Page 20 of Deadly Hope
She looked up at Axel, seeing the concern beneath his professional demeanor. “I need some time to think about it,” she said quietly. “And I want to talk to Zara myself before anything happens.”
Axel’s systematic sweep brought him to her desk, where his gaze caught on the framed photo. Two figures stood triumphant atop a granite monolith, arms raised in victory against a vast sky. Even in the small image, their shared features were unmistakable—the same determined set of thejaw, the same unruly red curls. The same bright eyes. Even five years apart, she and James had never been able to hide the fact that they were brother and sister.
Marisol’s voice carried from the reception area, discussing filing systems with Izzy. The normalcy of it hit Olivia like a physical blow—Marisol, who came in on her day off just to help. Stuart and Janelle, who’d trusted her with their practice space. Her clients, who deserved better than to walk into potential danger.
“I can’t keep seeing clients here,” she said suddenly, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. “If something happened to any of them, or to Marisol?—”
“I was hoping you’d say that. We’ll figure something out,” Axel said. “There are options.”
Izzy poked her head in. “Are we relocating? Because if we are, that’s Axel’s department. I just handle the fun stuff like weapons and surveillance gear.”
Axel thought for a minute. “We could blame it on necessary renovations, or?—”
“Fumigation,” Marisol called out. “Everyone believes fumigation. Nobody asks questions about bugs.”
Despite everything, Olivia felt a laugh bubble up. She looked around her space—the carefully chosen artwork, the comfortable chairs, the soft lighting she’d selected to create a sanctuary for healing. Now it all felt ... tainted. But as she watched her impromptu team brainstorming solutions, she felt something else too: a fierce determination not to let fear win.
“Okay,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “Let’s talk relocation options. But nothing too far from the coffee shop on Third—their chai lattes are therapeutic necessity.”
“There’s my practical girl,” Marisol grinned. “Always keeping the priorities straight.”
After finalizing some immediate security measures, Axel’steam stepped out to check the building’s perimeter, leaving Olivia and Marisol alone in the inner office.
“Bueno,” Marisol fanned herself dramatically. “Your new friends are something else.”
“They’re not my friends,” Olivia corrected quickly. “They’re security consultants.”
“Whatever you say,” Marisol’s eyes twinkled. “They’re like pan dulce– sweet, warm, and impossible to resist.”
Olivia busied herself straightening papers, trying to ignore how accurate that description was—unfortunately.
“If I wasn’t blissfully married,” Marisol continued, “I wouldn’t mind either one of those tall drinks of water. But you ...” She studied Olivia’s face with knowing eyes. “You’ve already picked your favorite, haven’t you?”
“I haven’t given it any thought,” Olivia protested, but she could feel her cheeks warming.
“¡Mentirosa!” Marisol laughed. “It’s Axel.” She held a hand up before Olivia could respond. “Don’t even. I saw how you look at him when you think no one’s watching.”
Olivia opened her mouth to argue, but Axel chose that moment to return with Izzy and Ronan in tow.
She ran her hand along her desk’s smooth surface, remembering all the breakthroughs that had happened in this room. All the moments when her clients had found their own strength to face their fears.
Maybe it was time to practice what she preached.
She looked up straight into Axel’s steel-blue eyes. “You know what? My clients don’t come here because of the room. They come because they’re ready to do the work, face their demons.” She straightened, chin lifting. “And if they can be that brave, so can I.”
“Even without the therapeutic chai lattes?” Marisol teased.
“Well,” Olivia smiled, and there was steel beneath thehumor, “let’s not get crazy. Some comforts are non-negotiable. But the rest?” She grabbed her jacket, ready to scout new locations. “The rest we’ll figure out. One step at a time.”
Just like she always told her clients. One brave step at a time.
12
After leavingOlivia in Izzy’s capable care to gather what she needed from her office, Axel found Ronan in Knight Tactical’s secondary command center wrapping up a video call with his lady-love, Maya. Their newest recruit, the former NCIS detective was away on a girl’s week with friends from LA. Her smile lit up the monitor, dark eyes sparkling as she teased Ronan about working late again last night.
“Just because Knight Tactical can afford fancy coffee machines doesn’t mean you need to live there, babe,” she said.
Axel couldn’t help grinning at the way Ronan’s usual stoic expression softened.
