Page 46 of Built of Illusions

“I watched for a bit but no one followed you here. Or me, for that matter.”

Nico squeezed Josie’s hand. “That’s all good news. You’re safe here.”

Another nod but she didn’t smile. “I shouldn’t have come here. I’ve put you in danger. He might find my connection to you all. I think it’s better if I keep moving, go where I don’t know anyone. Then you’ll all be safe. I need to go.”

Josie felt ill. She’d been in a panic when they’d found the pen on Nico’s car. Her only thought had been to get him away from town, to make sure Nico didn’t get caught up in the same web she was tangled in. Because of that, she’d agreed to come to Midnight Lake. She couldn’t endanger these people. People she really liked.

Josie stood but Nico didn’t let go of her hand. “I have to go, Nico.”

From across the room, Tansy answered her. “No, you don’t, Josie. We all want you to stay. All of us.”

Joe crossed the room to stand in front of her. “I’m sorry if I freaked you out with all of that. I wasn’t trying to scare you.” His lopsided grin almost had her smiling. “In fact, I was trying to do the opposite. I was trying to reassure you, but apparently that’s not my forté.”

A few others chuckled and Josie looked around to see the entire group smiling at her. No one looked angry or tense.

She made eye contact with everyone in the group. “You don’t understand, I might have led him right here. To all of you. I couldn’t live with that.”

Joe put his hands on her shoulders. “We do understand. We understand some fucker has put you in his sites and we’re going to use our collective brainpower and firepower to keep you and all of us safe.”

“But—”

Tessa spoke up. “Josie. You helped me before we even met. You gave me my life back.” Her voice shook and Flynn took her hand. She smiled at him then looked back to Josie. “We all want to help. Please, don’t leave. Let us help.”

Joe kissed Josie’s cheek then gently eased her down into her seat. Nico shifted his grip, from holding her hand to wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Everyone in the group smiled at her and nodded.

They were serious.

Nico kissed her temple and whispered. “Please. We’re stronger with everyone here backing us up.”

We. Us.

Tears flooded her eyes and she closed them and leaned into Nico’s shoulder. She’d never been a We, had never been part of an Us.

She wanted it desperately yet was terrified to grab onto it. Not only with Nico, but with his friends. When she opened her eyes, he was studying her. Whatever he saw had him smiling. “Thank you.”

He brushed a soft kiss across her lips and the entire group broke into a chorus of oohs, aahs and cheers. And laughter.

Josie broke off the kiss with a smile. Nico hugged her tightly for a moment.

Graham spoke up. “Good. That’s settled. I propose we eat the lunch I worked my ass off making, then relax and enjoy the day. We know Asshole isn’t on our tail. The security systems are active. It’s a beautiful day and the sun is shining. We should try out Tansy’s latest snowshoe design and go for a hike with the dogs.”

Jetson barked his agreement making everyone laugh again.

The group stood and started bringing food from the kitchen to the huge dining table. Nico kept his arm around her and waited until no one was listening to them. “You okay?”

She took stock internally. Nico wasn’t asking to be polite, he wanted a real answer. “I think so.” At least the terror was under control for the moment.

But she had to ask. “I didn’t think about bringing danger to anyone else when we found that pen on your car. All I thought about was making sure he wasn’t after you too. Do you truly think we’re doing the right thing by being here?”

His eyes were serious when he nodded. “I do. These are some of the best people I know. In their own way, each of them has spent their life improving the world. In this room we have not only training and tactical awareness, but we also have smart and creative thinkers. Some of the best of the best. Plus, they’re family. Maybe not the most conventional of families, but one of the best.”

Josie looked at the group and had to agree.

Nico’s voice was soft. “They want to help because it’s the right thing to do. They all want to stop this guy. And the best way to do that is to put all the smarts and resources together after we’ve all had a chance to think it through and come up with options.”

He tapped her nose with his finger. “It’ll be better for everyone if you truly decide you’re in. If everyone thinks you’re skittish and liable to sneak out in the middle of the night, they’re going to focus on you and not catching our jackass. Trust us, Josie. Trust yourself and trust me. We’re in this together. Let’s take it all on as a team.”

More tears flooded, making Nico smile softly. He always saw so much. He probably knew she’d never been part of a team before, never been part of an us.

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