Page 17 of Protected from Malice (Blade and Arrow Shadow Team #1)

I thought what I’d experienced was bad—being violated, losing my sense of security, having to spend months just to feel clean again—but Tyler lost his wife . According to Rafe, Tyler and Kaia hadn’t even been married a year when she died.

In less than two years, he lost his leg and his wife.

How did he survive it? How did he keep going?

But thinking about all he’s been through fills me with determination. If Tyler can face his ghosts to be here, surely I can do something as small as just talking .

“I was thinking,” Rafe starts, casting a quick look around the table, “that Tyler could start us off with his recommendations for security. Then we can move onto the investigative part of things. And I know you’ve all been briefed on the situation, but if there are questions for Eden?—”

He turns to me with an apologetic expression. “I know it’s tough having to go through it again. And if it gets to be too much?—”

“I’m fine,” I tell him. “I can answer any questions anyone has.”

Indy looks between us, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

His jaw works. “I don’t understand why you called Rafe when you could have called me .

No offense—” He glances at Rafe before looking back at me.

“But Eden. I’m your brother. Of anyone… Shit.

Why didn’t you call me the first time you noticed something?

The first time you got a strange phone call? ”

My chest constricts. “I wasn’t sure it was anything. I didn’t want to worry you over nothing.”

His voice rises. “I’m your brother. I’m the one you should come to. And you were almost run off the road , Eden. You didn’t think to call me then?”

“I…” Tears sting my eyes. I drop my gaze to my lap. “I wasn’t sure. It could have been random. Road rage. Mistaken identity…”

“Come on ,” Indy snaps. Anger tightens his features. “For someone so intelligent, did you really think that?”

“Indy,” Webb interrupts. “I know you’re upset.”

“Of course I’m upset! My little sister’s in trouble and I only find out after? She could have been killed!”

My throat goes thick. “Indy…”

“Enough.” It’s rough. Firm. Rafe pins Indy with his gaze. “Eden had her reasons. She called me. And I called you. We’re all here. End of story.”

In contradiction to his commanding tone, he grasps my hand under the table and gives it a gentle squeeze.

A moment later, Indy’s features pinch with guilt. “Shit.” He sighs heavily. “I’m sorry, Eenie. The last thing you need is me snapping at you right now. Rafe’s right. What matters is that we’re here. And we’re going to make sure this asshole doesn’t come after you again.”

“Exactly,” Webb agrees. He leans forward and props his elbows on the shiny wooden table. “This piece of shit is going to find out he picked the wrong person to fuck with.”

Ace nods. “So.” He turns to Tyler. “What are you thinking for security?”

Tyler looks up from his laptop. Lines form across his brow as he thinks. “Well. Rafe did a decent job in here. Considering.”

Rafe arches a brow at him. “Considering what ?”

A ghost of a smile flickers across Tyler’s face. “Considering that you’re not an expert with computers, like me.”

“No, I’m not,” Rafe replies. “So. Aside from insulting me, what are you thinking?”

“I think we need two suites, side by side, first off. More motion detectors, both inside the rooms and in the hallway. I want to know when anyone even thinks about walking past the doors.” He clicks the touchpad a few times before continuing, “Hacking into the hotel system will be a snap. I should have that done in less than fifteen minutes.”

Glancing at Ace, he asks, “Can you set up some of your detectors in the hallway and in all the elevators? Not that I think anyone?—”

“I know,” I interject, softening it with a tiny smile. “It’s just a precaution.”

“No one should know you’re here,” Rafe adds. “Now that I’ve checked everything.” Self-recrimination tinges his voice. “I should have noticed that tracker before.”

This time, I’m the one giving his hand a small squeeze beneath the table. “It’s not like we had a lot of time, Rafe. After the break-in at my house, and dealing with the police…”

“So the break-in.” Indy flexes his prosthetic hand, then taps his fingers on the table. “The asshole said he picked up the job from a website. Can we find it?”

Despite my anxiety about this meeting, I’m filled with a sudden burst of gratitude. The prosthetic I helped Indy get really is the best.

“I’ll try,” Tyler replies. “I’ve got the intruder’s phone, and I’m going to see if he accessed the website on his phone’s browser.

If he did, it might give us something to go on.

And I’ll try to remote-access the guy’s computer at home.

Depending on how careful the person who posted the ad was, we may be able to ID him that way. ”

“And if he was careful?” Rafe asks.

“It’s possible. The smart criminals are using multiple VPNs, burner phones, even hacking into stranger’s computers to do their dirty work. But. Even if we can’t find the guy that way, we have other options.”

“Like investigating Eden’s background,” Ace says. “Coworkers. Friends. Family—” He winces and flashes a quick look of apology at me and Indy. “I know that’s not a pleasant thing to think about.”

“It’s just our mom,” I tell him. “And a few distant cousins. My mom would never?—”

“What about your work?” Indy asks. “The research you’re working on. You said if it passes the trials, it could eliminate the need for chronic treatments. And pharmaceuticals are big money. Someone could have heard about it. A competitor. And they don’t want to see it happen.”

“Maybe.” A tiny shudder ripples through me. “Of course I’ve thought about it. But even if I were eliminated?—”

Rafe makes a low, angry sound.

Indy’s expression goes dark.

“I’m not the only one on the project,” I continue. “Someone else on my team could pick up where I left off.”

“Eden.” Rafe turns to me. A mixture of pride and worry reflects in his eyes. “You say that. But do you really think the other people on your team could do what you do? Really?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” After a moment’s thought, I admit softly, “Probably not. Not if any changes need to be made to the formulation.”

“What kind of treatment are we talking about?” Webb asks.

Turning my attention to him, I reply, “It’s a drug that would treat amyloidosis.

That’s a buildup of irregular proteins in the body that can cause cardiomyopathy.

There are other drugs that treat the symptoms of cardiomyopathy, but this drug…

it would be curative. So… Yes. In theory, a company that produces one of those treatments could want my research stopped. ”

Tyler’s fingers fly across his keyboard. “I’ll start researching competing companies right away. And I’ll pull in Leo, Matt, and Beth on this, too.”

Indy’s expression grows even more grim. “What about boyfriends?”

My stomach squinches. “No boyfriends. Not for years. You know that.”

“Or someone you’ve dated. Even if it’s just one date. Some guys—” His jaw clenches. “Some guys… They get obsessive. Violent. If you knew some of the stories…”

“Maybe we don’t get into those stories,” Rafe suggests. His tone is carefully calm, but with an undercurrent of strain running through it.

My body feels hot. Then cold. Then hot again.

This.

This is the part I’ve been dreading.

“It could be someone you don’t know,” Ace offers. “A jealous coworker. A neighbor.”

“Eden.” My brother leans forward. “You can’t tell me you haven’t dated anyone . I know I’m your brother and all, but we’re both adults. It’s not like you have to keep it a secret from me.”

My hands start to shake. My palms go clammy.

“There hasn’t been anyone,” I whisper. “No dates. Nothing.”

“I remember you telling me about someone at work trying to set you up,” he persists. “If some asshole got pissed that you weren’t interested, wanted you to… Shit. Men can be fucking assholes, Eden.”

The room feels like it’s shrinking.

The air feels thick. Noxious. Suffocating.

“I know.” It’s barely audible. “I know they can.”

Around the table, everyone tenses.

My heart pounds so hard I’m sure they can all hear it.

“Eden.” Indy looks at me. He’s not pissed anymore. Not worried. He looks scared.

I’ve never been able to lie to his face. Not as a kid, and not now.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asks quietly.

I close my eyes for a second, wishing I could be anywhere but here.

Rafe’s big hand engulfs mine. His thumb rubs across my palm. “Maybe you two should talk privately.”

Indy’s gaze jumps to Rafe’s. “What are you talking about, Rafe ?”

Rafe doesn’t blink as he looks at his best friend. “That’s not for me to say.”

Indy starts to stand. “She’s my sister . If you know something?—”

I can’t just sit here, letting this escalate. Letting Rafe take the blame for keeping my secret so long.

“No.” I get up. “We do need to talk.” Tears blur my vision. “Indy. I have to talk to you. Just us.”

Confusion and betrayal war in his gaze. And it makes me feel horrible.

But he doesn’t argue. Doesn’t question. “Okay.” He angles his chin towards the bedroom. “We can talk in there.”

I give him a jerky nod.

It takes everything in me not to burst into tears as the years of fear and worry and guilt come rushing to a horrible climax. “Okay.”

Indy moves first, heading towards the bedroom door.

As I move to follow him, Rafe touches my hand.

I turn back, meeting his gaze.

What I see there…

It’s so much more than words.

It makes me want to throw myself in his arms. Beg him to hold me and never let go.

I want to ask him to come with me. Hold my hand again.

Be my buffer against the pain I’m about to cause.

I want?—

Everything.

“I’m here for you,” he says, so low only I can hear it. “You want me in there, I’ll go. You want to leave right now, I’ll take you. Whatever you need, Eden, I’ll do it.”

For a second, I almost take him up on his offer.

But as I look back at Indy, standing in the bedroom doorway, I know I can’t put this off any longer.

It’s time.

“I know,” I whisper. “Maybe after. Maybe we could watch—” My voice cracks. “Maybe we could watch the rest of the yo-yo competition?”

His features soften. “Absolutely, Brain. As soon as you want me, I’m there.”