Page 18 of Guarded from Danger

Pressing my lips to the top of her head, I murmur, “It is.”

CHAPTER FIVE

LUCY

“Okay, Luce, you ready to get out of here?”

Xavier glances down at me, his soft gaze a contradiction to the undercurrent of tension running through his body. Since the moment we stepped outside the hospital, he’s been on high alert, despite having three of his teammates here for backup.

I look at the waiting SUV idling by the sidewalk, and Erik waves at me from the driver’s seat while flashing an encouraging smile. Rhiannon is standing beside the open back door looking deceptively at ease, but I don’t miss the way her gaze darts around our surroundings, or how she has one hand just inside her button-down, resting on the gun I know she has holstered there. I can’t see Niall since he’s behind us, but I can feel his steady presence, just like he’s been since I was admitted to the hospital.

If I didn’t already know they’re a close-knit team, I would now. Over the last three days, all of Xavier’s teammates—his best friends, really—have done whatever they could to support him, and by extension, me. They stood guard outside my hospital room so Xavier could be inside with me, tracked down my parents in Antarctica to give them updates, snuck in my favoriteice cream at Xavier’s request, and even went over to my house to water my plants so they wouldn’t die.

And watching how they are with Xavier… they’re like how I imagine siblings would be. Gently ragging on him when it’s necessary, like when Rhiannon finally forced him to take a shower yesterday, as she proclaimed, “Xav. You’re starting to get rank. Do you want Lucy to have to smell you like this?” And having his back—or his six, as they say—when the doctor didn’t want to let him spend the night with me.

Dante took care of that in his quiet but commanding way. While I tried to hide my panic at the thought of being alone, Xavier gripped my hand and promised, “They’ll have to physically drag me out of here, Luce. And these security guards are no match for me. I’mnotleaving you.”

As much as I wanted him with me, I didn’t want him to spend the night in jail, either.

But Dante found the right person to talk to, and next thing I knew, Xavier could stay. They even brought an extra meal for him and offered to set up a cot.

We didn’t need it. For the last three nights, we squeezed together on the bed, which was the only way I felt safe enough to sleep.

“Lucy?” Concern tinges Xavier’s voice. Tiny lines etch across his forehead and between his eyes. “Are you okay? Are you feeling weak? Do you want to go back inside?”

I can tell he’s about a second away from sweeping me into his arms, which would normally be romantic, but not this time. Not when I’m desperate to leave the hospital with its glaring lights and disinfectant scent and constant buzz of anxiety-inducing noise. Not when I just want to go home—well, Xavier’s apartment—and try to feel a little closer to normal again.

“I’m okay,” I tell him quickly. Forcing a little smile, I add, “Definitelyready to get out of here.”

Xavier eyes me with skepticism, but doesn’t push it. “Okay.” His lips lift. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

As we cross the short distance to the car, his arm tightens around me and he tucks me closer to his side. Niall closes in behind us, and Rhiannon’s posture straightens. Even Erik’s hold on the steering wheel looks more intense.

In under a minute, I’m in the backseat, with Xavier sitting on one side and Rhiannon the other. Niall gives the parking lot another once over before sliding into the passenger seat and saying briskly, “It’s all clear. Move out.”

But no one relaxes, not even once we’re miles from the hospital, our car the only one on the winding, backcountry road. The four of them are on constant surveillance, searching our surroundings for any sign of danger.

It’s kind of surreal, having this level of protection. Like I’m a celebrity or politician or foreign dignitary instead of just me. Regular Lucy, who’s a moderately successful writer who still needs to work part time to pay my bills and isn’t nearly as beautiful as the characters in her books.

Not that I’m complaining. I’m still nervous being out, even with four former Green Berets protecting me. If I had to go home by myself to my empty house? I’d be an absolute wreck.

A little shudder runs through me just thinking about going back to my house. Even after the people behind this horrible game are caught, I’m not sure how I’ll ever feel safe there again. Every time I come home, I’ll be wondering if someone is waiting, lurking, ready to grab me…

Xavier hugs me closer and asks quietly, “Are you alright, Luce?” He pauses, inspecting my face with concern. “You’re safe, you know. Me, Erik, Niall, Rhi—we won’t let anyone hurt you. Before you know it, we’ll be back at B and A, and you know how much security we have there.”

Since the Blade and Arrow headquarters has security rivaling a top-secret military base—hundreds of cameras and alarms, two biometrically locked access gates, an eight-foot unscalable fence around the ranch, plus some kind of system that detects drones flying overhead—I can’t imagine anywhere safer to be.

At least, that’s what the logical part of my brain tells me.

“I know. I’m not worried about being there. I was just—” I clamp my lips shut. He’s already feeling guilty about what happened to me, which is ridiculous. Neither of us could have suspected that I was the target of some sick online game on the dark web. And I don’t blame him for not coming back from Houston sooner, not when there was no reason to think anything was wrong.

“You were just what?”

“Nothing.” Leaning my head against his shoulder to avoid his probing gaze, I continue, “I’m just a little anxious being out. But I’ll be okay.”

Rhiannon reaches over and pats my leg. “Totally understandable. But we’ll be back at the ranch in no time. And did Xav tell you about how badass this SUV is? Bulletproof windows, run-flat tires, secure communications system?—”

“I’m not sure Lucy needs to hear all that,” Xavier says, shooting Rhiannon a warning look. “Maybe we could talk about something more pleasant?”

---