Page 33 of Keeping Kara

“Come on, Kara. Let’s get you sorted,” Arrow said.

She walked with him out of the building, waving shyly at the other women when they called out their goodbyes and promised to be in touch soon. The men all gave her chin lifts, which made her smile a little. Then Arrow was helping her into the passenger side of his Cadillac Escalade.

She couldn’t help but tease him when he got into the driver’s seat. “Fancy wheels.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. It’s a little over the top. But it’s an older model, and I got a great deal on it. Can’t beat the safety of the thing either, which I like.”

Kara nodded. The seats were leather, and it didn’t look like an older model to her, but she wasn’t a car aficionado, so she had no clue what year it might be. All she knew was the seat was extremely comfortable and there was a ton of room in the back.

She closed her eyes and sighed as Arrow pulled out of the parking lot. She relaxed for the first time in what seemed like forever. She was exhausted. Was it just the wee hours of this morning when she and Arrow had been in the woods, wondering if his friends would find them? So much had happened since then.

Once more proving they were on the same page, he said, “Hard to believe we were sleeping in the dirt last night, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“I hope everyone didn’t overwhelm you.”

Kara opened her eyes and without picking her head up off the headrest, turned to him and said, “They’re great. You’re blessed to have such great friends.”

“I am,” he agreed. “They were all sincere in their wanting to help, you know.”

“Yeah.”

“Sometimes I feel as if we’re the land of misfit toys, from that holiday movie. And somehow we all found each other and are thriving.”

Kara smiled. “I like that analogy.”

“We’re all weird in our own ways, and I think that makes us better friends. And the women my teammates have found only make them stronger. Which makes our connections stronger. The missions my team and I go on…they aren’t safe. Or fun. But knowing we have each other’s backs makes us able to do what we were born to do, without worrying about the external dangers quite as much. I’m not explaining this very well, but it almost feels as if my friends’ flying has gotten better, now that they’re each part of a couple. More focused, precise. Not that they were reckless before, but there’s so much more at stake for most of them.”

Kara nodded.

Arrow looked over at her and said, “I understand that a lot better now.”

She swallowed hard but didn’t look away from him. His attention was split between her and the road in front of them, but she had no concern about his driving skills and his ability to get them to his house safely.

“I’m going to do everything possible to keep you safe, Kara. But I need you to do your part too. Don’t take any risks with your safety. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Don’t let your guard down until we know where Nolan is, and until he’s behind bars.”

“You make it sound like a sure thing,” Kara said softly. “That he’ll be caught. Too many times men like him get away with abuse or stalking or even rape because there’s not enough proof, or it’s the woman’s word against his. And let’s face it, the system is still stacked against women. We’re judged for what we wear, if we were drinking when the incident happened. People think we were ‘asking for it.’ As if anyone would ask for what happened to me.” The last was said more as an aside.

“I’m not going to rest until he pays for what he did. To you and others. I’ve got friends who know how to get things done, Kara. We just need to let them do their thing and keep you safe in the meantime.”

“I’ll stay vigilant,” she told him. “I have no desire to see Nolan again, or to be back in his clutches.”

“Good. So…you’re okay with going to my house tonight?”

It was an abrupt change of topic, but that was more than all right with Kara. She was nearing the end of her rope and just needed a moment to herself. Well, not completely to herself. Having Arrow with her seemed…right.

“Yes.”

“Okay. What do you want for dinner?”

Kara was confused for a moment. Then it registered that he was giving her a choice—and it seemed like a huge deal. She’d gone weeks without being able to make any decisions about anything. Nolan told her when she could and couldn’t speak. When she could pee. When she could sleep. When and what she could eat.

Arrow’s simple question of what she wanted to eat almost had her sobbing. But she had to hold it together for a little while longer. The last thing she wanted was for this man to see her break.

“Pizza?”

“What kind?”