Page 56 of Protected from Reprisal
“That sounds nice,” I say, and it’s not just to be polite. Something I’ve always thought was cool about the Blade and Arrow teams—not just the Shadow team, but the others, as well—is how they’re not just co-workers, but family. And the gaily decorated room is just one example of it.
“Yeah, it is,” Ace agrees. He turns to me. “If you’d like, we could get the fireplace going later. Once you’ve had time to rest?—”
“Ace.” I nudge him with my shoulder, immediately regretting it as the cut on my chest stings with the movement. “I’ve been lying down all day. I don’t need to rest right now. I’d like to walk around a bit.”
When he frowns again, I quickly add, “Unless you only want me to stay in the apartment. I didn’t think. But I’m just a guest, so you probably don’t want me just waltzing around like I live here.”
Surprise jerks Ace’s features. “What? No.” He takes my hand in his. “That’s not it at all, Yara. You’re not a guest. I—we—didn’task you to stay expecting you’d stay holed up in the apartment all the time. You’re welcome to explore any part of the property you want. I just figured, after last night, and the chaos of the hospital, you’d be too tired to do much exploring.”
“Maybe I’m a little tired,” I concede. “But I guess…” Hesitating, I debate how much of my anxiety to reveal.
“What?” Ace asks. “Do you need me to get Indy to check you out? You know he was a medic, and he keeps up with his training, so if anything’s hurting you…”
My chest squeezes. “I think I’d feel better knowing the layout. I know it’s dumb, considering how safe B and A is. And if you have other things to do, it’s okay. I’m sure you must, considering you spent all of last night and today at the hospital.”
“Tink.” Ace gives me anare you kidding melook. “Other things to do? First off, it’s the weekend. Unless I’m on an active case, Idoget weekends off. Also, I was planning to spend the weekend with you. Which I’m doing.”
I’m not sure where this insecure Yara came from—Tacoma or the time spent strung up in my basement—but I don’t like her. I want to be strong, confident Yara who tells Ace what she wants and doesn’t worry that he might be having second thoughts about dating someone with so much baggage.
Ace stares at me for a few seconds, thoughts working in his eyes. Then he slips his arm around my waist, his hold on me strong but gentle. “There is nothing I’d rather do than spend time with you,” he says firmly. “And I can understand wanting to know the layout of the place. How about this? We take a quick tour today, just the inside of HQ, and tomorrow we can take one of the ATVs out for a drive around the rest of the property?”
Part of me wants to insist that I can do all of it today. But in truth, I can see the logic of Ace’s plan. As much as I want to claim my injuries are nothing, I hurt all over. I’m exhausted after onlymanaging a few hours of sleep at the hospital. And I’m mentally drained.
That’s why I agreed to come to Blade and Arrow when Ace asked. I don’t need to be here—with Davis in police custody, he’s no longer a threat, and I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. But stubborn independence aside, I couldn’t deny his idea was appealing.
“If you come back to B and A,” he explained, “it’ll give you some time to decompress. We can arrange for people to clean up your house, so you don’t have to deal with it. And you can heal without being surrounded by memories. Think about it. We can watchBattleBotsevery night. There’s a place in Williston that makes great pizza. Plus those cookies you liked? I can get more of them for you, probably still warm from the oven.”
Then he added the final piece that pushed me over the edge. “It’ll make me feel better, Tink. Having you close by. I know you don’t need me. But…” His face twisted unhappily. “I need to know you’re okay. Not just hear you tell me, but see for myself.”
It was the vulnerability in his eyes that got me. The knowledge that he was struggling with everything that happened with Davis, just like me. After all, when he showed up at my house last night, the last thing he could have ever expected was to have to shoot one of his fellow Delta operators to stop him from killing the woman he’s dating.
His girlfriend.
I haven’t forgotten that part of the night, either. We haven’t spoken about Ace calling me his girlfriend since, and honestly, I’m not surehowto feel about it.
Do I like the sound of it? Yes.
Am I afraid I’m too screwed up for that kind of commitment? Also, yes.
But it felt really good having him by my side at the hospital. Knowing that even though I could handle everything by myself, I didn’t have to.
It was such a reassurance, waking up from one of my stolen catnaps to see Ace standing watch beside my bed or hearing his rumbly voice just outside my door while he conferenced with his team.
And crap, it feelsreallynice being here with him now.
“What do you think, Yara?” Ace prods. “How does a quick tour sound?”
I look into his worried blue eyes, and my heart squeezes a little. It’s been a long time since someone worried about me like that. It’s been a long time since I allowed them to.
“Okay,” I reply. “A quick tour. And then I’ll rest for a while.”
Ace lifts his chin. “A quick tour it is, then.” With a smile, he adds, “If you get tired, I can always carry you the rest of the way.”
I look at him, aghast. “Carry me?Through Blade and Arrow?”
Yes, he carried me last night after cutting me down from the crossbeam in my basement. But that’s vastly different from carrying me around the B and A headquarters like an invalid. I can’t evenimaginerunning into one of the other members of Ace’s team like that. And I don’t want to imagine what they’d think.
They’d think you’re tired and hurting after what that asshole Davis did to you,the rational voice in my head retorts.They wouldn’t judge you as being less. Only you would.
