Page 7 of Blade and Arrow Origins

“Maybe for Christmas, if you have time,” I suggest. “Traveling from Texas… it might be tough. But you’re always invited.”

There’s a long pause before he responds. “Well. Maybe I won’t be in Texas by then.”

Setting my plate down on the coffee table, I turn to him. “Have you decided to leave the department? Find a different job?”

Cole’s expression goes serious. “I’m thinking about it. This idea I have…”

“The one you’ve been thinking about since that case.”

“Yeah. It’s really stuck with me. And after we talked that day… I’ve been thinking a lot about it. It feels so wrong that a woman could be in clear danger, but the police can’t do what they need to help her.”

“It is wrong,” I agree. “So… how would you fix it?”

A corner of his mouth pulls up. “So… that’s actually one of the reasons I came to New York. I wanted to see you, of course, but also—” He pulls out his phone and taps the screen a few times, then turns it towards me, displaying a real estate listing for a large, rundown office building.

“I was hoping you might head there tomorrow to look at it with me,” Cole says. “It’s in Sleepy Hollow, just about thirty miles from here.”

I look at him in confusion. “Why do you want to look at an office building?”

“Because I think it could be the perfect location for a new venture. Close to the city, so travel would be easy, but the property is nice and private.” Cole gives me a knowing look. “Not as crowded as here. Much quieter.”

A flicker of hope kindles in my chest.

“What do you want to do with the building?”

He gives me an almost nervous smile. “I have an idea for a business. A company. One that we could all be a part of. You. Me. Rylan. Zane. Finn. Nora. If it works… we could be a team again.”

Oh.

If we could…

The small flame of hope grows bigger. Brighter.

“What are you thinking?”

Cole meets my gaze, his expression filled with the same hope I’m feeling. “It’s a gamble, Leo. But if it works, the reward could be incredible.”

There’s no question of my answer. “Let’s go see it. Tomorrow. And I want to heareverything.”

CHAPTER 3

ZANE

“Great class, everyone.”

Forcing a cheer I’m not feeling, I flash a bright smile at the fifteen women in front of me. “Keep practicing the skills I taught you. Next week I’m going to have you partner up, so you can get some experience sparring.”

I catch a few nervous expressions on my students’ faces, so I add encouragingly, “Don’t worry. I’ll walk you through everything. And I won’t ask you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. But I think you’ll find it helpful to practice some of our more basic moves with a partner.”

The eldest of the women, a retired teacher who confided to me on the first day of class that it’s always been her dream to be a black belt one day, gives me a bright smile. “I think it sounds great, Sensei.”

“Master Zane.” A hand shoots into the air. It’s Wendy, a tall brunette with very large breasts, who bounces up and down with enough enthusiasm I worry she may knock herself out with them. “Master Zane. I have a question.”

“You’re not supposed to call him master,” a petite woman with glasses—Aeris, I think—says, pinning Wendy with an annoyed glare. “It’s Sensei or Zane. He’s reminded us atleastten times.”

I have. Since this is an introductory karate class, I said they didn’t need to address me using the more formal title and that Zane would be fine. Some of the women, like Annette, the retired teacher, like the idea of standing with tradition, so they use Sensei. But the majority just call me Zane.

Not Wendy, though. She always calls me master using this sultry tone that makes me think she’s imagining the two of us someplace much more intimate. And it’s always said with pouting lips and a seductive, half-lidded gaze, promising more if I’m willing.

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