“Fired?” Tessa finally managed to speak, her brows knitting together. “Why?”

Jack shook his head slowly. Confusion still lingered in his eyes, mixed with something deeper, like he was weighing several things at once.

“Not fired,” he said. “I mean, I’m no longer Mr. Hale’s personal bodyguard.” He straightened, some of his professional composure returning. “I’ve been reassigned.”

Tessa blinked a few times, still not fully processing it.

“So…?”

...