Page 60 of Hero Unbound

“My car burned,” she finally said. Her voice was hoarse, as if it were broken.

“I know.”

“Everybody thinks I’m overreacting.”

“I don’t think you’re overreacting.” He scooted close enough that their knees were touching. At least she was talking.

“You weren’t here.”

“I didn’t have to be here. I still don’t think you overreacted.”

Her sigh was shaky. “Nobody understands. I can’t blame them.”

“It’s okay to be devastated by this, Eva.”

“You don’t understand. Nobody understands.”

He ran a hand down the back of her head. “I think I understand maybe more than you think.”

Her laugh was bitter. “I doubt it.”

“I found the shed where you and the pups have been staying. Losing your car was more than just losing a vehicle.”

Those big green eyes turned to him. “You know? How?”

“I figured it out this morning. You were wearing so many clothes in the storm last night. That was because you were trying to stay warm in the shed. And then your car was pointed in the wrong direction—you were trying to leave.”

She laid her head on her arms, as if holding it up took more strength than she had. “I wasn’t trying to lie to you, I just didn’t know how to tell anyone what was going on. I couldn’t afford a hotel, and since there was an outdoor bathroom on the property I could easily use with no questions, it was easier just to stay there.”

“Well, from now on, you’re going to be staying at the big house, okay? You’ll have a room, full use of the kitchen. No more hiding.”

There were still so many more questions he wanted answered, but now wasn’t the time. She nodded, and that was enough for him right now.

He would take care of her however she would let him. Answers would have to wait.

19

It wasn’t nearly cold enough for a fire, but Theo built one in his fireplace anyway. He made hot tea for Eva as she sat wrapped in a blanket on his couch and stared into the flames.

When she didn’t say anything, he thought maybe he’d made a tactical error with the fire—perhaps it reminded her too much of her car. But it didn’t seem to upset her. She just looked…lost.

Maybe opening up about himself would make it easier for her to express herself. He wasn’t great at talking about his past—hell, he wasn’t great at talking aboutanything—but he was willing to try. Hopefully showing her he trusted her with private details about himself might encourage her to trust him with the same.

“I’ve never really gone anywhere outside of Wyoming.”

She blinked over at him, eyes truly focusing for the first time since he’d gotten her home. “You haven’t?”

“Well, technically, I’ve been to Europe. My sister Savannah and I fled there with our grandfather when we were kids and ended up here. I don’t remember much about my childhood there.”

“Have you ever thought of visiting?”

“I’ve considered it, although my life is here now. My family is here. I love Oak Creek. Going back to Ukraine wasn’t ever really what I wanted. What I really wanted, especially when I was eighteen, was to join the military.”

She turned to face him more fully. “Why didn’t you?”

“I almost did. I was consumed with joining the Army like my parents. But hell, I was even willing to slum it and become an Air Force Combat Controller like Derek.”

“I’m not sure what that is.”

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