Page 16 of Mitch

Mitch took a seat and patted the chair. “Come here, Autumn.” He watched her pace for a minute before she sat beside him, her hands in her lap. “I know you’re in witness protection.”

He heard her indrawn breath and grasped her hand as he saw her pulse begin to hammer in her neck, the blood leaving her face.

“How?”

“The company I work for isn’t your average security company. We have access to data that most don’t. They ran your background check and Will, our boss stroke tech guru, told me.”

“I’m going to be sick.”

She rushed to her feet and was running to the bathroom before he could stop her. He followed her to the bathroom and saw her on her knees over the toilet bowl. Crouching, he took her braids in his hand, holding them away from her face. He felt terrible to have done this to her, but he knew the cost of lies and deception. Look at what it had done to Gunner. His brow tightened at the thought of his former teammate.

Autumn stood and turned to the sink. “Give me a sec.”

She waved him off, and he moved back into the living room to see Maggie playing happily on the floor with her mobile over her head. She really was a good baby. Without the pram, it would’ve been difficult to know she was there today.

He watched as Autumn’s eyes flickered to him before she looked away when she entered the lounge. Moving past him she went to the kitchen and put the counter between them. He guessed it was her way of putting up a mental barrier. He knew she wasn’t scared of him, or she wouldn’t leave her baby on the floor near him.

Autumn Roberts gave away far more than she realised, her guard having lowered around him the last couple of weeks.

“I don’t know the details, Autumn, but we needed to know who’d be living here because of the jobs we do. I want you to share with me what happened if and when you’re ready, but it makes no difference to the way I feel.”

“You can’t say that. The people who want me dead are dangerous. They could hurt you if we got involved. It’s bad enough knowing I brought Maggie into this nightmare but you too, I can’t.”

Mitch crossed the space quickly, moving close so he could touch her. His hands reached for her arms, and he felt her shiver. “I’m dangerous, Autumn. My friends are all lethal. If anyone can keep you safe, it’s us. Tell me or don’t, but whatever you do, don’t make the decision for me.”

“I’m scared.”

He pulled her shaking body to his chest then and held her tight, wanting her to feel safe in his arms. He knew he’d just lied to her. He did want to know, he was desperate to find out so he knew what they might face, but he also wanted her to trust him enough to share it. “I know, honey. Let me help you.”

Autumn tipped her head up to look at him through eyes wet with tears. “What if I can’t talk about it? Every time I think I’m free it drags me back under. I’m not sure I can open that wound again.”

“Then we deal. I like you for who you are now. I want the future, not the past.”

“I can’t promise you that.”

“Then give me the now.”

He swept her hair back from her face giving her time to answer. He saw the war playing out in her head as she wore her emotions on her face for him.

“I’d like that.”

“Good. Now can I kiss you?” At that moment, Maggie let out a wail and Autumn smirked as he groaned. “Guess not.”

Mitch let her go, feeling lighter than he had in ages.