Page 3 of Blade and Arrow Origins

There’s no pretense with Leo or any of my teammates. We may not come right out and talk about our emotions, but if something is bothering one of us, we know the rest have our six.

Leo responds immediately.

What’s going on?

It takes me a minute to answer his question.

A woman came to us looking for protection from her ex. We helped her with the restraining order, but we weren’t allowedto do anything else. No protection, safe house, nothing. The guy killed her last night. It’s just so… Fuck. It’s so messed up.

I pause, then start typing again.

It’s so frustrating. Why be a cop if I can’t protect the people who need it? There’s so much red tape, so many rules… I get some of them, but when people are dying. It’s wrong.

Grabbing my beer, I take a sip as I wait for Leo to reply. The three dots blink on and off several times before his text comes through.

That’s messed up. I’m sorry. You know it’s not your fault, right?

Do I?

Logically, yes. But in my heart, I’m not so sure.

I stand up and walk over to the window, staring at the buzz of activity outside. When I picked this apartment, I thought the busy location would be good—close to restaurants and stores and a park just a half mile away—but right now, I wish I were anyplace but here.

My finger poised above the screen, I debate just how much to reveal.

It makes me think about Clara. And I think about how there should be a better way to help people. I respect the police, but sometimes, it’s not enough. If we’d been able to put protection on this woman, she’d still be alive. It just feels so wrong. I thought coming here I’d be able to make a difference. But it doesn’t feel like that.

Leo doesn’t mess around with platitudes but gets right to the point.

Do you want to quit? Find a new job?

Do I?

After a moment’s thought, I reply.

Maybe. If I could find the right one. But I’m not sure it’s out there.

Leo’s message comes back right away.

Do you regret leaving?

There’s a pause, and then another text appears.

Sometimes I do. Not leaving the Army, exactly. But leaving you guys. And I miss that feeling. Like I was really helping. Now I’m hacking security systems for Fortune 500 companies. It’s not the same.

No, it’s not.

And it gets me thinking.

I know Rylan’s not happy working in his father’s shop. Finn hates his warehouse job. Nora’s at loose ends, doing some part-time work as a translator. Zane loves his martial arts, but he admitted during our last phone call that he doesn’t like spending all his time teaching. And given what Leo just said…

Maybe there isn’t something out there yet. Butcouldthere be?

What if thereisa way to help people who have nowhere else to turn?

Between me and my team, we have the skills. We could protect people like Dana and Clara.

Could I?

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