UNSHAKABLE (Able Series Book 4) Read Free

barge in. As soon as she sees the gun in my hand, she freezes instantly. Her eyes grow as big as saucers while her mouth opens, but no sound comes out of those kissable lips. I purposely walk toward her, pivot, grab her by the waist, and back her toward the bathroom with my body shielding hers. I feel her cheek rest on my back as her arms snake around my waist.
    I don’t want to let her go. . . .
    I can feel her body shaking like a leaf, and I instantly switch gears. I forget what I’m feeling and focus on how I can help her function. Not like this where she’s falling apart at the seams, though I can’t blame her entirely.
    “Breathe for me, Sophia.”
    My voice becomes disjointed; she calms, just not completely. My instinct is to go out there toward the threat; however, each agent has a specific job. Mine is to stay here, protecting her.
    “Where are my parents?” Her shaky voice makes me want to cover her with my arms.
    “I don’t know, Sophia, but don’t worry whoever this fu—- ah . . . whoever this idiot is, he can’t penetrate the outer ring.”
    While I’m already thinking of other excuses to deviate her train of thought, Tony’s voice comes through my earpiece with the news I’ve been waiting to hear.
    “All clear. All agents stay at your posts. Whoever has Wildflower, report now.”
    “Wildflower secure,” I report.
    My body shudders in relief as Sophia’s body deflates behind me. Abruptly, I turn and hold her body tight against mine as she grips onto my waist as tight as an Anaconda killing its prey. Her touch though, is far from that wild beast, a total opposite. Hers is soothing, almost like a balm to my fried nerves, a coat of innocence to cover my impurities.
    “Hey, everything is okay. Breathe for me.”
    Knowing that our embrace is lasting far longer than it should, I release her and nudge her shoulder slightly, hoping she’ll move. She blinks her eyes twice, shakes her head as if clearing the daze she’s been in as she covers her face, taking one step back.
    “I’m sorry. . . . I. . . . I didn’t mean to be clingy,” she awkwardly says without meeting my gaze.
    I suddenly remember a talk we had months ago while we were alone in her studio.
    “Can you feel it too?” Her voice so solid yet lacking confidence.
    If there’s anything I don’t want to destroy, it’s her trust in me. It took a long time before she did and shattering it now by lying to her will crumble her trust to dust. I can’t live with that.
    “I do, Sophia. But we . . . I can’t act on it.”
    “Why?” This time she looks at me with a questioning gaze instead of a hurt filled one, making my heart spasm uncontrollably.
    “Because it’s the honorable thing to do. I’m called to do a job. A job that I love doing, and to break that because I can’t control my feelings for you doesn’t sit well with me.”
    “How about what I feel? Don’t I get to say what I need . . . what I want?”
    Sighing out of sheer frustration, I laid it out plainly for her. “You’re young, Sophia. How can you possibly know what you need and want? Life is just starting for you. I’ve lived my life. I can’t say there’s anything left that I want to do. I’ve seen, lived, and experienced life. I want that for you. I want you to see it without me holding you back. I want you to live it your way without adjusting to mine. I want you to experience it without it being clouded by me. I feel . . .” I stop to clear the lump in my throat that has grown exponentially in size.
    I’m overwhelmed with how strong the current that pulls me to her is. I never thought I’d feel so strongly for someone, but now that I do, I have to give it up so she can live it the way she deserves to. Sacrifice—that’s been the story of my life.
    So manning up, I forge onward. “I feel strongly for you, that’s not the problem. But it’s the strength of those feelings that makes it easier to give up my needs for yours. Maybe when time’s our friend