So the overprotectiveness works for both of us.
Or it has, up until that piece of shit Lance Forrester broke into Blade and Arrow and held my wife and son hostage.
When he scared Elle so badly, she’s had nightmares every night since then; waking on a strangled scream, convinced Noel is hurt or missing.
Noel hasn’t seemed to be affected by the experience, thankfully. Thanks to Maya and Elle keeping their cool while they were held in the storage closet, the kids came away from the experience relatively unscathed.
“I was Mommy’s helper,” Clara informed me solemnly the following day. “She said we were on a ’venture. And ’cause I’m a big girl, I helped with the babies.”
Never one to be left out, little Lily immediately tugged on my arm. “I big girl too, Unca Zane. I read to Sam. He like it.”
Cole, Maya, Leo, and Georgia are still going to bring Clara and Lily to a counselor, just to make sure they’re handling things okay. But given how brave their parents are, I have a feeling Clara and Lily are going to be just fine.
We’ll all be fine, eventually. The bruises on Georgia’s neck and Hanna’s jaw are already fading. Rylan’s bullet wound will heal. The jagged edges of the memories will soften. Six months from now, I won’t be reminded of that terrible night whenever I walk past the conference room. Fear won’t clutch at me whenever Elle and Noel are out of sight.
But for now, the memories are still far too fresh to ignore.
“It’s still Christmas,” Elle reminded me the other day, after I protested when she wanted to take Noel into town for the Reindeer Rodeo. “And I want Noel to experience all of it. I know it’s hard, going back out there. I’m nervous about it, too. But I’m not letting thatjerk take our holiday away from us. I’m not going to let him win.”
As with most things, Elle was right.
So we went to the Reindeer Rodeo, along with the rest of my team and their partners and kids. We met up with our Sleepy Hollow friends and enjoyed the day. We took the cutest pictures of Noel petting a baby reindeer, and we made new memories to replace the bad.
Like tonight.
Everyone is gathered in our new communal living room to celebrate Christmas Eve together. What started out as a small potluck and informal Secret Santa gift exchange has grown into something much bigger. Six years ago, Cole insisted on doing something special for Maya’s first Christmas at B and A. So we gave each other silly gifts and watchedDie Hardwhile gorging ourselves on a buffet of takeout.
Now, we have a giant tree with mountains of presents beneath it. We have a buffet table heaped with food—all homemade, some better than others. The silly gifts have morphed into more meaningful ones. Instead ofDie Hard, we watch kid-appropriate movies likeFrostyand theGrinch. And once all the kids are asleep, we share a moment of thanks together. A moment of gratitude for all we’ve been through and how far we’ve come.
After all, could I have ever imagined when I separated from the Army that my team would ever come together again? Would I have thought I’d fall in love with one of our clients, marry her, and have ourperfect son? Could I ever have dreamed I’d be this happy?
No. I couldn’t have. But here I am.
Sitting in front of the Christmas tree with Elle by my side and Noel asleep in my lap, surrounded by my closest friends.
Watching Clara and Lily as they read Christmas stories to Ansel and Porter, the latter of them bribed into complacency by the bones Finn and Hanna gave them.
Smelling the aroma of pine and cinnamon from the tree and the candles lit around the room.
Feeling Elle’s body pressed against mine, memorizing the softness of her curves and the silken glide of her hair against my chin.
I’m so damn grateful for all of it.
And I wish I could kill that fucker for almost taking it away from me.
But he’s in jail, awaiting trial for breaking and entering, attempted murder, assault, and a host of other charges. With eyewitness accounts plus the evidence found on Forrester’s computer, there’s no chance of that asshole being released for decades. And I’ll have to be satisfied with that.
Well. Icouldcall Rafe. He knows people who know people in the prison system. People who could arrange for an unfortunate accident. But I’ve never taken a life outside of duty, and I’d rather not start now.
Although, if I’d been there when Forrester held a gun on Elle…
“Relax,” Elle whispers. She strokes my jaw, gentlyrubbing at the clenched muscles there. Then she kisses my cheek. “Everyone’s fine.”
Turning to her, I work my features into a smile. “I know.”
One brow arches up. “Really? Because I was getting worried about your teeth.”
“My teeth?”
