Page 2 of Protected from Malice
Ok. Good. You can never be too careful.
My stomach wrenches into a knot. A sick feeling sweeps over me.
He’s just saying what any concerned older brother would.
But if he actually knew the truth behind it…
Another text pops onto the screen.
Things are fine here. It’s getting warmer, which is nice. The job is… okay. I’m just sitting behind a desk, watching the mall security cameras and radioing the guards if I see anything suspicious. Not very exciting. But it’s money. So that’s something.
I frown at my phone as I try to come up with a good response.
I wish he sounded happier about his first job since leaving the Army. I wish he sounded happier, period. But I guess, compared to how down Indy was before, this is progress. Rather than coming up with something placating to say about the job he clearly doesn’t like, I try to focus on something more positive.
Since it’s getting warmer, maybe you can get out to do some hiking or something. Some of the parks around DC are supposed to be nice. And I was thinking I could come out to visit once I get this application sent out. Or you could come here. See my new house.
The three dots blink longer this time.
Not sure about hiking.
I don’t have any time off for at least a few months. But I’d love to have you visit.
A heavy sigh escapes. Indy hasn’t come to visit me since before everything happened. Before, he’d visit whenever he could, often with at least one of his teammates in tow. We’d all hang out, order pizza and drink beer, I’d hear some of their less-scary stories, and Indy would always take me out for a fancy meal before he left.
Now?
It’s different.
He’s different.
I’mdifferent.
Unexpectedly, my eyes burn.
My nose tingles.
Crud.
I can’t be seen crying at work. Or even close to it. Not only is it totally unprofessional, but somehow it’ll get twisted into something it’s not. If the wrong person sees me crying, it’ll be all over the department by tomorrow.Eden Garrison’s research is tanking. The potentially groundbreaking treatment she’s working on will never make it to trials. The company made a huge mistake dumping so much money into her project.
It’s not tanking. Not even close. Honestly, it’s the only thing in my life I feel good about right now.
But I’m not saying all that to Indy.
Just as I’m about to compose a reply, a familiar voice calls down the hallway, “Eden. What are you still doing here?”
Sliding my phone back into my bag, I turn to face Adam Waters, another researcher who works in the same wing of the building as me. He’s working on a different project—one focused on developing a new treatment for Type 1 diabetes—but I run into him pretty regularly.
And he definitely fits the bill for a safe person to walk outside with. Not big and muscular and intimidating, like my brother and his former teammates, but still tall enough to make a possible attacker think twice. Plus, Adam is about as harmless as you can get. He goes to Renaissance fairs and does LARPing on the weekends with his very sweet girlfriend, and I’d bet a lot of money that he’d never evendreamof hurting a woman.
“Lost track of time,” I reply with a rueful smile. “Trying to get everything in order before submitting for trials. You know how it is.”
Adam nods. “Tell me about it. We’re still a few months out at least. Hopefully—” He shrugs. “Things are looking good so far, at least.”
“Glad to hear that.” I glance back out at the darkened parking lot. “So… you heading out now?”
Understanding fills his eyes. “Oh, yes. You want to walk out together?”
