Page 41 of Protected from Malice (Blade and Arrow Shadow Team #1)

I nudge Eden. “What about those pizza rolls I found at the back of your freezer? The whole stones and glass houses thing, you know?”

Eden lightly punches my arm. “Shush. Those were an impulse buy. And I didn’t actually eat them, let alone serve them at a party for nearly twenty people. An important party, no less.”

“Oh, we don’t do formal,” Finn tells her. “Maybe for weddings, but that’s it. The rest of the time we’re hanging out in jeans, grilling burgers and dogs out on our patio.”

“You should come visit,” Hanna adds. “We can take you into the Catskills to go hiking. Or north to the Adirondacks, if you’re up for something more difficult.”

“Definitely,” Cole agrees as he joins our little circle. “You’re welcome any time.” He lifts his chin at me and Ace, then smiles at Eden. “We’re in the process of expanding HQ, so we’ll have more space for visitors soon.”

“How’s that going?” I ask. “Still on track for the end of summer?”

Cole nods. “It had better be. Maya and I need to get into our new apartment by then. Otherwise it’ll be a tight squeeze when the baby comes.”

“Congrats.” I clap Cole on the shoulder. “I know I told you before, but it wasn’t in person. Another baby. That’s exciting.”

He smiles. “It is.” To Eden, he explains, “We all live at HQ, as you know. But all the apartments are two bedrooms, which was fine when we started and everyone was single. Now we have six couples living there, plus four little ones. I didn’t want to move locations, so it just made sense to add on to the building instead.

So we’ll have bigger apartments for those that want them, plus an additional apartment for clients or visitors. ”

“That’s great,” Eden replies. “I’d love to come out to visit.” She glances at me with a question in her eyes. “Since my new job is starting in August, do you think you’ll have a chance to get away for a long weekend before then? With everything else going on?”

I kiss her cheek. “Of course. If you want to go, we’ll make it happen.”

Eden’s going to be starting work as a professor in the biology department at Reed College for the Fall semester, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved.

If she wanted to stay on at Langworthy Pharmaceuticals, I would have supported her, of course.

But I’m glad that she’s not. The trials for her drug are going well and projected to move on to phase two shortly.

Once they do, Eden said she feels comfortable stepping back and supporting the project in a consulting role.

Will I still worry about her? Of course.

Will I make damn sure the building she teaches in has top-notch security? Absolutely.

Will I lurk outside her classroom for the first couple of weeks, just to make sure she’s okay? Probably.

“You guys are so cute,” Hanna says. To Eden, she adds, “Definitely come to visit. Everyone will love you. And Elle—she’s married to Zane—is a college professor, too. So you can talk about professor-ly stuff.”

Finn laughs. “Professor-ly stuff?”

She makes a little face at him. “You know what I mean.”

His features soften. “I do, Angel.” He kisses the top of her head. “I was just joking.”

“So,” Cole says. “Are we missing anyone?” He looks around the room. “We’ve got Dante and Sarah, Erik and Tatum, Rhiannon and Hawk, Nora and Jackson, and I know Levi’s here somewhere…”

“And Tyler, Indy, and Webb, of course,” Eden adds, gesturing at the trio.

“It’s too bad Maya couldn’t come,” Hanna remarks.

“Yeah.” Cole nods. “But with her getting close to her due date, it just seemed safer for her to stay home. She sends her best wishes, though. And she told me to invite you guys to visit. Which Hanna and Finn did already.”

Cole casts one last glance around the living room. Then he lifts his chin at me and Ace. “So. If everyone’s here. Are you ready?”

“Ready whenever you are,” I reply.

“Same,” Ace agrees. “This is your show, Cole. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Not exactly.” Cole grins. “I’m just getting it started. Then it’s all yours.” With that said, he walks to the center of the room and whistles loudly.

Everyone in the room goes silent and turns towards Cole. “Well.” He chuckles. “That was easy.”

“We’re eager for the announcement,” Erik calls out. “Not because we want to hear you talk, necessarily.”

Chuckles ripple through the room. But no one takes what Erik said seriously. We all know that Erik and Cole are good friends, and that’s just something buddies do. Rib on each other.

“That’s what Clara tells me,” Cole says with a laugh. “Get to the good stuff, Daddy.” He smiles proudly. “Only three years old and she already knows the value of getting straight to the point.”

Eden squeezes closer to me. She whispers, “Are you excited?”

“I am. Are you?”

“Yes.” Her lips brush my cheek. “I’m excited for you and Indy. And—” She stops as Cole clears his throat.

“So,” Cole continues. “I think everyone knows why we’re here, but I think it’s important to make the official announcement. And really, I think it’s important to have friends together to celebrate something like this. So I appreciate you guys making the trip all the way out here.”

A chorus of ‘ of course ’s and ‘ wouldn’t miss it ’s follow.

“You know Blade and Arrow has grown a lot since I started it eight years ago,” Cole explains.

“When we couldn’t keep up with demand, we started the Bravo Team, and it’s been doing great out in San Antonio.

” He casts a smile in the direction of Dante, Rhiannon, and Erik.

“But the demand is still growing. And I hate having to turn people who need our help away.”

Eden leans against me and rests her head on my shoulder. A curl tickles my chin.

“I’d been thinking about another branch for a while,” Cole continues.

“I wasn’t sure where, although I had an idea of who I wanted for it.

” This time he searches out me, Ace, Indy, Tyler, and Webb.

“Then a member of the Blade and Arrow family ended up in trouble.

So it made sense to ask those people to help.

“Of course,” he adds, “Indy and Rafe would have been there anyway. But Webb, Ace, and Tyler could have said no.”

“Never,” Ace interjects. “If a brother needs help, I’ll always be there.”

“Same,” echoes Webb.

“Ditto,” adds Tyler.

Cole smiles. “I know. But seeing how you guys worked together, knowing how skilled you all are… And now that two of you are settling in the Portland area, it just makes sense to start a new branch out on the West coast.”

The room breaks into applause. Once it subsides, Cole continues.

“This team will be a little different than the others. We’re not going to advertise their services.

They’re only going to take jobs on referral—either through Blade and Arrow or some of our other contacts around the country.

The reason for that became clear recently. ”

He pauses. “Sometimes we need to use more… unconventional methods to get the job done. Methods some people might be uncomfortable with. But everyone in this room knows firsthand that traditional methods don’t always ensure justice is served.

They don’t always protect the people who truly need it.

And that’s why we’re starting the Shadow Team. ”

Another round of applause erupts. Eden hugs me hard.

“These guys—Rafe, Indy, Webb, Ace, and Tyler—will work in the shadows, so to speak.” Cole chuckles at the scattered groans that ensue. “Yes, I know how it sounds. But I really think it’s a fitting name. This team… they won’t always be seen. We won’t want them to be.”

Excitement swells in my chest at his words.

A new team.

A new way to make a difference.

A new place to live.

A new life.

When Cole brought up the idea, I immediately knew I was all in. A job that would allow me not only to protect people, but be a part of a team again? A team with people I trust? To be teammates with my best friend again?

And even better, I could be right here in Portland. With Eden.

We won’t need to buy a house on our own, because we’ll be living at the new Blade and Arrow headquarters once it’s built. Eden will have five highly trained former Special Forces around to keep her safe.

For a while, I wasn’t sure if it would happen.

Ace and Webb were in right away. Indy took longer, mostly because he was worried about his prosthetic arm being a liability.

But Cole put Indy in touch with another Green Beret, Yara, who’s a genius with robotics.

She talked to Indy about adaptations she could make to his prosthetic to make it even better than a real hand.

Then Eden and I talked to him. Told him how much we both believed in him. And then Indy was in.

The holdout was Tyler. Not because he didn’t want to, but he had similar concerns to Indy. He was worried he wouldn't be able to keep up with the rest of the team. “I’ll never be as fast as you guys,” he explained. “No matter how much I work out, my leg will always hold me back.”

But Cole flew out to Portland two weeks ago and had a long conversation with Tyler in private. At the end of it, Tyler agreed.

He’s the only one worried about his abilities. The rest of us aren’t. We know Tyler will be just as much of an asset as anyone else.

“So,” Cole finishes, “I think I’ve talked long enough. It’s time for me to celebrate. Eat. Drink. Play some extreme Jenga.” He chuckles. “Probably get drunk.”

“Here, here,” Finn cheers. “I’m always up for extreme Jenga.”

“On that note—” Cole grabs his half-full beer glass from the table beside him and lifts it into the air. “Cheers to our new team. The Blade and Arrow Shadow Team. I’m damn proud to have you join the family.”

Whistles and cheers erupt.

Glasses clink.

Indy catches my eye from across the room and raises his glass to me.

I raise my own in return. We exchange a look that says more than words can.

I missed you.

I’m glad you’re back.

I can’t wait to be your teammate again.

“Rafe.” Eden hugs me tight. “I’m so happy for you.” She pauses. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

My throat goes unexpectedly thick. “I’m happy, too.”

Taking her hand, I draw her off to the side.

Once it’s a little quieter, I say, “Just so you know, no matter what jobs come up, you will always be my priority. It doesn’t matter what you need, whether it’s me sticking close while you’re teaching or being there for you if you’re having a hard time with your PTSD.

I will always be there for you first. Okay? ”

“Rafe.” Her features scrunch up. “You’re going to make me cry in front of all these people.”

“Don’t cry.” I press my lips to hers. Then I cup her cheek as I look into her eyes. “I love you. And that’s nothing to cry about.”

Her chin quivers. “I know. And I love you, too.” She takes a breath and releases it slowly.

“I used to hear people say everything happens for a reason and I thought it was kind of silly. Like… how could something bad happen for a good reason? And I’m not saying I’m glad some of the things I went through happened. But.”

“But?”

“But I’m not sure we’d be here together if they hadn’t. And of everything, I’m most glad about being with you. So maybe the saying isn’t all wrong, after all.”

“Ah, baby.” I hug Eden close, breathing in the soft scent of her hair and memorizing the feel of her body snuggled against mine. “I wish I could take away those bad things. But I promise I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”

Eden tilts her head back to meet my gaze. “I know. And I’ll do whatever I can to protect you, too.”

Oh.

My Eden.

My love.

My home.

I frame her face with my hands, holding her tenderly. “We’ll protect each other. How does that sound?”

She smiles at me. Her eyes are filled with so much love my heart could burst with it. “I think it sounds perfect.”