Page 50 of Shea's Hero

Blade and Arrow could do it, but that wouldn’t be fair, either. Not when they have other clients to help. And not when I could easily stay there instead, behind their scale-proof fences and state-of-the-art security and even a drone detecting radar, just to be extra safe.

It makes sense to stay there. I know it does. Or I could go to Texas to stay with Niall. But in my gut, I don’t like either choice. Texas means I’m away from Oliver. And Blade and Arrow isn’t home. I don’t really know the people who live there, aside from Maya, and I’m not entirely sure she would want me there.

“Shea, it’s going to be okay. We’re just meeting with the team. You know them.” Oliver glances down at me, his expression soft with concern. He gives my hand a little squeeze before pressing a quick kiss to the top of my head. “Why are you so worried?”

“What? I’m not worried.” Which would be more convincing if I didn’t have a death grip on his fingers.

We arrive at the back door, made of what looks like thick steel with a biometric keypad beside it. Instead of pressing the intercom button beneath the keypad, Oliver turns to me. “It’s okay if you are. However you feel is okay. But if you tell me what’s bothering you, specifically, maybe I can help.”

Shame seeps in. All these people are taking the time to help me. I shouldn’t be getting worked up about it. Complaining. “It’s not important.”

“Yes, it is.” He cups my cheek, stroking his thumb across it. Twilight eyes filled with affection meet mine. “How you’re feelingisimportant, Shea. If something’s bothering you, I can’t help if I don’t know what it is.”

Crap. He’s right. I’m falling into my old habits again, trying to keep my worries to myself. On a sigh, I say, “I’m just nervous. About all of it. Talking about what happened yesterday. Going through all the people who might want to hurt me. And…”

“What?”

“Maya.”

His brows pull together. “What about Maya?”

Feeling foolish, I explain in a low voice, “Well, I know it makes the most sense for me to stay here now. I get it, my house isn’t safe. But… what if Maya doesn’t want me here?”

Clearly confused, Oliver asks, “Why wouldn’t she?”

One of the things that’s cool about the Blade and Arrow headquarters is also the reason why I’m nervous. The whole team lives here, in their own separate apartments, which means Maya lives here, too.

“I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. If she doesn’t approve of us being together?—”

“What?” His head jerks back in surprise. “Why wouldn’t she?”

“Because I hurt you, Oll. And you’re her brother. I’m sure she’s worried I’ll do it again.”

A second later, another thought strikes me, and my cheeks go hot. “I mean. Um. I don’t know. Are we… I know it hasn’t been long…”

Comprehension dawns in Oliver’s eyes. “Together, you mean?”

“Yeah. I guess I just assumed, and I shouldn’t. We haven’t talked about it?—”

A finger tips up my chin so I meet his gaze. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re together. As long as you want to be.”

Oh.

Warmth blossoms in my chest. “I do. More than anything.”

Oliver stares at me for a second. Then he smiles. “Okay, then. So that’s good.” He drops a kiss on my forehead, and another quick one on my lips. “Now, for the rest of it. Maya is happy we’re trying to work things out. Trust me. Why do you think she asked if you were single?”

“I guess I didn’t really think about it.” Pausing, I ask, “Does she know? Why I did it?”

“No. That’s something you can share; or not. It’s your story to tell, not mine.”

“Okay.” I relax my fingers a little, feeling tiny prickles as the blood flows back into them.

“As for the other stuff,” he continues, “I’m not going to lie and say it’ll be easy. But these guys, they’ll be gentle about it. And if it gets to be too much, just tell me. We’ll take a break, or finish another day. Alright?”

“Yes.” Taking a deep breath, I blow it out slowly. Then I work my mouth into a smile. “You’re right. It’s not going to be that bad. And anyway,” I add lightly, “I’ve already been through the really crappy stuff. So this should be cake.”

Oliver’s jaw clenches. Anger flares in his eyes, but he quickly tamps it down. Then he returns my smile and loops his arm around my waist. “It’ll be cake.”

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