Page 97 of Shadow Dance

“Why?”

“She wasn’t even sure you were alive up until a week ago,” he said, gazing out at the city. “She’s … not doing great. I wasn’t sure seeing you would be the best thing for her at this point.”

Hearing that made my heart plummet, but I kept my face expressionless. “Isn’t that for her to decide?”

“I decide what’s best for my family,” he said softly. “Last time Maeve called the shots, she was nearly beat to death by a piece of shit I should’ve put down years ago.”

He reminded me of Leo: smooth, controlled, and savage. “That’s fair.”

We were quiet for a beat. I cleared my throat. “Why did you come here?”

“To thank you for looking out for my sister,” he said, finally looking at me again. “Why did you want her to meet you?”

“To see with my own eyes that she’s okay.”To replace the images playing on repeat in my head with ones that weren’t violent and bloody.

“She’s healing,” Lucky said. “Slowly. It’s been good for her to be home, with family.”

“I’m glad. All she wanted was to be home,” I said. “I’ll be leaving the States once the trials have concluded. No one knows that except for a few people I’m close to, and now you.”

“That’s probably wise,” he said.

“Can you let her know?”

His steely gray eyes narrowed slightly. “Let her know what, exactly?”

“That I’m leaving, but I love her. And that I’ll wait for her, if that’s what she wants.” That wasn’t something I wanted to say to anyone but Maeve herself, but if this was my only chance to communicate with her, I’d take it.

We looked at each other for a long time. Lucky took his phone from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and put it back. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Frustration and anger bubbled up within me, but I knew this guy wasn’t someone to be trifled with. And anyway, maybe he was right. MaybeMaeve would be better off insulated from anything that had to do with me.

“We really do appreciate everything you did for Maeve, though,” Tristan said, drifting closer. “You saved her life. You’re a fuckin’ real one for that.”

I huffed softly, shaking my head. “She saved my life, too.”

“Good thing you taught her how to shoot,” Lucky said with a small smile. “You were there for her when none of us could be. We won’t forget that.”

“Good luck,” added Tristan.

I watched them walk away, feeling both defeated and a little lighter than I had before.

After a moment, the guys and I left the lounge. It wasn’t lost on me that I’d pretended to be someone’s bodyguard for nearly a year and now I had two of my own. But as I exited the elevator, I saw Tristan in the lobby. He walked over when our eyes met.

“Lucky’s got a lot on his shoulders,” he said. “So don’t take it personally.”

“I get it.”

“If you ever need anything, contact me at Callaghan’s. It’s a boxing gym in Boston.”

I nodded, surprised. Maybe this was his way of keeping the door open. He started to leave, then glanced back over his shoulder. “Look, I know you’re a cop, but?—”

“I won’t be. Not once this is over.”

Chapter 31

Maeve

June

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