Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“If guarding me is too dangerous,” she said, “I get it. I want you and
Grizel to be happy.”
“Grizel has nothing to do with this,” Sandor insisted. “As far I
know, she has no plans to leave her position. And she currently has no
idea I’ll be requesting reassignment. It’s not a decision that involves
her.”
“Pretty sure she’d disagree with you on that,” Grady warned.
“I’m sure she would,” Sandor agreed. “But the point I was trying to
make is that I would never put any personal attachment ahead of my
responsibilities. I simply want what’s best for Miss Foster.”
“Then stay,” Sophie told him. “Please.”
She hadn’t asked for a bodyguard—and she hadn’t always enjoyed
having an overprotective goblin following her everywhere.
But she couldn’t imagine it being anyone other than Sandor.
“Please,” she said again, not caring how desperate she sounded. “I
can’t do this without you.”
Sandor sighed, staring at the handkerchief now soaked with his
blood. “The oath I swore promises to place the needs of my charge
above anything else. And that includes putting your need for safety
above our friendship.”
“But I am safe with you.”
“If that were true, you wouldn’t be bruised and broken and facing a
very lengthy recovery after barely surviving the latest attempt on your
life.” He turned to Grady. “Surely you agree that your daughter
deserves better.”
“She does,” Grady said, holding up his hands to stop Sophie from
shouting at him. “She deserves to not have a group of villains
constantly trying to kill her. She deserves to feel safe regardless of