Page 117 of Nyx

I climb out of the SUV as soon as it pulls up to Juniper House, but Juliet is already walking up the sidewalk, using her access code to get inside without looking back.

It hits me in a way that I don't like. Normally, the choices of others don't affect me in any way. People live their lives how they choose, and I don't feel one way or the other about it unless they intend to hurt someone else.

It shouldn't bother me that she seemed in a hurry to get away from me. If anything, I should be questioning what I may have done to make her want to escape my company so quickly. Instead, I feel a little disappointed that she didn't want me to assure her one last time that we'll keep her safe.

"Any updates?" I ask Recon as I approach the front of the house.

"Nothing of note," he answers with a yawn. "Max did mention that the private investigator in Colorado ended up with a female judge who denied his bond. So he's still in lockup."

"That's good news," I mutter.

"Are you here to relieve me?" Recon asks.

"I don't know," I say. "Let me call base."

I step away from him, my eyes drifting back to the front door. The curtains shift, telling me that someone was looking outside, but there are easily eight to ten other people inside besides Juliet, so I have no way of knowing who was peeking out.

"How was your night?" Kincaid asks the second the call connects.

"Quiet," I assure him.

"And how would you respond if I told you that you needed to head back to get your six hours of rest?"

The line fills with silence for a few beats before his laughter comes through the phone.

"That's what I thought," he says. "Take a break if you need it."

"Yes, sir," I respond, thankful he isn't insisting that I come back to the clubhouse.

"The fundraiser is tomorrow," he says, and I recall Juliet mentioning it earlier.

"On a Monday?"

"It's summertime, and all the organizations thought it would be a good idea," Kincaid responds. "Some of the guys are excited to show off the booths they've been building the last couple of weeks."

"She can't go," I snap. "It's too dangerous."

"She'll have to make that decision herself," Kincaid says, a hint of warning in his voice. "We don't tell women what they can and can't do. If we did, it would make us no better than the men who used to control them."

I frown, not feeling like his warning suggests I would try to control anyone, just that it's good to remember what kind of backgrounds some of these women come from.

"We'll protect her," Kincaid says. "Keeping them all safe is our top priority."

All.

Not just Juliet.

His wife, daughters, and grandchildren will also be in attendance. If he thought for a second that there was danger for them, he'd make alternate plans. His confidence in our abilities makes things a little easier for me to handle.

"I have no doubt that you'll be staying at her place again tonight. I'm going to double up on security outside tonight, so I want you to get some sleep if you can. I'll need you at a hundred percent tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," I say, although I know sleeping when I'm supposed to be keeping her safe won't come easy. "I'm going to relieve Recon on the door."

"Sounds good. Be safe. Let us know if you need any help," he says before ending the call.

Just as I'm walking back toward the front door post, another black SUV pulls up and parks. Thumper, Legacy, and Bishop climb out, nodding in my direction.

I know the guys have been briefed on what's going on with Juliet. If they haven't had full-on meetings at the clubhouse in my absence, I know they've been made aware through the app we use.