, staring inside like something from the food-stuffed fridge will magically appeal.
Nothing does, and I slam the door hard enough to rattle the bottles stored atop it while Sully oh-so-softly closes the door behind him with a flip of the deadbolt.
That? Angers me even more. Because he can be so quiet and easygoing about things, even though it's my life being discussed like a round-robin free-for-all.
"You ready to talk?"
I huff and glare at him over my shoulder. "About my life? Sure."
My tone leaves the ever-handsome Sully frowning. I swing around to face him, arms crossed over my chest, fingers tapping out my impatience.
Sully inhales and seems to brace himself. Smart man, because I am spoiling for a fight. I know I'm taking my anger out on the wrong man, but I can't help it. "Why are those men here?"
"They're the first shift."
"First shift for what?"
"You'll have two of the Saints guarding you at all times. Here, at work, wherever you go. They'll rotate in and out every four to six hours, but there will always be two."
"Bodyguards?"
"Friends to watch over you. Not only that, I want you to text me every hour on the hour to check in and let me know you're okay."
"You can't be serious. Sully—"
"I need to know you're safe, sweetheart."
"Safe is not the same as controlled."
"I'm not trying to control you."
"Aren't you? You don't think texting you every hour isn't a bit excessive?"
He stalks toward me, and I lock my legs to keep from instinctively backing up to escape. It's Sully.
My hands fist, my heart rate ratchets up, but I stand my ground.
"I want to take off work and stay with you, but since I know you'll fight me on that, I'm trying to compromise here."
"You're treating me like a piece on a chess board. I'm fine!"
"You're fine," he repeats in complete disbelief. "You're in denial. Do you really expect me to believe that after what's happened? Besides, everyone knows when a woman says she's fine, she's anything but. Including me."
I move to the sink and pick up a glass left behind from earlier, washing it with furious intent when all I want to do is throw it. "Sully, I am so sorry you lost your sister, but you can't save her by taking choices away from me. Controlling me. It won't bring her back."
