Colton K-9 Bodyguard. Lara Lacombe

      “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” he began. “We have officers who are more experienced in protection work, including several women. It would be better if you agreed to let one of them guard you. Much easier for everyone involved.”

      Bea met his gaze, her hazel eyes clear. “I trust you,” she said simply. “You’re the only one I feel safe with.”

      Maybe you shouldn’t, he thought darkly. People had trusted him before, and it had ended badly.

      Micah closed his eyes, bracing himself against the onslaught of memories washing over him.

      Afghanistan. Helmand Province. Micah and Duke had been deployed with a squad of marines and Afghan army troops to comb through the rubble of a drone attack in search of the bodies of a local Taliban warlord and his cronies. It was supposed to be a training exercise, of sorts, with the Afghan army troops taking the lead in the search while Micah and the marines provided guidance and cover.

      Things had started out well enough. Micah and the marines had established a perimeter around the site so the Afghan troops could work in relative safety. It had been shaping up to be just another search, until one of the troops asked Micah for assistance. He and Duke had left their position, and that’s when the ambush had started.

      A hail of bullets had erupted with no warning, cutting down several Afghan troops and pinning the marines and Micah in place. The fighting had been brutal and fierce, and several marines had been injured.

      Including Duke.

      Micah could still hear the dog’s pained yelp and the sounds of his whimpering as he’d lain in the dirt at Micah’s feet.

      Unable to bear the dog’s suffering, Micah had slowed his return fire so he could attend to Duke’s injuries. And that’s when the man next to him had been hit.

      After an eternity of fighting, reinforcements had arrived and the insurgents had been beaten back or killed. Medics had poured in, attending to the wounded. Duke had been placed on a stretcher and airlifted along with the rest of the injured, Micah by his side the whole way.

      In the end, Duke had survived his wound and retired a hero. One of the veterinary nurses who cared for him fell in love with him, and Duke now lived a life of ease with the woman and her family. It was the best possible outcome for the dog, but Micah still couldn’t shake the guilt that plagued him whenever he thought of that day.

      If I hadn’t left my position...if I hadn’t stopped to tend to Duke... How many people would still be alive if Micah had made different decisions? How many bodies would have remained whole and unbroken if Micah hadn’t left a gap in the coverage, not once, but twice?

      The after-action review had found no fault, but deep in his gut Micah knew things would have turned out differently if he’d made other choices.

      With his partner in the hospital, Micah had felt like an amputee. The military had offered to pair him with another dog, but Micah had refused. It took months of intense training to bond with a dog, and Micah didn’t have it in him to go through the experience again. He’d known that if he lost another animal, it would break him.

      It turned out that fate had other plans. When he’d taken the job in Red Ridge, the thought of pairing with another dog had worried him. But as soon as he’d met Chunk, his heart had embraced the animal without reservation.

      “Micah?” Bea’s voice cut through his thoughts, drawing him back to the present. “Are you okay? You look like you’re going to be sick.”

      He nodded, shaking off the sadness and despair of his memories. “I’m fine,” he replied. “Just thinking.”

      Bea was quiet a moment. “I’m not trying to be difficult,” she said. “And I know this is awkward. But you’re the only one I trust. Will you please work with me?”

      Micah let out a heavy sigh. “All right,” he said. “I’ll do it.” He’d probably come to regret his decision, but Micah knew Bea was a stubborn woman. If she said she wouldn’t allow anyone else to guard her, she meant it. And since Micah couldn’t leave her unprotected, he didn’t have many other options.

      A sharp knock sounded in the room, and the door swung open. “You’ve been in here long enough,” Fenwick snapped. “I need to see my daughter.”

      Micah bit his tongue to keep from responding as Bea’s siblings filed in behind their father. Patience offered him an apologetic glance and reached out to touch Fenwick’s arm.

      “Dad,” she said. “We can’t interrupt Micah’s interview. It’s inappropriate.”

      “It’s fine,” Fenwick said. “Anything Bea has to say, she can say in front of us.”

      “I’m done for now,” Micah said. He turned to Bea. “I’ll start making the necessary arrangements.”

      She nodded. “Thank you.”

      “Arrangements for what?” Fenwick sounded irate. “I can take care of anything you need. There’s no reason he should be involved.”

      Bea glanced at her father, and Micah recognized the glint of steel in her eyes. Oh, boy, he thought. Things are about to get interesting.

      “Micah is going to act as my protection until this case is closed,” she said calmly. “We agreed it was the best course of action, given the circumstances.”

      “What?” Fenwick’s face turned an unhealthy-looking shade of purple, and Micah eyed the emergency call button on the wall. It wouldn’t surprise him if the older man had a rage stroke on the spot.

      “You heard me,” Bea said calmly. If she was upset by her father’s reaction, she didn’t show it. Then again, she’d been dealing with the man her entire life. She’d probably learned a few tricks for handling him in that time.

      Apparently, her siblings had, as well. They moved forward as a group, each one speaking in low, soothing tones as they circled their father.

      Fenwick ignored them, his gaze locked on Bea. “Absolutely not,” he said in a low voice. “I forbid it.”

      Bea arched one eyebrow. “I wasn’t asking for your permission.”

      “You don’t know what you’re saying.” Fenwick’s voice softened, as if he were speaking to a child. “You’ve had a bad scare and a nasty bump on the head. You’re not thinking rationally.”

      “I know what I’m doing,” Bea replied.

      Her father tried another tack. “I can arrange for you to have a bodyguard, if that will make you feel better. I’ll even get you set up in a temporary apartment. Let’s just talk this over like two adults, and I’m sure we can figure out a way to keep you safe without making any...rash decisions.”

      “Dad—” Patience tried to interject, but Fenwick waved his daughter away.

      “This is between me and your sister,” he said firmly.

      Bea sighed heavily. “No, it isn’t. There’s nothing for us to discuss. I can see you’re upset, but I’ve made up my mind and I’m not going to change it. Accept it or don’t—I really don’t care either way.”

      Admiration swelled in Micah’s chest, and for a moment, he was proud of Bea for standing up to her father. She’d always had an independent streak, but back when they were dating, she’d sometimes had trouble going against her father’s wishes. That didn’t seem to be the case anymore, and Micah was happy to see Bea wasn’t living under Fenwick’s thumb.

      Fenwick straightened his shoulders. “I’m going to pretend your insolence is due to your injuries,” he said stiffly.

      Bea shrugged. “Okay.”

      Patience placed her hand on her father’s arm, and one of her sisters did the same on Fenwick’s other side. “Let’s go,” Patience said softly. “Bea needs her rest.”

      Fenwick