notch bodyguard who was completely dedicated to my protection. He spent hours schooling me in hand-to-hand combat, stealth surveillance and evasive driving. His steady, quiet presence was helping me overcome past traumas and transform my fears into action.
A former Navy Seal, he’d most recently worked as private security for Kuwaiti royalty, and Evie had assigned him as my personal trainer under Boris’s supervision. Disciplined and professional, at first Paul had seemed a touch arrogant, but the more I got to know him, the more I could see he was really just hyper-professional. It was obvious he possessed all the skills to back up his bravado.
After a few weeks of working out with Paul I was sore in muscles I didn’t even know existed. I think I surprised him with my tenacity, because no matter how hard he pressed me, I refused to give up, pushing myself to the point of collapse more than once. This is nothing, I thought, compared to the pain of transformation– and that pain was nothing next to the helpless horror of watching my mermaid sisters suffer at the hands of my enemies.
I swore to myself that I was never going to feel that defenseless ever again.
So I persevered, doggedly determined and every bit as stubborn as my father ever was. My purpose in life had finally become crystal clear; I knew what I was put here to do. I had to learn everything I could to keep my family safe, both the terrestrial and aquatic sides. I was on a mission, and now that I had something to focus on besides my fear, I was like a dog with a new bone.
Since I’d insisted on staying in Aptos, Evie had insisted on outfitting Abby’s house with an elaborate alarm system, insuring that nobody could get within fifty feet of the place undetected. Abby knew that my mother was a mermaid, and bought my story that the security was necessary after I’d attracted stalkers because of it. I didn’t see the need for her to know any more than that.
Neither Evie nor Abby knew that I wouldn’t be there much longer, because I was planning on moving in with Ethan. We intended to marry as soon as I turned eighteen, and it was only a few months away. After everything that had happened, and in light of Abby and Dutch’s eagerly anticipated baby, I didn’t see why Ethan and I should be apart.
Giving up immortality made me realize that life really was too short.
I’d already moved a couple of drawers of my things to his apartment, and we were impatiently waiting for his father to clear out before I transferred the contents of my art studio into the spare bedroom. My father would be home from Afghanistan soon, and I was anxious for him to meet Ethan. It felt like time was standing still, and I was in a hurry to get on with the rest of my life.
A glance at the clock on the wall told me that Ethan was probably just finishing up at the farmer’s market. We had plans to meet at Abby’s for Sunday dinner, and I couldn’t wait. I’d spent Saturday night in the city so I could get an early start on my training, so I missed him already. I could see Paul notice I was getting edgy, watching me with eyes that seemed to evaluate everything.
“In a hurry to get to the boyfriend?” he asked me. Paul was always teasing me about Ethan, refusing to call him by name.
“As a matter of fact, I am.”
“So,” he added casually, loading up another paper target, “You never did tell me how you managed to get away from Edwards… and burn his house to the ground.”
I shrugged, re-loading the pistol. Paul didn’t talk much, but he asked a few questions here and there, and I could tell the holes in my story bothered him. Even though he worked for Evie, I wasn’t sure how much he should know about the mermaids, so as usual, I kept the details to myself.
“You’re right,” I replied dryly, “I didn’t.”
He rolled his eyes, but continued on, earnestly curious, “Seriously… how?”
I pressed my lips together, “I got lucky. Yuri showed up to help me… sort of…”
We slipped our headsets on, and Paul watched while I took aim. He nodded his approval as I blasted away at the target. He leaned in sideways, flipped up my earpiece and volunteered, “That guy gives me the creeps.”