Page 107 of Shallow Remains

He could’ve saved her the trouble. But she had to come to the realization on her own.

A tremulous smile curved her mouth, a sheen of tears filling her eyes. “I love you too,” she said in a wobbly voice.

“Sweetheart, I already knew that, because your first instinct was to risk your life to save me.” That told him everything he needed to know.

“So what happens now?” she whispered. “I still need a full-time job with benefits, and all the ones I’ve applied for are far away⁠—”

“Hey.” He kissed her to quiet her, seeing how overwhelmed she was becoming. “I don’t want you to worry about any of that right now. We’ll figure it all out together once this is all behind us.” Compared to everything they’d just gone through, everything else would be easy.

FIFTY-SIX

“He didn’t tell you who he wanted us to meet?” Lachlan asked her as he pulled his new truck up to the wrought iron gate at the end of Blaine’s driveway.

“No, he just said they were flying in this morning, that it was urgent, and to be here by ten,” Maddy said as a cold, steady rain drummed on the hood and roof of the truck.

They’d been down at the marina visiting Oscar when Blaine had messaged her. Little guy had swum up and put his rock on the dock for them, snatched it back when Lachlan had tried to pick it up, and then put it back so Maddy could have it. They were pals, and she adored him.

“I hate it when he gets all cryptic like that.”

“Me too, but when he does there’s always a good reason.”

It had been two weeks since the explosion. Their lives had seemed like a blur ever since. Hospital visits and doctors appointments in between dealing with the police, the FBI and even two CIA officials to talk about Eve and Syria.

Lachlan was still recovering from the concussion. He got some headaches and had trouble sleeping, but he was incredibly lucky the damage hadn’t been worse. Same for her.

Maddy stuck two fingers into the top of her cast to scratch as far down as she could reach. Her wrist didn’t hurt anymore, but the cast drove her crazy with the restriction and all the itching.

On the plus side, the recent forced downtime and Lachlan being off work had left them free to deepen their bond and explore each other to their hearts’ content once they’d started feeling better. She had enjoyed every minute of that, and Lachlan said it would only get better as they learned more about each other.

The gates opened. Lachlan drove up to the house and parked between Blaine’s Audi and Xanthe’s little electric car. Halloween had come and gone, but Xanthe still had two pumpkins carved with orca designs on either side of the front entrance.

It made Maddy smile to think of Blaine carving them with her on the kitchen island. She’d changed his life for the better. Forced him to step back now and then, take time to pause and enjoy life more.

“We’re back here,” Blaine called out when they walked in.

Maddy left her shoes next to Lachlan’s boots and led him through to the huge, vaulted living room with an enormous wall of windows overlooking the sea. Blaine and Xanthe rose from one large leather sofa while another couple rose from the one across from them.

Xanthe came over to hug them both. “Good to see you guys.”

“This is Maddy and Lachlan,” Blaine said to the other couple. Then to her and Lachlan, “This is Walker.” He gestured to a tall man with deep blue eyes and short black hair turning gray at the temples.

Walker nodded at them and stepped forward to offer his hand. “Nice to meet y’all,” he said in a strong Southern accent.

“And this,” Blaine added, “is Ivy.” He indicated the woman beside Walker. She was a bit older than Maddy, with shoulder-length light brown hair and hazel-green eyes. “She’s the one who helped us with all the digging under the radar.”

“Oh,” Maddy said, suddenly twice as intrigued. “Hi.”

Ivy gave them a polite smile but didn’t come forward or offer her hand. “Hi.”

Okay, Maddy was a little intimidated. There was a definite edge to Ivy. A wariness. And there was no mistaking that she was currently sizing them up. Or her specifically, since Ivy was staring at her.

“Thanks for your help,” was all she could think of to say in reply.

A little smile quirked Ivy’s lips, softening that distant edge. “Believe me, it was my pleasure.”

“Walker’s former intelligence too,” Blaine said. “He and I worked together overseas a few years back, and our paths have crossed a few times since then. Anyway, I thought it was time for you to meet.”

Maddy nodded, feeling a little starstruck. Blaine had said this woman was one of the best hackers in the world.