unable to look Mr. Shaw or Azim in the eye. “You wouldn’t have hired me without that stuff.”
I risk a glance up. They’re both still glaring at me, and I fold before I can stop myself.
“Look, I’m sorry. I know what I did was wrong. I shouldn’t have lied to anybody, but I swear to you that I’m very capable of protecting your daughter, and I would have given my life to keep her safe… if that’s what it’d come to. I’m not a loser. I just needed to be a few years older, and a little more qualified… on paper, that is. I can do this job.”
Castle gives me a deadpan stare and opens his mouth, but I raise my hand to stop him.
“I know I’m fired. I know I can’t stop that now, but please… please believe that my intentions were never devious or bad or anything. I just needed a job, and I knew I could do this one… really well.”
The side of Castle’s mouth twitches, and he looks up to Azim. The man nods, and then their stern gazes are right back on me again.
“Indigo called while you were traveling back.”
“She did?” I rasp.
“She’s asked me not to press charges. She told me you were a good bodyguard but understands why I’m firing you. She never wants to see you again.”
My hope sizzles, a stone-cold brick lodging in my chest.
“Brody Adams, you are to honor this request. You are not to see, talk to, or get within a hundred feet of my daughter. Ever.”
And the brick moves into my stomach.
“Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“If you choose to violate this request, then I will be forced to notify the police. I have all your falsified paperwork here, and it won’t be hard pinning a number of charges on you. I have the best lawyers in the country, so I wouldn’t bother crossing me.”
“No, sir.”
“Azim will walk you out.” He glances up at his head of security. “Swing past your office on the way so he can return the car key and his fake driver’s license.”
Azim nods, and I trail after him with lead feet.
Glancing back into the room, I try to catch Mr. Shaw’s eye, give him one more look of remorse or maybe a little gratitude, but he’s looking down at his computer, his fingers clicking swiftly over the keys.
“You’re lucky.” Azim turns to me as we enter his office.
I stop beside his desk, burying my hands in my pockets and not feeling lucky at all.
I just lost Indy. Big-time lost her.
“He was close to calling the police. In fact, I couldn’t talk him out of it. Indigo’s call made all the difference. She must have thought you were doing all right.”
“Yeah,” I croak.
Azim holds out his hand. “The key. And all your false identification. Anything from your wallet.”
I sigh and slap the key into his hand before pulling out the cards from my wallet that bear the name Brody Markum.
Azim studies my license. “This is good, you know. Whoever made this has got talent.”
“Please don’t make me give you his name.”
With a little head shake, Azim settles my nerves. “I’m not here to ruin people’s lives. I’m just here to protect the ones I’m paid to.”
“I wouldn’t have let anything happen to her.”
“I know.” He looks like he means it, and I’m grateful.
Damn, I hate that I let him down. The disappointed twitch of his lips is killing me.
Gazing at his desk, I avoid eye contact and try to figure out how to walk out the door. The second I leave this property, I will never be back, and all ties with Indigo Shaw will be severed forever.
I don’t know how I’m gonna do that. I—
My eyebrows dip together as I gaze at the name and address on the pile of mail I’ve been staring at.
ATTN: Burkhard Tuffin
How do I know that name?
I pick up the envelope.
“Hey!” Azim barks. “Put that down.”
“Who is Burkhard Tuffin?”
Azim snatches the letter off me and hands me the keys to my car. “That’s not your concern. You’re done here. I know you didn’t mean any harm, but your time with the Shaw family is over. I’m sorry to say this, but you need to leave this property now, or I won’t be able to stop Castle from calling the police. He won’t put up with any more of your bullshit. You’re lucky you’re getting off this easy. ”
I back away from Azim’s harsh tone, rattled in ways I can’t even