Page 78 of Shea's Hero

My stomach turns to lead.

“No.” My jaw clenches, pain slithering down my neck and through my teeth. “I contacted my colleagues at the CIA. After what happened at the Hop-less Horseman. I wanted to make sure… But there wasn’t anything. No red flags. No compromised assets. Nothing to indicate that this could be associated with my work…”

Cole looks at me, his expression grim. “You were in Russia for a while, weren’t you?”

The guilt is suffocating.

“Yes. On and off before I requested the transfer back to Langley. But it’s been nearly three years…” Trailing off, I realize how stupid that sounds. Working for the CIA, there’s never a guarantee. It’s always a risk that the danger could follow me back to the States. That it could come after the people I love.

“But we hadn’t seen each other in four years,” Shea looks over at me. “Why would they come after me?”

It feels like the air is being squeezed from my lungs. “Because there hasn’t been anyone else. Not before you, or after. Anyone who looked into my background would know you’re important to me.”

“With Maya living at Blade and Arrow,” Cole adds, “she had protection you didn’t. Though—” He stops, his jaw clenching, and I just know he’s thinking about how Maya could have been outside on the patio, could potentially have been a target alongside Shea.

Fuck.

Because of my damn job, I put Maya and Shea in danger. I failed them again.

“It’s not your fault,” Kane starts.

Spinning to face him, I snap, “Then whose fault is it? Because it’s not Shea’s. Or Maya’s. They targeted Shea because of me. Hurt her. Shit?—”

Leo interrupts me, his voice enviably calm. “It may be unrelated. I’m still researching this guy. It’s possible he has a connection to one of Blade and Arrow’s old cases. Or something prior to that. A mission we may have been on.”

Flatly, I ask, “In Russia? I don’t know the details of your missions, but I know you worked in the Middle East. It’s highly unlikely this is related to one of your ops.”

Cole frowns. “It’s unlikely, but we won’t know until we get more information. For now, that’s what we need to focus on.Investigating this guy. And of course, keeping up protection on Shea and the rest of the women.”

Pausing, he adds, “Oliver. I know you can’t share what you did back then. But if there’s anything?—”

“I’ll call my colleagues again. Look into old assets. Contacts. See if there’s anything.” Glancing at Shea, I add, “And I think Shea should stay here from now on. It’ll be safer.”

“No.”Shea’s response is immediate. Forceful. “No way. I’m not leaving you.”

Turning to face her, I school my expression, not wanting her to see the fear rushing through me. The guilt. The regret. “It’s safer, Shea. At my place, it’s just me protecting you. Here, you have the team.”

“No,” she repeats. Her brows pull into a V. Tiny lines etch across her forehead. “We thought it was safe for me to stay at your place before. Nothing’s changed.”

“Of course it’s changed. Now we know there are potentially—” My mouth clamps shut. The last thing I want is to scare her more. For her to know just how dangerous these people could be.

Cole jumps in. “Shea, it wouldn’t be?—”

“No.” With a set jaw, she looks at me with a fierce expression. “I will not. We’re a team, Oll. That means we stick together.” Casting her gaze at Cole and Leo, she asks, “Didn’t you say we’re a family? To me, that means no one is left on their own. I won’t have Oliver staying by himself at his house. It’s not okay.”

She pauses. Her voice wobbles. “I want to stay withyou. If I’m staying here, so are you.”

“Shea.”My throat is tight.

“The client apartment is available,” Cole says. “It might not be a bad idea, Oliver. If you’re here, we won’t have to split up protection.” To Shea, he adds, “No one is leaving Oliver out todry. If he insists on going back to his place, we’ll have someone there as backup.”

Shea’s cheeks go pink. “I’m sorry, Cole.”

He makes a dismissive gesture. “It’s fine.” A small smile tugs at his lips. “If it were me in Oliver’s place, I know Maya would say the same thing.”

I love that Shea is so concerned about me, but the guilt-ridden part of me isn’t sure I deserve it.

Kane glances around the table before his gaze lands on me. “So. What’s the plan for catching this guy? Keep trying to track him? Or…” His eyebrows raise expectantly.

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