Page 65 of Guarded from Corruption

As her case winds down, I know it’s only a matter of time before she doesn’t need to stay here any more. Once everyone involved is in custody, Jade can go back to her apartment and her job and her regular life again. And it’s good for her to have that normalcy back.

But selfishly, I don’t want her to leave.

I want to wake up every morning with Jade cuddled against me, feeling her soft curves and her light breaths feathering across my chest.

I want to be there whenever she has a nightmare—they’re getting a little better, but she still has them regularly—holding her and whispering reassuring things until she falls back to sleep.

I just want Jade here. Doing everything with me. Attempting to cook. Working out together in the gym. Taking walks around the property. Watching those cheesy movies she loves so much.

It’s not that I won’t see her if she moves. Of course, I’ll see her as much as I can. But it won’t be the same.

Then there’s the part that makes me uneasy. Once we close Jade’s case, I’ll have to start traveling for Blade and Arrow jobs, so there’ll be days, even weeks when I won’t see Jade at all. We’ve talked about it—how a pro-bono case could take weeks to wrap up—and she’s okay with it. She understands.

But the idea of Jade alone for that long? I don’t like it. Even though I know she’s lived alone for years, it’s different now. Now Jade’s mine, and I want her protected.

If she lives at Blade and Arrow, she’ll always be safe. Not just because of all the security, but because we’ll always have one member of the team staying at headquarters to handle the business end of things—answering calls, helping with travel arrangements, making sure everything runs smoothly. So even if I have to be out of town, at least one of my teammates will always be around to watch out for Jade.

When I think about it, there really are a lot of good reasons for Jade to stay here.

I’m just not sure if it’s too soon to ask. Should I wait? Hope that she brings it up?

It’s the first time I’ve ever considered asking anyone to live with me before. In the Army, it was never an issue. I never dated anyone seriously enough to get to that point.

But with Jade… I can see everything with her. A future together stretching out for years. Decades. I’ve even thought about asking Shea how she’d feel about me giving Jade our mom’s engagement ring.

Well, once I tell Shea about Jade and I, and assuming Shea doesn’t kill me for keeping such a huge secret from her. Hopefully, the news that Jade and I are in love will overshadow the whole not telling Shea about Jade’s multiple abductions part.

“Hey.” Xavier whacks me on the shoulder. “You okay?”

“What?” I turn in my chair to look at him. “Yeah. Of course. Why?”

“You’re quiet. And you have a strange look on your face.” His brow creases. “Is everything alright with Jade?”

Since we’re waiting to start a meeting, the entire team is here, either chatting or checking their phones. But as soon as Xavier mentions Jade’s name, all their heads swivel toward me in unison.

Rhiannon looks at me in concern. “Is Jade okay?”

“Is something wrong with Jade?” Dante’s gaze darkens with worry. “Flashbacks? Nightmares? Should Rhiannon or I take a look at her?”

Before I can answer, Erik jumps in, asking in his deep, rumbly voice, “Is there anything I can do? Does she need anything?”

Matt’s hands are poised above his laptop keyboard and he’s watching me with an expectant expression, like whatever the problem is, he’ll find a way to solve it.

“She’s fine.” I’m met with obvious skepticism, so I add emphatically, “Really. Jade’s doing really well. I mean, she’s talking with Henley, and there are some nightmares, but overall, she’s good. Great.”

Xavier eyeballs me with suspicion. “Then what’s wrong? And don’t tell me nothing.”

Xavier. He’s like a dog with a bone. And he’s known me for so long, he never hesitates to call me out if he thinks something’s wrong.

“Nothing’s wrong.” I shake my head at him. “I’m just… Well. With Jade’s case almost done, she won’t have to stay here anymore. But…” My gaze sweeps around the table, meeting the eyes of all my friends. “What if I asked her to stay? Is it too soon?”

And now that I’m saying it out loud, I’m realizing I should probably ask them if they’re okay with it, too. “Would it be okay with you guys? I know at the East Coast B and A, all their partners live there. But I shouldn’t assume?—”

Rhiannon beams at me. “Of course. I love Jade. I’m more than okay with it.”

Matt lifts his chin at me. “I’m good with it.”

“That’s why you’ve got that constipated look on your face?” Xavier laughs. “Of course it’s fine. Jade’s great.”

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