Ruthless Saints

MJ relaxes.

“There was an altercation with Albanians. Hailey got hurt. She’s still recovering from the trauma, so you’ll have to be… normal. Become a friend to her, someone she can lean on and talk to.”

And so the training begins. With a little bit of luck and a shit-ton of patience, this will work out.

Now to tell Hailey. I hope she doesn’t say no because then I’m fucked.

Chapter 23

HAILEY

After getting ready for work, I leave my apartment. I’ve just walked around the corner when I hear, “Hailey.”

My feet come to a faltering halt, and my breaths speed up.

“Can we talk? It won’t take long,” Carson says, and I savor the sound of his voice.

God, I've missed it so much.

Slowly I turn around, and then my eyes widen. He looks totally different. His hair is no longer blond, but dark brown, which I guess is his natural color. I loved the blond, but the darker color makes him look way hotter.

He’s wearing a pair of dark blue jeans that sit just right on him. A white t-shirt and a black leather jacket round off the look. There’s no jewelry except for the tag hanging from a chain around his neck.

He got a new tracking device. It matches mine.

My eyes lift to his. I’ve started to forget how intense Carson’s gaze is, and it makes shivers rush over my skin.

With an erratic heartbeat, I finally manage to whisper, “Hey.”

He takes a step closer to me, then stops. He gets right to the point as he says, “I’ve arranged personal protection for you. I’ll have to return to work at some point and need to know you’ll be safe when I’m not around. Will you consider it?”

What? It’s the last thing I expected him to say, and I’m a little disappointed.

What did you expect, Hailey? Hearts and flowers? You told him it’s over between you. That’s what you want, so don’t make this something it’s not.

I shake my head. “Have a guy I don’t know follow me around like a shadow? No thanks.”

“MJ,” Carson calls out, and then I see an Asian woman coming out of a nearby alley. She’s easily a head shorter than me and much smaller. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt, with sneakers, she looks younger than me.

Not what I expected when Carson said personal protection.

“This is MJ Fang. She’s trained and will be able to keep you safe. Maybe you can even be friends,” Carson says, giving me a hopeful look.

MJ moves closer, her lips curving into a friendly smile. “Hi, Hailey. It’s good to meet you.”

When she holds out her hand to me, I take it while murmuring, “Hey.”

“I’ll guard you with my life,” she assures me.

I pull an unsure face. “You don’t look like a guard.”

“That’s the idea. I want you to be comfortable with your Custodian,” Carson says.

“Custodian?” I ask, not understanding the term.

“Like Demitri is to Alexei. MJ received the same training as him at St. Monarch’s,” he explains. “Are you okay with this arrangement?”

My eyes go back to MJ. She doesn’t look like a threat at all. I suppose that’s a good thing.

Also, Carson could’ve kept this from me, but he didn’t.

“If I agree, how will this work?” I ask.

“Just think of me as a friend. I’ll be close at all times but won’t get in your way,” MJ answers.

“What about when I’m working? Are you going to sit and drink coffee all day long?”

“Maybe not coffee,” she jokes.

She’s not awkward, and honestly, I could use a friend… but… “Have you killed anyone?” I ask MJ.

She shakes her head. “But I will if your life depends on it.”

I take a deep breath, my eyes darting between MJ and Carson before they lock with his. I see the heartache, the hope… the man I love.

“We can try it for a couple of days,” I agree.

“Thank you.” The corner of Carson’s mouth lifts, and it makes my own lips slowly curve up.

We stare at each other for a moment, the lost love a chasm between us.

“You look good,” he murmurs.

MJ walks past me and down the road, giving us privacy.

“You look different,” I say. My smile grows. “In a good way.” I let out an awkward chuckle.

Hot as hell but just as dangerous as always. Nothing’s changed there.

I gesture over my shoulder. “I have to get to work.”

Carson’s eyes don’t leave mine as he nods. Then he asks, “You sure you’re okay?”

“With MJ? We’ll see. It will take time,” I reply.

He shakes his head and takes a step closer to me. “I mean with everything that happened. I’m here if you need to talk.”

“I wish I could talk to you, but I can’t… not about us. Not yet.”

“If you need anything, let me know,” he says, a pleading expression flashing across his features.

In a moment of weakness, I whisper, “A hug. I could really do with a hug right now.”