“I know, Kyle, I just…”

“I want her gone,” Jax barks. “Call your boss, get him in here, now!”

My knees wobble some more, and I look over to Tori. “I’m sorry, I truly am.”

Then I walk out of the room, out of the hotel, and wait beside Jax’s car. I flop down onto the bench on the footpath and pain rips through my chest. I screwed up, badly enough that I could lose my job right here and now, and I never even got past the first big case. What’s wrong with me? I know better than to use such force, even if I took her down, I could have done it without injuring her, I’ve been taught.

I didn’t listen.

I just reacted, and I made a terrible mistake. I drop my head into my hands and stay like that for what seems like hours. I flinch when a hand touches my shoulder and I look up to see Nak staring down at me. Here goes, he’s about to fire me. He sits on the seat beside me and studies my face, before smiling.

Why is he smiling?

“You broke her nose, impressive for someone who doesn’t know what she’s doing, right?”

He’s teasing lightly, pointing out the fact that only a month or so ago the guys didn’t even believe I could take someone down. It doesn’t make me feel better.

“Nak,” I whisper.

“Jesus, Delaney, I wondered if you had it in you and today you proved that you most certainly do.”

“I don’t understand,” I say, confused. Why isn’t he firing me? “Why aren’t you tearing me a new one while firing me? I screwed up, Nak.”

“Let me tell you a story about my first day on the job. I was hotheaded and thought I knew better than anyone. I was watching over a famous soccer player, and he was forever surrounded by ladies. One afternoon when he had just finished his game, I escorted him to a locker room to get changed. Some girls came in and were hanging all over him, and I figured what the heck, he’s safe and they were hot.”

I blink, but he keeps going.

“I was cocky, thought I had it all under control, so when one of the girls walked over and started kissing me, I didn’t stop her. I knew he was still in the room, and he was busy with two of them, so I figured I could spare some time to enjoy the girl. Because of that I didn’t do my job properly and didn’t check the actual lockers. The guy I was protecting him from was hiding in the locker next to his. The fucking locker.”

I gasp.

“He leapt out and shot him, luckily for me he only hit his shoulder before I managed to contain him. You can imagine how my boss took that?”

“He let you keep your job?”

He smiles. “I learned from the best of the best, Delaney. And one thing he taught me is that none of us are perfect. You made a mistake, it wasn’t a good one, but if you learn from it, then it means you’re doing your job right. What happened in there shouldn’t have happened, just like I shouldn’t have been kissing a woman while on duty, but I learned and after that day, everything I did, I did right.”

“I broke her nose, Nak.”

He nods. “You did, and I’ve paid her accordingly for that. She won’t be pressing charges.”

“Jax wants me off his case,” I whisper.

“Jax doesn’t get a choice. If he wants you off, I take Kyle off too. Those were the terms and he agreed to them. He signed papers. If he wishes to continue to use my services, he takes what I’m offering.”

“I hurt her, and in doing that, he could have been hurt too.”

“You reacted,” Nak says. “That’s what you’ve been taught to do. You reacted with far too much force, but you acted because you felt he was in danger.”

“And I was wrong,” I say, my voice shaking. “How am I to know the difference between someone who is running at him with happiness, and someone who has ill intentions?”

“You go with instinct.”

I shake my head. “My instinct was wrong today, Nak.”

“It was your first day, don’t become disheartened. We’ve all made mistakes, Laney. This was yours. Learn from it, and become a better bodyguard.”

“Jax will never trust me, not now.”

“Jax will cool down, in the meantime let Kyle lead and you watch for a week or so. I shouldn’t have taken him away from you so soon, that’s my fault, Delaney, and I’m sorry.”

“I’m not sure I’m made for this,” I say, staring at my hands.

“You’re not going to give up this easily, are you? Because if you are, Delaney, you’re not the strong-willed, feisty girl I hired.” He reaches over and touches my hand. “Don’t let me down.”

Then he stands and disappears.

I watch him go and sigh.

I’m not sure I’ll have a choice.

*   *   *

Kyle and Jax exit the building about twenty minutes after Nak leaves. Kyle glares at me, and Jax doesn’t even look my way. He’s furious, and he has every right to be. I hurt his friend. That’s not okay. Tori and Red exit the building a moment later, too, both glaring at me. I look away and slide into the car beside Jax, who shifts away like my thigh touching his is poison.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Shields,” I say, my voice unsteady.

“If there was any other way,” he grinds out. “You wouldn’t be here.”

I look out the window as the car pulls out onto the street, and I can’t fight the tears anymore. They trickle down my cheek and I let them drop onto my shirt. I keep my face turned towards the window until we arrive at Jax’s apartment. My tears are dried by then and I climb out of the car, numbly checking everything as I make my way up to his front door.

He and Kyle follow behind me when I give the all clear. Jax unlocks the front door, and once more I step in before them. I enter the massive space and gasp. Jax’s apartment is huge. It’s one big open space, mostly. The floors are black polished marble and the entirety of the kitchen, living area and sitting rooms are all in the open space. The furniture is beyond expensive.

A staircase curls up to a floor that’s open, and up there I can see a bedroom. Jax’s bedroom is the entirety of that floor? It must be, because through the bars of the balcony I can definitely see a bed. It’s open, no privacy at all, which tells me he’s never lived with anyone. It’s all his space, so therefore he doesn’t need a bedroom that’s closed in.

There is a scatter of doors off to the right that I walk over to, opening them. I see a laundry, a huge library, and a massive bathroom with a huge spa, and a toilet. I check all the spaces and then walk across the floor, to the stairs. I climb them and enter Jax’s room. Yes, I was right. This is all just bedroom. I take in the massive king bed, and the luxury furniture scattered about.

The place screams bachelor pad.

I check in his closet, admiring his expensive clothes, then I move on to the bathroom up here. It is very similar to the one downstairs. When I’m sure this floor is clear, I walk over to the balcony and peer down at the massive living area beneath. This is quite odd, but very cool at the same time. I push back and walk down the stairs, doing another quick sweep before letting them know it’s clear.

When they’re in, and the door is shut and locked, Kyle does another sweep. This is normal, but the expression on his face makes me feel like he’s doing it because he thinks I’m not competent. Jax strides straight to the stairs, barking orders as he goes. “There’s a library, second door to the right. There’s a pullout in there. That’s where you sleep. Don’t bother me.”