Page 81 of Redemption

“Edward.” Sloan jumped in before I could interject. Or better yet, punch him in the face. “This isn’t up for negotiation. Jackson was expecting a bed, and he will have a bed.”

His eyes flashed with anger. “And I was expecting to sleep with you.”

God, he was petulant, wasn’t he? Used to getting everything he wanted. I knew his type. He probably turned on the charm, fooling everyone into believing he was this kind, patient man, when he was actually a huge dick.

I thought back to the photos in her file. The ones of them as a couple. She’d looked happy, but the smile hadn’t reached her eyes. And her body language had always been a little closed off from him—just as it was now.

“Unless you’d rather sleep on the beach,” Sloan said in a tone that left no room for argument, “I suggest you find a way to enjoy the couch.”

Edward’s face was tight, and he looked as if he wasn’t going to let it go. My hands were itching for a reason to grab him and haul his ass out. But I was trying to stand back and let Sloan handle this.

He smoothed a hand down his shirt. “Of course, darling. We can spend time together tomorrow.”

The fuck they would. Not if I had anything to say about it.

But I didn’t. Couldn’t. Because right now, I was just the bodyguard. So I tapped into years of training for both the SEALs and with Hudson and maintained a neutral, bored expression.

Sloan ignored his comment and went to her room, leaving me to lock up for the night. I did one more sweep of the perimeter, ignoring Edward’s huffs of disbelief and feigned discomfort. I secretly rejoiced in the fact that Sloan had spoken up for me, had chosen me, even if it was something as trivial as a bedroom. Not that I was happy about spending the night alone, but at least I hadn’t been relegated to the couch.

I showered then considered going to Sloan, but ultimately decided better of it. It had been a long day, and Sloan had dealt with a lot, both on and off the water. I wanted her to see me as her protector, her refuge. So for now, I’d bide my time. I’d be patient.

I lay awake for a long time. I was sick of this shit. Tired of losing sleep because I was apart from Sloan.

I was finally drifting off when there was a loud crash. I jolted upright and was at the bedroom door in moments.

“Oh fuck,” a man grumbled. Edward. “Jesus, Sloan.”

I bolted across the hall, through the open door to Sloan’s room, my heart racing. “Sloan?” I called, flipping on a light. “Are you okay?”

Edward was balled up on the floor by the foot of the bed. Sloan was against the far wall, arms wrapped around herself.

“Sloan?” I approached slowly, hands out, always with one eye on Edward. “What happened? Did he hurt you?”

She shook her head. “He…” She swallowed hard. “He startled me.”

“That’s all?” I asked, not breaking her gaze. Desperate to reassure her that I was here and I would never let any harm come to her. Not that she needed my help. She’d handled the situation all on her own.

“Should it truly be surprising to find your fiancé in your bed?” Edward asked.

My lip curled.

“You’re not my fiancé,” Sloan said. “And I thought I’d made it clear that you were not welcome in my bed, based on the fact that I asked you to sleep on the couch.”

“I wonder why that is?” Edward sneered.

He stood, and I turned so my back was to Sloan. Shielding her.

“Because you welcomed me at first,” Edward said, and my blood boiled. “But then she said, ‘Jackson.’” He tried to imitate Sloan with a wispy, high-pitched voice as he turned to look at me. “Now, why would she say the name of her bodyguard? Why would she call out for you in bed?”

Sloan placed her palms on my back. A warning? A plea? The fuck if I knew. I just wanted this fucker gone once and for all.

Edward scowled. “I flew across the world to show you how serious I was about us. To propose.”

Sloan sighed. “I can appreciate that you came all this way, but you didn’t even bother to propose until after I’d ended things. And when you did ask me to marry you, you never once said you loved me, nor did it seem to factor into your reasons for wanting to spend your life with me.”

He scoffed. “Would it have even mattered?” He turned his gaze on me, his fists clenched, color rising on his cheeks. “I asked you to move in with me, and instead, you broke it off to fuck someone else.” He flicked his hand in my direction. “To fuck him.” He spat the words with such disdain.

Sloan straightened. “I ended our relationship because I couldn’t imagine a future with you.” Sloan hurled the words at him with the force of a hurricane. “And I only let you stay here for the night because there was literally nowhere else on the island that could accommodate you. Clearly, that was a mistake.”