Page 27 of Possessive Bodyguard Summer

I watched as his jaw ticked but he remained silent.

“Kael Mercer is the President of the Devil’s Ridge MC in Colorado.” I swallowed hard.

Clay balled up his fists at his side.

“I didn’t know at first. He was so sweet and charming when we met. Things got serious pretty quickly. We moved in together. He hired me to manage his MC shop, taking care of all the back office stuff while his guys did all the manual labor. I know you probably think I’m some kind of idiot. How could I not know, right?”

I paused for a beat, half expecting Clay to say something.Anything.

“He hid it so well. It wasn’t until a few months before I left that I caught on. The MC repair shop was just a front. A place for Devil’s Ridge to launder all their money. That was right aroundthe time things started going south with me and Kael. He turned aggressive and possessive. I was terrified to leave.” My hand went to my stomach. “Then I found out I was pregnant and IknewI couldn’t…wouldn’t…raise a child in that environment. So, one night while the club was out on a run, I packed everything I could into my car and I left.”

Tears sting the back of my eyes.

“Late one night, I came across the job listing for Sunbreak Security and I thought it was the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. I would be far enough away from Kael that hopefully he wouldn’t come looking. And I think deep down, I thought if I took the job with SBS, I’d be protected, too.”

I swiped at the tear drops now running down my face.

“Clay, I never meant to bring danger to your doorstep. Becoming your nanny was never part of the plan. I’m so sorry. I should have turned down the offer and just took the admin job instead. Then I met Kaleigh. I saw the way you were with her and…I don’t know…I couldn’t say no. For the first time, I found myself in a situation with arealfamily. I got to see what it was like for a child to truly be loved and cared for. I lied because I was terrified you’d ask me to leave.”

My heart felt like it was shattering in my chest as Clay stood across from me in silence.

Clay didn't say anything.

Seconds stretched into what felt like hours. I couldn't read his expression and every ounce of courage I'd scraped together began to crumble. Maybe this had been a mistake.

Clay scrubbed a hand over his beard and looked toward the floor. His jaw flexed once, twice. Then he took one slow breath through his nose.

I couldn't tell if he was trying to calm himself...or stop himself from punching a hole through the kitchen wall.

Finally he looked at me and asked, "Did anyone know where you were going?"

"No."

"Did anyone see you leave?"

"I don't think so."

"Anyone from the club you trusted?"

"No."

"Has Kael ever contacted you since?"

"I tossed my phone before I crossed state lines. Bought two burners since then. So…no? I didn’t tell a soul. But after what happened yesterday…”

“We can’t be too sure,” he finished for me.

"I understand if you don't want me here anymore."

Clay reached out for my hand. “No. Monroe, the only thing you've told me tonight that makes me angry is that your ex got aggressive and that you’ve been carrying all of this on your own. I guess that’s technically two things, but that’s it.”

“So…” I bit my lip. “You’re not madatme?”

“No.”

“You’re not going to ask me to leave?”

He shook his head. “Hell no.” Clay reached for my other hand. "Monroe, if that son of a bitch is looking for you, then the last place you're leaving is this house."