Catching Teardrops (MAC Security 5)

“Regret what, angel?”

She runs the pad of her finger along the wedding band on my hand. “Marrying me, helping me…” She looks up at me. “Protecting me.”

It doesn’t matter how much I deny not wanting to get involved or help her when we first met, I knew I would. I connect with her on a level I don’t with anyone else. And on top of that, I couldn’t sit back and watch her being abused when no one else would listen.

“I’ll happily spend every minute of the rest of my life shielding you from the evil in this world.”

Leaning forward, I place my hand on the side of her neck. I’m about to close the distance and about to press my lips against hers, but just as my eyes close, the ringing of my cell blasts. I don’t let it distract me though as I feel her soft lips against mine—once, twice, three times—before I pull away.

Resting my forehead against hers, I let out a breath before whispering, “I’ll never regret a thing when it comes to you, Lily.”

My cell rings a second time before beeping and I finally look down at it.

Evan: Ty filled me in. Meet at my place. Safer.

I know instantly he’s talking about Dean, and when I look back up at Lily, I know she sees something in my eyes from the frown on her face.

“There’s one more thing,” I say before pulling away and standing up. I hold my hand out to her and tilt my head toward the door. Once she’s standing, I check to make sure she has shoes on before leading her out of the house.

The gravel crunches under our footsteps as we walk across the compound, and when I know we’re a safe distance away, I turn on my signal blocker attached to my belt.

“There’s another guy on the team.” She watches me intently, her dark-blue eyes not moving from my face. “I don’t trust him though, darlin’.”

“What—”

“I can’t give you all the details because not even the whole team know there’s something going on with him but know that there’s something he’s hiding, and I don’t think it’s good.”

“Why do you have him on your team then?” she asks as we come to a stop outside Evan’s cabin.

“Ever heard the saying, ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’?”

“I… sure.”

I nod, not willing to say any more about him other than, “His name is Dean and you need to not be alone with him. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Should I be worried?” she asks and when I look down at her, I see the same fri

ght behind her eyes that is always there but was absent when we were in my house.

“No.” I shake my head, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her toward me. “You don’t need to worry about anything anymore, but I want you to know everything you can. This is your home now, with me and my family.”

“Home,” she murmurs, a smile breaking out on her face. She lets her head drop to my chest. “Okay. I trust you.”

Closing my eyes, I replay her words over and over again, wondering what I did to earn the trust of the one person who should be wary of everyone around her. But instead she absorbs the atmosphere she’s surrounded in and knows instinctively whether she needs to protect herself or not.

“You gonna come in or keep making that kissy face all day?” Evan shouts through the door, and when I chuckle and look down at Lily, I see her cheeks reddening.

“Prepare yourself,” I tell her, pulling away and taking her hand in mine. “Evan likes to think he’s the joker of the group.”

“I don’t think! I know!” he shouts before huffing.

Pointing at the door and looking at Lily, I raise my brows to prove my point before whispering, “You ready?”

She turns her attention from me to the door and back again, her chest lifting on a deep breath before she pushes her shoulders back and nods her head.

LILY

I don’t know what to expect when Luke leads me inside the cabin but it’s not four sets of eyes all pointed our way.