Page 125 of Protected from Malice
Eden tilts her head back to meet my gaze. “I know. And I’ll do whatever I can to protect you, too.”
Oh.
My Eden.
My love.
Myhome.
I frame her face with my hands, holding her tenderly. “We’ll protect each other. How does that sound?”
She smiles at me. Her eyes are filled with so much love my heart could burst with it. “I think it sounds perfect.”
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
EDEN
It’sincredible the difference three months can make.
From the spark of an idea to full-fledged reality.
It feels like only yesterday that we were all in Indy’s apartment, celebrating the announcement of the new Blade and Arrow Shadow team.
And now, here we are—gathered at the new headquarters with most of the Blade and Arrow family in attendance.
Although the team has been up and running for a couple of weeks now, tonight is the official launch party, bringing friends and family from all around the country to come celebrate with us. Everywhere I look, I see people smiling and laughing and teasing each other, calling out their congratulations whenever they see one of the new team members go by.
Congratulations are definitely in order considering how much work has gone into making the team a reality. Months of planning, strategizing, placing dozens of equipment orders; of late nights spent working on renovating this enormous house so it would be ready to serve not just as the headquarters, but home to everyone on the team.
When Rafe first showed me the sprawling eight-thousand square foot half-built home north of Newberg, about forty-five minutes out of Portland, I had a hard time believing they could transform it in such a short time. “Two months,” Rafe told me. “That’s what we’re aiming for. Get the team moved in by late August, and start taking cases by the beginning of September.”
Considering most of the walls were down to bare studs and the plumbing and electrical still needed to be done, the goal seemed daunting, to say the least. Especially with just the five team members working on it—well, and me, but my construction expertise ends somewhere between hanging a picture and replacing a doorknob.
But something I’ve learned about Blade and Arrow is it trulyisa family. And whenever a family member needs help, the rest of them never hesitate to jump in. We had people flying in nearly every week to help—Nora, Jackson, Finn, and Hanna for one long weekend, Dante and Sarah another, Rhiannon and Hawk came for an entire week, and Owl and Spike even found time to visit for a few days last month.
So the team made their self-imposed deadline, and we’ve all been living here for nearly a month now. Ace, Webb, and Indy have apartments in the main building, along with two apartments designated for clients who might need a safe place to stay. We transformed two of the outbuildings into small houses, as well—one A-frame cottage for me and Rafe and a rustic cabin for Tyler, who still has a tough time being around people for extended periods.
Hopefully, as time goes on, he’ll feel more comfortable being social. Hopefully, he’ll continue to heal. And one day, maybe, he’ll even find love again.
Maybeallof the guys will. Apparently, it’s something of a running joke among the Blade and Arrow teams. That once one of them couples up, the rest are sure to follow. I mentioned itto Indy and he brushed the idea aside, saying, “Eenie, I have enough going on already. The last thing I’m thinking about is meeting a woman.”
He says thatnow. But who knows? A year ago, Rafe didn’t think he’d be in a relationship. Neither did I. But here we are, living together and madly in love. So it can happen.
I hope it does. Indy deserves to find the same happiness I have.
All the guys do.
“Hey, Brain.” Rafe sidles up beside me and wraps his arm around my waist. “What are you doing all by yourself over here?”
“Just taking it all in,” I reply, gesturing at the clusters of people scattered around the expansive living room. From my vantage point on the second-floor loft, I can see the entire living space and part of the open kitchen. With tall, vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows, it’s one of my favorite places in the main building.
The sun is just starting to set, casting a golden-pink glow through the windows. Rows of solar lights are blinking on outside—a housewarming gift from Dante’s mother, who insisted we needed something outside for ambiance. “She sent dozens of them to us, too,” Dante told us with a chuckle when he saw them. “Just wait until winter. I’m sure you’ll get some Christmas decorations as well.”
Christmas. The thought of it makes my heart swell. I can practically see the tree standing in front of the windows, sparkling with hundreds of lights and loaded with ornaments, with brightly colored presents arranged around it.
It won’t just be me and the guys, though. We’ll invite family, too. Like my mom, who’s chatting away with Webb’s mother, both of them looking absolutely thrilled to be here.
