Page 39 of Protect Me

Duncan chuckles.

“Hell yeah, you get paid,” Killian pipes up from behind me.

The Ringmaster simply waits while Duncan takes me through the rest, including my expiration date three months from now. I swallow hard and then take the pen and scrawl my name along the line at the bottom.

“All set,” Duncan says as he rolls the paper back up and hands it over to the Ringmaster. “We good to bring Isaac in now?”

“Isaac? Who the hell is—”

“Yes,” D replies, interrupting me. “Make it quick, and be quiet about it.”

“Thanks, boss.”

“Thank me when it works.” He turns to me. “Your first show is Friday evening,” the Ringmaster tells me. “Let Liv know if there’s anything you need in order to be ready.”

He turns to leave, but I step forward in surprise.

“Friday? That’s in three days.”

He turns back. “Is there a problem?”

“No,” I say, my mind whirling with possibilities for a routine. Then there's makeup and costume and—

“Your wardrobe is being seen to as we speak,” he adds. “The first batch will be delivered in the morning. The men here can inform you of the practice schedule.”

He doesn’t wait for my response before showing himself out.

After he’s gone, all three guys turn back to me.

“I don’t have time for this right now.” I start to shove past them, heading for the Big Top so I can start working on a routine.

“Whoa.” Duncan blocks my path with the other two crowding in beside him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I need to see the layout of the Big Top again so I can start creating a routine.”

They share a look that has me rethinking my excitement about being “attached” to them in any way. Before I can tell them to back off, Killian and Bracken move aside.

“Where are you two going?” Duncan asks as they head for the door.

“You take first watch,” Bracken tells him, something passing between him and Killian that I don’t quite catch. “Kill and I will call the vamp then do a perimeter run.”

“It’s my turn to patrol,” Duncan says. He’s clearly confused too, but he looks more pissed about it.

“We know,” Killian says, putting up a hand to stop Duncan from following them. “But it’s also your turn to ...well, you know.”

He nods at me, and Duncan scowls as Killian and Bracken walk out.

Suddenly, the apartment feels way too small. Duncan stays where he is, watching me with an unreadable look in his bottomless blue eyes.

“Your turn to what?” I demand when the silence stretches.

“Babysit,” he says on a sigh.

I start for the door, my temper flaring at the way he clearly doesn’t want to be with me. “Whatever. You don’t have to come with me. I know the way. Go deal with the vampire or whoever it is you need to call.”

I pull the door open, but Duncan’s suddenly right behind me, shoving it closed again.

“What are you—”