Page 64 of Shielding Maya

"We don't know. He's claiming he was trying to help you."

"Fuck." He took a deep breath. "The church."

Maya responded to her teammates. "We can use the church up here. What is your assessment of Jasiah coming out of his cabin?"

She waited and stared at Jasiah while she did so. His eyes bore into hers. He was pissed. Normally when he looked at her his eyes were loving and soft. She wanted that look back on his face.

Myles responded. "I think it's safe. We've searched the perimeter. No signs of anyone else in the vicinity."

Addy chimed in. "The computers are clear. Nothing going on."

"Thank you."

"Jasiah. The area is clear. You're able to leave the cabin now. Is the church locked?"

His chest expanded as he took in a cleansing breath. "Thank you. It's not locked. I'm going out to see if I can calm everyone down."

He started to walk past her but she grabbed his hand. "Jasiah. I had to keep you safe. Do you understand? Remember when we were in the morgue and you saw Malibu Man point his gun at me? That's how I felt tonight." She swallowed; her voice lowered. "That's how I feel.”

He turned to her and pulled her into his arms. Her cheek pressed against his chest, his rapid heartbeat told her the level of his anxiety. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

He kissed the top of her head, then stepped back. "I have to get out there."

She followed him out the door and to the common area. People began picking up chairs and hugging each other. Maya watched with pride as Jasiah stopped and hugged scared women. He helped pick up the chairs that had fallen over. He stopped and asked if everyone was alright. He calmed the scared. He led.

Maya helped Myles get Adam Jacobs to the church, then sat with him while Myles went out to help Spencer bring in the assailant. They were seated on opposite sides of the church. She stared daggers at both of them.

Maya stood in front of Adam Jacobs and inhaled a deep cleansing breath. "Tell me what you were about to do to Jasiah."

"I was about to save him."

"How do you mean?"

"That guy..." He jerked his head toward the assailant. "Was going to kill him."

"How do you know? Most killers don't announce their plans."

"He stopped me at the bottom of the mountain. He asked me who the leader up in the hills was and I told him Jasiah. Then I saw two guns sitting on his front seat. I asked him why he needed to know and he said he had something that would change a nation."

“He sped off and I knew he was about to hurt Jasiah. I sped to First Road and thought I could beat him up the mountain. I tackled Jasiah so he wouldn't get shot."

Maya stared at him for a long time. She wanted to believe him, but she knew of the bad blood. Her eyes landed on Myles' eyes. He asked the Tennessee man a few questions, but got little in return. He glanced toward her. "Rafe is on his way. He can deal with this asshole."

37

Jasiah spoke with his people, reassured them all was well and helped to clean up the common area. His mother stood at the door to her cabin and he strode across the area to hug her. She must have been worried.

He wrapped her tightly in his arms and she sobbed into his chest.

"It's okay, Mom. I'm fine. The threat has been neutralized." He held her shaking body against him, sorry she had been frightened.

His mom pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes. "He's gone, honey."

"What?" His heart sank. Dread filled him as he hurried into the cabin to see his father's body, still lying in bed, slightly propped as he'd helped him do earlier. The sheets didn't rise and fall with his breathing. His eyes were lifeless and half opened. Jasiah sat at the edge of the bed and took his father's cold hand in his. The ache that filled his heart was beyond any he'd ever felt before. He'd have to move on without the rock he'd always counted on. His mentor. His best friend.

His mother stood next to him, her hand on his shoulder. "He heard you speak. He was so proud of you. I'm proud of you." She squeezed his shoulder.

Jasiah swallowed the enormous lump in his throat and tried to focus on his breathing. The sadness that squeezed his heart wouldn't let go. His chest was so heavy he struggled to fill his lungs with air. He'd feel this loss the rest of his life.

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