Page 36 of Guarded from Havoc

“Erik.” A wobble shakes her voice. “I know this is going to sound really weak. But I don’t think I can go there if you don’t. I just… Iknowyou. I trust you. Maybe it’s crazy, given the short time…”

Shit.

There’s no way I can leave her.

Like Tatum said, she knows me. Shetrustsme.

In the days and weeks ahead, she’s going to need support. And while I trust my friends and their partners to help Tatum, selfishly, I want to be the one doing it.

If it were anything else, if it wereanyoneelse, I’d insist on staying in Maine to see this through.

But it’s not anyone. It’s Tatum.

So there’s really no question of my answer.

“Of course I’ll go back to Texas with you,” I tell her. With a smile, I add, “You promised me those cookies, didn’t you? Do you really think I’m going to let you go back and bake them for my teammates and not for me?”

A beat passes.

Then.

She smiles. “True. And I did promise to make you cookies if you got us off that island.”

My heart rolls over. Squeezes. Expands ’til I’m breathless.

Carefully, I ask, “So you’re coming to Texas with me?”

Tatum hesitates. Then she nods. “Yes. I’ll go back to Texas with you.”

Everything in me relaxes.

Despite the fucked up circumstances, this is one thing that feels right.

“Okay.” My thumb strokes across the back of her hand. Her skin is softer than silk. “Good.”

CHAPTER 7

TATUM

“Are you okay, Tate?”

Erik’s voice jerks my attention away from the window and the stretch of darkening yard beyond it. As I turn to meet his gaze, the concern in his expression makes me wonder just how long I’ve been staring at the scenery outside. Just a few seconds, as I intended, or did my exhausted brain switch off for several minutes or more?

“I’m fine,” I reply automatically, although in all honesty, I feel the furthest thing from it.

Since our rescue yesterday morning—was it really only yesterday? Somehow it feels longer—I’ve been using every coping strategy I can think of to remain in control. To not burst into hysterical tears whenever the memories come roaring up on me, bringing the sound of gunfire and explosions and screams. To not give in to my body’s demands and fling myself into Erik’s arms; the only place that feels remotely safe anymore.

Whenever I close my eyes, I see the sinister traps we were never meant to avoid. A pool of blood slowly spreading. Death.

Though logic tells me I’m safe, that whoever put me and Erik on the island can’t get to us here, it’s not enough to push away the suffocating fear. To silence the little voice in my head that whispers,Are you really sure you can trust everyone here? Are you certain no one can get through all the security at the Blade and Arrow ranch? Truly certain? One hundred percent?

It’s not that I don’t trust Erik. I do. How could I not after everything he’s done for me? And in the time I’ve spent with his teammates—though it’s clear they’re more than just coworkers, but close friends, too—I’ve found no reason to doubt their sincerity. All intense and intimidating, just like I thought Erik was in the beginning, but they’ve been so kind. So protective. So concerned about my comfort and safety.

Despite the urgency of the situation, they made me their priority. Like Cole, Rylan, and Leo bringing me back to the mainland right away when I know darn well they wanted to check out the island. Niall and Dante staying at the hospital to stand guard outside my hospital room when I’m sure they wanted to be actively investigating.

And Erik. He never left my side for more than a few minutes, and he always apologized profusely before he did it, like I’d be upset that he wanted to use the bathroom or duck into the hallway to talk to his team.

I wouldn’t, of course. That would be ridiculous.

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