Page 92 of Guarded from Treachery

I turn towards Matt. Emotion shakes my voice. “Ican’t. Not now. Maybe one day. But not now.”

“Okay.” He pulls me against his chest and kisses my head again. “Whatever you want to do, I fully support you.” To Dante, he adds, “I don’t care if the FBIthinksthey have enough evidence. I don’t want to end protection on Isla until we’re absolutely sure.”

A shaft of fear spears through me. Not for the end of my protection, exactly, but for everything it means.

Not living at Blade and Arrow anymore. Not seeing Matt every day. Losing the first place that’s actually felt like home.

“Of course not,” Dante agrees. “I’d like to keep Isla here until we’re certain the case against Day is airtight. Plus, we can continue our own investigation to ensure that everyone involved is caught.”

“Damn right,” Matt grits out. “I won’t stop until every last one of them is punished for what they did to Isla.”

“But what about after?” It just comes out without thinking. “When you find everyone? Where will I go then?”

Matt stiffens. His brows pull into a deep V. “Do youwantto leave?”

“Doyouwant me to leave?”

“You know, I think I’m going to get going,” Dante announces. Without waiting for a response, he jumps up and speeds towards the door. “I think we’ve gone through everything for now. If I hear anything else, I’ll let you know.”

Matt’s gaze is fixed on mine as he says absently, “Okay, D. Thanks for coming over. I’ll talk to you later.”

As the front door clicks shut, Matt shifts on the couch so he’s facing me. His knees bump against mine. Something that looks an awful lot like fear fills his gaze. “Doyou want to leave, Isles? Go back to Dallas when this is all over?”

Now I’m afraid, but it’s for a different reason.

What if I tell him the unvarnished truth and he doesn’t respond the way I hope?

I’m not sure I could take it on top of everything else.

“Isla?” That vulnerable look in his eyes is back again. “Is that what you want? I wasn’t going to ask, not now, at least. But if Dallas is where you want to be?—”

“It’s not.”

Matt stares at me. Hope flickers across his face before disappearing. “Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t want to go back to Dallas. I want—” My throat closes for a second. In a whisper, I finally say, “I’m scared, Matt.”

“Oh, honey.” He lifts me onto his lap. “Why? I won’t let anyone hurt you here. I promise.” A beat, and then, “I know I screwed up at the store. I should have set up cameras outside. Brought more people to stand guard. I’m so sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault. And that’s not what I’m scared of.”

“Then what?”

How can I face off against would-be abductors but be terrified to tell Matt what I want?

“I’m scared you don’t want the same thing I do,” I admit. “And I know you think I’m strong. But I’m not sure I’m strong enough to handle the disappointment.”

Confusion ripples across Matt’s face. A moment later, realization takes its place. “Oh, Isles. I’m sorry.”

My heart plummets to my feet. “So youdowant me to leave.”

“Oh, no.” Pink touches his cheeks. “I’m sorry I’m such an idiot. I thought waiting was better. With everything going on, I didn’t want to push you. Or make you feel uncomfortable. But…”

“But?”

“I want you to stay here. At Blade and Arrow. Not in the client apartment, but with me. We could turn the guest room into a nursery. You and Jade will have your babies around the same time, so it would be nice for them to grow up together, and Rambo is great with kids, you should see him at the community center.”

Reaching over to the coffee table, he snags his phone and swipes across the screen. Then he taps it a few times before holding it out to me. Displayed is a 3D rendering of a nursery, complete with furniture and decorations and even tiny paintings of doves and eagles on the walls.

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