Accidental Shield

“How long?”

“I don’t know. Feels like a while,” I say with a sigh.

“Thought so. Long as you got some decent shut-eye…”

I lift up my head, looking at him, this amazing man who’s been with me every step of the way through this mindless living hell that’s become my life. The only life I’ve ever known.

I touch his cheek, feeling the wild stubble on his jaw, just the right amount of scruff that starts to show when he doesn’t shave for a couple days.

“I think…more came back, Flint.”

“The nightmare, you mean?” he asks.

I nod, then shake my head. “It wasn’t a nightmare. I think it was my memory coming back. A lot more memory.”

“What, you’ve remembered more?”

“Almost everything.” I push my head back down on his chest. “I even remember my locker combination from the seventh grade.”

“Shit, you’re serious?”

“Totally. I don’t know the how or why, but it just came roaring back. No more bits and pieces. The good, the bad, the ugly, the silly…it’s all there. My entire life.”

Flint looks at me sharply and his lips open, but he doesn’t say anything.

He doesn’t move. I think he isn’t sure what to do now, and I don’t blame him.

I’m just thankful because the confusion means a few more minutes of peace lying here with him. It’s a small thing to ask for, to want, but it’s what this girl needs before she gets into the scariest parts of her history.

It’s the whole reason I’m here with him.

As if he senses it too, Flint goes quiet and just holds me, his arms pulling me tighter against his massive shield of a chest.

It’s Savanny who breaks the spell, jumping on the bed, poking his slick black nose against mine. I force a smile, stroking his head, running my fingers up and down his twitchy ears.

“Mother was right. I’ve always been joined at the hip to this cat,” I tell him, holding a palm up for Savanny to rub. “I was so scared someone would take him away, ever since my father died, but Ray was the real reason. He said I had to ‘grow a brain.’ Start looking out for what was mine and our family’s. Dad couldn’t spoil me any longer. Couldn’t stop someone from taking Savanny, if I wasn’t careful, and I’d better keep him under lock and key.”

Just thinking about it makes me furious.

Whatever else my brother is, he’s a master manipulator. An emotional abuser skilled in the art of twisting people’s deepest fears and desires, including mine. Especially mine.

“Babe, no one’s taking your little friend,” Flint growls. “I’m sure they’ll make an exception if we help bust one of the biggest crime syndicates on Oahu, after this is over. Hell, if they don’t, I’ll fight it myself. I’ll put up the legal fees. I’ll build him an enclosure at my own expense and raise so much hell it reaches the governor. Illegal or not, no one’s stealing him away, you hear?”

His fingers gently tilt my face up, and I see how deadly serious he is.

I’m touched. Grateful.

But I also feel so guilty for bringing him more trouble that I just want to cry.

“It’s not just Savanny.” I sit up then, cringing at the truth, everything I have to tell him. “Ray was right about one thing. I wasn’t supposed to be on the yacht the night things went sideways. I snuck aboard because I knew he was up to no good. I was fighting for months to get more involved with the company, telling him it was my right. Dad’s own lawyer agreed the inheritance broke down that way, he’d left three even shares to the entire family—not just Ray. He’d just taken over active management.”

Flint scoots up in the bed. “Up to what, Val? What was he doing?”

For a second, I’m dick-matized by this man.

Rendered speechless.

He’s so handsome, so sexy, so shirtless, leaning against the headboard with the sheet barely covering him from the navel down. Those abs promise a wilder ride than the Road to Hana.

Oh. My. God.

Yes, I know how ridiculous this is, having a schoolgirl freak-out over his godly looks when I’m in the middle of a serious talk.

Still. My mouth goes dry.

It takes me a moment to turn away and form words again, staring at the green palm trees by the beach, their leaves waving in the breeze.

“Val?” he says, cocking his head.

“Sorry. I’m not sure, honestly, but it’s not because I don’t remember. I’ve never been able to pin down what’s going on. Ray took over as manager after my father died, but lately, he’d pushed me and Mother out of the day to day business. I’d never shown much interest in the company until about a year ago, when I wanted to get out of my funk.”

“Funk?” Flint folds his hands, leaning closer.