Page 146 of Hades

“Lettie—”

“Don’t.” She held up a hand. “Don’t explain it away. Don’t tell me it’s for my own good. Don’t make excuses.”

“I’m not.”

She turned to face me. “Then what are you doing?”

“I’m telling you the truth.” I leaned against the counter. “I put prospects on patrol near your property because I don’t know what the threat is, but I know it’s real. I can’t lose you.”

“So you decided to control the situation.”

“I decided to protect you.”

“Without asking me.”

“Yeah.”

Her eyes flashed. “I won’t live in another cage, Brock. I won’t trade my mother’s control for yours. I won’t be managed or handled or protected like I’m some fragile thing who can’t take care of herself.”

“I know.”

“Do you?” She stepped closer. “Because it feels like you’re making decisions for me. Like you think I need you to keep me safe. Like I’m not capable of handling my own shit.”

“That’s not what this is.”

“Then what is it?”

I pushed off the counter and closed the distance between us. “It’s me being terrified that something’s going to happen and I won’t be there. It’s me knowing you’re capable and dangerous and smart as hell but also knowing that doesn’t make you invincible. It’s me trying to stand between you and whatever’s coming because that’s what I do. That’s who I am.”

She stared at me. Silent.

“I’m not trying to cage you,” I continued. “I’m not trying to own your fear or control your life. I’m trying to be your partner. And yeah, I fucked up by not telling you first. I should have come to you. Should have talked to you before I put security in place.”

The kettle started to whistle.

Lettie turned and pulled it off the heat. She poured water into two mugs and added tea bags. Her hands were steady.

“You’re right,” she said finally. “You should have told me.”

“I know.”

“But you’re also right that something feels wrong.” She handed me a mug. “It always does this time of year. And I still don’t understand why.”

I took the tea and held it without drinking. “What do you think it means?”

“I think she’s waiting for something.” Lettie sat at the table. “I think she knows something I don’t. And whatever it is, I think it’s coming soon.”

I sat across from her. “Then we handle it together.”

“Together means you tell me when you’re sending men to watch my house.”

“Agreed.”

“Together means you don’t make decisions for me.”

“Agreed.”

“Together means you trust me to know when I need help.”