Page 10 of A Shadow of Betrayal

Say what now?

I look at Theo, and he grins, winking at me, all while Dan glares at the young kid. “No, Theo’s just playing,” I assure Dan, laughing awkwardly as Theo throws an arm around my shoulders.

“Nah, she's being shy. I’m taking her out for dinner, so I guess we better be on our way, right babe?” Theo asks, smiling down at me.

“How old are you, kid?” Dan growls out, his blue eyes darting from me to Theo in confusion and disappointment.

“Nineteen, and my name is Theo, not kid,” Theo answers proudly, and I stare at him in shock. Really? He’s that old? I could have sworn he was younger. I roll my eyes and shrug out of Theo's hold, making sure I step on his toes as I do so and make him hop back with a sharp inhale. Dan smirks and shakes his head at the young boy before looking back at me.

“Right… and do you always date women seven years older than you are?” Dan asks, crossing his arms over his broad chest. Theo coughs a little and spins to look at me in shock. I can practically see him trying to do the simple math in his head as his mouth opens and closes a couple of times.

“You're twenty-six?” At my nod, Theo curses and shakes his head. “How the hell are you still alive?” he murmurs so low only I can hear him. I choose to ignore that comment, not sure how to respond, while I look at Dan. “Uh… yeah? I've got mommy issues,” Theo sputters out when he realizes Dan is still waiting for his response.

Dan's eyes narrow, not at all impressed with Theo’s attempt at a joke, while I bite my lip in amusement. I don't know Theo very well, but I have to give it to him; he's fast as a whip with the smart-ass responses.

“Very funny,” I say dryly. “No, Theo is my cousin on my father's side. He came up to visit me because Aunt… uh, Aunt Sue was worried about me being here alone,” I say, lying my ass off with a fake smile plastered on my face.

“Aunt Sue?” Dan repeats, moving his suspicious gaze to me and resting his hands on his hips, looking down at me like a naughty child. “And where was this Aunt Sue for the last year you have been alone?” I open my mouth to answer, but Theo beats me to it.

“Africa.”

“Africa?” Dan asks in surprise, and I cringe, throwing the boy at my side a withering look, hoping he can see the What the hell, Theo? in it. Theo’s eyes widen, and he nods, his hand going to the back of his neck as he looks at Dan’s feet.

“Uh.. yeah. We were saving the animals,” Theo mutters, and I close my eyes, wishing the ground would open up and take me anywhere but here.

“Riiiight,” Dan says slowly. “Meyer, I'm taking you home. Come on,” he instructs, reaching out to place a gentle hand on my lower back to guide me away from Theo.

“No.” I pull back, hoping he will leave because, dammit, I want the answers Theo can provide, and I'm not going to leave without them. I’ve lived twenty-six years of my life with doubt and confusion, and I refuse to keep living that way.

“Now Meyer,” Dan mutters, his voice low, and blue eyes hardening. I step back, not liking his possessiveness, and glare at him when his hand snaps out to grab my wrist. Theo sighs, his head rolling back on his neck before his hand darts out and latches onto Dan’s arm, yanking him away from me.

“Sorry, man. Can't let you take her.” That is all he says before he moves so fast I almost don't see him twisting behind the big farmer. Theo spins, making Dan curse, and then moments later has him in a headlock with his fingers pinching in between his neck and shoulder while muttering a few words under his breath. A split second later, Dan's panicked eyes roll to the back of his head, and he crumbles to the ground.

“What the hell?!” I shout at Theo as he tries to catch Dan's heavy body. Theo grunts and shakes his head.

“Damn, could your boyfriend be a little smaller next time? This guy is heavy!” he complains as we work to lay him on the ground.

“He’s not my boyfriend. What did you do to him?” I ask, moving some of Dan’s dirty blond hair away from his forehead and taking his pulse. What the hell is happening right now? Today was supposed to be a normal day!

“Just made him take a quick nap. I don’t have the ability to wipe his mind, though. Hopefully Cap gets here before the big lug wakes up,” Theo mutters, his eyes moving up and down Dan with a satisfied smirk.

“Jesus Christ,” I mutter with a shake of my head. Satisfied that Dan is okay and only sleeping like Theo said, I stand and look over at the younger man. “And what do we do with him now? We can’t just leave him here to take a nap.”

Theo scrunches his nose as he looks around the abandoned street and smiles when his eyes fall on a large bush about ten feet away.

“No,” I tell him when he grins at me.

“Yep!”

“Not happening.” I cross my arms over my chest and give Theo a stern look as he bends down, grabs Dan under the arms, and then proceeds to drag him over to said bush. “You need to lift with your legs,” I instruct, still refusing to help move Dan. I may avoid the man at all costs in order to not go out on a date, but he is still my friend. I don't feel right dragging his unconscious body behind a bush.

“I am!” Theo grumbles, beads of sweat dotting his brow as he practically drops Dan on the grass.

“I swear if he is hurt, I’ll find a way to make you pay for it.” Theo scoffs and waves a hand through the air.

“He’s totally fine and won't even remember a thing once Cap—”

“Theodore!” a deep voice rumbles from directly behind me, making me gasp and turn, grabbing my blade and holding it out in front of me where a man stands glaring at Theo and me.

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