Page 42 of Protected from Malice (Blade and Arrow Shadow Team #1)
THREE MONTHS LATER
EDEN
It’s incredible the difference three months can make.
From the spark of an idea to full-fledged reality.
It feels like only yesterday that we were all in Indy’s apartment, celebrating the announcement of the new Blade and Arrow Shadow team.
And now, here we are—gathered at the new headquarters with most of the Blade and Arrow family in attendance.
Although the team has been up and running for a couple of weeks now, tonight is the official launch party, bringing friends and family from all around the country to come celebrate with us.
Everywhere I look, I see people smiling and laughing and teasing each other, calling out their congratulations whenever they see one of the new team members go by.
Congratulations are definitely in order considering how much work has gone into making the team a reality.
Months of planning, strategizing, placing dozens of equipment orders; of late nights spent working on renovating this enormous house so it would be ready to serve not just as the headquarters, but home to everyone on the team.
When Rafe first showed me the sprawling eight-thousand square foot half-built home north of Newberg, about forty-five minutes out of Portland, I had a hard time believing they could transform it in such a short time.
“Two months,” Rafe told me. “That’s what we’re aiming for.
Get the team moved in by late August, and start taking cases by the beginning of September. ”
Considering most of the walls were down to bare studs and the plumbing and electrical still needed to be done, the goal seemed daunting, to say the least. Especially with just the five team members working on it—well, and me, but my construction expertise ends somewhere between hanging a picture and replacing a doorknob.
But something I’ve learned about Blade and Arrow is it truly is a family.
And whenever a family member needs help, the rest of them never hesitate to jump in.
We had people flying in nearly every week to help—Nora, Jackson, Finn, and Hanna for one long weekend, Dante and Sarah another, Rhiannon and Hawk came for an entire week, and Owl and Spike even found time to visit for a few days last month.
So the team made their self-imposed deadline, and we’ve all been living here for nearly a month now.
Ace, Webb, and Indy have apartments in the main building, along with two apartments designated for clients who might need a safe place to stay.
We transformed two of the outbuildings into small houses, as well—one A-frame cottage for me and Rafe and a rustic cabin for Tyler, who still has a tough time being around people for extended periods.
Hopefully, as time goes on, he’ll feel more comfortable being social. Hopefully, he’ll continue to heal. And one day, maybe, he’ll even find love again.
Maybe all of the guys will. Apparently, it’s something of a running joke among the Blade and Arrow teams. That once one of them couples up, the rest are sure to follow.
I mentioned it to Indy and he brushed the idea aside, saying, “Eenie, I have enough going on already. The last thing I’m thinking about is meeting a woman. ”
He says that now . But who knows? A year ago, Rafe didn’t think he’d be in a relationship. Neither did I. But here we are, living together and madly in love. So it can happen.
I hope it does. Indy deserves to find the same happiness I have.
All the guys do.
“Hey, Brain.” Rafe sidles up beside me and wraps his arm around my waist. “What are you doing all by yourself over here?”
“Just taking it all in,” I reply, gesturing at the clusters of people scattered around the expansive living room.
From my vantage point on the second-floor loft, I can see the entire living space and part of the open kitchen.
With tall, vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows, it’s one of my favorite places in the main building.
The sun is just starting to set, casting a golden-pink glow through the windows.
Rows of solar lights are blinking on outside—a housewarming gift from Dante’s mother, who insisted we needed something outside for ambiance.
“She sent dozens of them to us, too,” Dante told us with a chuckle when he saw them.
“Just wait until winter. I’m sure you’ll get some Christmas decorations as well. ”
Christmas . The thought of it makes my heart swell. I can practically see the tree standing in front of the windows, sparkling with hundreds of lights and loaded with ornaments, with brightly colored presents arranged around it.
It won’t just be me and the guys, though. We’ll invite family, too. Like my mom, who’s chatting away with Webb’s mother, both of them looking absolutely thrilled to be here.
Did I finally tell my mom everything? Yes. Last month, after Rafe and I flew out to Sleepy Hollow for a weekend, we took a side trip to Florida to see my mom. I almost chickened out at least ten times, but I eventually did it. And surprisingly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
Mom was upset, of course, but she didn’t freak out.
She didn’t spiral into depression. She just listened, cried with me, and hugged me so hard I could barely breathe, before saying, “I’m so sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell me.
I understand why. But honestly, I’m much better than I used to be.
Please don’t be afraid to tell me things because you think they’ll upset me.
You’re my daughter. I’m here for you no matter what. ”
Poor Rafe actually looked flustered when he walked in to check on us and found my mom and I in floods of tears.
But once I reassured him that I was okay, that they were more tears of relief than anything else, he shifted back into problem-solver mode, offering to get us tissues, chocolate, wine, movies…
anything that would make us feel better.
That’s the Rafe most people don’t see. The sweet, sensitive Rafe who would do anything to make me happy.
What he still doesn’t fully understand is how simple it is. He makes me happy. All the other stuff is lovely, but at the end of the day, if I have Rafe, that’s the important part.
Rafe follows my gaze to Zada and Levi, who are chatting away, looking more like old friends than two people who only met a few hours ago.
“What do you think?” I ask. “I know Levi’s still active duty, but he mentioned getting out when his contract is up. Maybe…”
Rafe turns back to me with a little smile. “Trying to match make, huh?”
“Maybe.” I lace my fingers between his and stretch up to give him a kiss. “I’ve heard once you find love yourself, suddenly you want all your friends to find it, too.”
And really, Zada and Levi would be a good match.
They both like art—Levi with his caricatures and illustrations, and Zada with her skill in graphic design.
And they look cute together. Levi’s dark hair is a perfect complement to Zada’s light blonde, and he’s easily a foot taller than her, but together, they look like two opposites that somehow make sense.
“Who knows?” Rafe replies. “Maybe something will work out between the two of them. I guess you’ll have to convince Zada to keep visiting, just in case.”
“I will.” I kiss him again. “Maybe for New Year’s. We could have a party here. Invite all the New York and Texas people. Plus, anyone from the Refuge who can make it.”
And speaking of the Refuge, there are some familiar faces in attendance.
Spike and his wife, Reese, are here, along with Henley, Tonka, and their two children.
Owl and Lara sent their regards, along with a beautiful painting of the New Mexico landscape as a housewarming present.
And from everyone at the Refuge, we have an open invitation to visit whenever we want—not necessarily as clients, although we can if we need, but as friends.
Rafe draws me closer to him and kisses the top of my head. “A New Year’s Eve party sounds great. We’ve definitely got the room for it now.”
“We do,” I agree. “Sometimes I still can’t believe how big this place is. It’s really incredible, especially after all the work you guys have done.”
“Do you wish we’d gone for an apartment in the main building instead? Because we could switch, if you want.”
I look at him in surprise. “Why would I want to move out of our house?”
“I don’t know. In case you decided you’d feel safer with more people around.”
“Rafe.” I give him a gently scolding look. “I have you to protect me. I don’t need anyone else.”
“Eden.”
“It’s true.” I glance back down below us, spotting Indy, Webb, Ace, and Tyler all playing a raucous round of extreme Jenga.
From the looks of it, Indy’s taking great pride in rubbing in how steady his prosthetic hand is.
“Am I glad to have Indy and the other guys here? Of course. But not because I want them to keep me safe. I have my hero for that.”
Rafe stares at me for a few seconds as emotion works in his eyes. He swallows hard. “Eden. Do you know how much I love you?”
“If it’s as much as I love you, then it’s a lot.”
He dips his head, covering my lips with his. Tasting. Teasing. Treasuring.
“It’s a lot,” he says when we finally break apart. “A lot .”
Then he looks around the room again. He catches Webb’s eye and lifts his chin. Webb nods, then leaves the Jenga game and heads over to the little speaker set up near the TV. A moment later, the music cuts off.
Webb raises his voice as he calls out, “Hey, guys. Can I get everyone’s attention?”
The chatter dims right away, and within ten seconds, the room falls into silence.
Rafe takes my hand and tugs me towards the stairs. “Come on. I have something to show you.”
“What?” I ask.
He smiles. “A surprise.”
Indy joins Webb by the TV, and he turns to it to fuss with the controls. As Rafe and I descend the stairs, the TV screen blinks on to display in large words, Trivia Time!