Page 13 of Guarded from Treachery

“So this is the Blade and Arrow ranch,” Matt says as we step onto the large front porch. He stops. Grins sheepishly. “Of course you know that. I’m sure you checked out the website before you came.”

Yanking my thoughts back to more pertinent matters, like holding polite conversation instead of openly ogling Matt, I reply, “I did. I hope you’re not insulted. It’s not that I didn’t believe you, but…”

“No, no. I’m not insulted at all. I’d do the same thing.” We stop in front of the closed front door while he punches a long code into a keypad beside it. Then he waits while a little camera runs a retinal scan. Once the lock clicks, he pushes the door open and says, “We have retinal scans at all the entrances. So no one is getting in unless we invite them.” He casts a quick smile at me. “Like you.”

“Okay. That sounds like a good idea.”

“Yeah.” Matt angles his chin towards a doorway just up ahead. “There’s sort of an… entertainment room just that way. Sometimes we use it for small events. Or we’ll watch movies or have game nights there if it’s too hot to go out in the barn.”

I look at him in confusion. “Movies? Game nights? The barn? I thought this is a security company?”

“Oh, it is.” We walk into a large living space with three long couches arranged around an enormous TV. “But we all live here. The team—there’s six of us—and three of my teammates’ partners. So we like having spaces to all hang out together. During our free time, you know?”

When I looked up Blade and Arrow’s website, it featured their experience as former Special Forces operators and the different services they offered, but it definitely didn’t mention that they all live here. Which makes sense, really. They wouldn’t want potential clients just showing up any old time, assuming that since the team lives here, they’re always available.

Nodding at him, I reply, “That makes sense. So it’s the six of you?”

“Yes.” Matt makes a sweeping gesture towards the couches. “Take a seat anywhere.” Then he grins. “Sorry, I’m not this scattered when I’m on the job. I promise. My mind just… it doesn’t always work in linear patterns.”

Even though he’s smiling through his explanation, there’s a hint of vulnerability in his gaze as he says it, like he’s half expecting me to dismiss what he’s saying. But I don’t, because I know just what he means. “I get it. Sometimes I go off on tangents, too. But some of them bring me my best ideas.”

“Exactly.” As I take a seat on one of the couches, he continues, “So, like I was saying, there are six of us on the Bravo team. Me, Dante—he’s kind of our de facto leader—Niall, Xavier, Erik, and Rhiannon. Everyone else is out on jobs, though Dante and Erik will be back later tonight. And I’m on HQ duty, which means I stay here and make sure everything’s running smoothly. Check security, talk to potential clients, that sort of thing.”

“Okay.” As I sink back against the couch cushions, a wave of fatigue sweeps through me. It’s not surprising given the stress I’ve been under, plus not eating well, and adding a four-hour drive onto the end of an already long day, that my poor body is just about at its limit. How I’m going to drive home after this, I’m not sure. Lots of coffee and the windows all the way open, I guess.

Matt pauses near the coffee table, his brow creasing with concern. “Are you alright, Isla? You look pale.” A moment later, he grimaces. “Shit.” His ears go red. “I mean, shoot. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Gosh. There is just something so cute about him. And despite how absolutely crummy I feel right now, my spirits lift a little. “It’s fine, Matt. I’m not insulted. It’s been a long day. A long couple of weeks, really. I know I’m not looking my best.”

A horrified expression crosses his face. “No. Isla, that’s not what I meant. At all. You look beauti—” His mouth clamps shut. Then he lets out a frustrated sigh. “You just look a little tired, is all.”

A beat later, he blushes. “Shit. I should just tape my mouth shut before I keep sticking my foot into it.”

“It’s really okay,” I assure him. A little laugh bubbles up in my chest. “Iamtired. You’re not saying anything that isn’t true.”

He looks at me with an earnest expression. “Sorry, Isla. You’re here for our help and I’m making it weird?—”

“You’re not.” I actually feel more at ease than I have in weeks.

“Well.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he continues, “Can I get you something to drink? Lucy—she’s one of the women who lives here—just bought a bunch of apple cider. Or we have soda, water, coffee…”

The thought of apple cider makes my stomach lurch unpleasantly. “Maybe just water. And do you have… someplace I can freshen up?”

“Oh, of course.” Matt straightens. “There’s a bathroom just down the hall from where we came in. I can show you.”

“Oh, you don’t need to,” I start as I push myself up from the couch. “I’m sure I can?—”

But the second I’m standing, everything spins. My head feels like a helium balloon about to float off.

“Isla?” Matt moves towards me, worry carved into his features.

“I—”

But I can’t make the words come out.

Heat rushes to my face. A moment later, I’m freezing.

My muscles don’t seem to want to work.

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