Page 380 of Chaos has a Name
He was honest.
“She doesn’t understand. It’s an honor for me to protect her. She saved me. I was nothing without her. I would have died by his hands, and I would have never had what I have now. Protecting her is the way I can give back. She’s the first person I’ve loved, and how will I feel if she dies and I could have been there to save her?”
Oh, boy.
They were absolutely the same personality.
Elizabeth wanted to protect him.
And he wanted to protect her.
When there was a whistle, they all turned. It was Elizabeth heading out, and she’d changed. She was getting into her body armor, and was wearing her sunglasses.
For a reason.
Her body language said it all.
She was done dealing with this because it put a hole in her heart.
“Uriel just called Ivan. Someone left a little present on the Chief of Police’s doorstep. We have Thomas Adsila’s head.”
The two men started jogging back toward the house so they could get their guns and badges. It appeared showers and food were not on the agenda that morning.
When they reached Elizabeth, Callen stopped.
“He needs his mother. He’s been broken by one of them. Talk to him while we get ready. Please, Angel. Don’t leave it like this.”
She sighed.
Elizabeth was sick to her stomach. In her mind, all she could think about was Takoda taking a bullet, or arrow, for her.
And dying.
That would leave little Oliver without a daddy, and all of them without a son they were beyond proud of. How could she live with that?
Marines died, and if he went down defending the country, she’d deal with it. If he died defending her…that would haunt her.
In that scenario, she’d rather die.
Moving toward him, she jerked her head, and that was the signal to Gryphen and Raphael to make themselves scarce.
As she reached him, she lifted her aviator shades and put them on the top of her head.
“I love you more than you’ll ever know,” she said, being one hundred percent honest. “When I look at you, I don’t see a child I didn’t birth. I see my son. I see a young boy who came to that door four years ago, and was starving, abused, and broken.”
Takoda let her talk as she looked up at him.
“I see the boy who had no hope and how damn lucky we were to find you before that piece of shit destroyed you.Thinking about you dying in my place isn’t something I need or want. I have enough on my shoulders keeping everyone safe, and dealing with everyday stress. I have enough blood on my soul and hands, Takoda. I’m going to ask you to let this go. Not for you but for me. Because while your ego might be bruised if I make you feel like an inferior Marine, mine will be destroyed if I have to watch you bleed out at my feet.”
He listened.
“I’ve seen too much, Takoda. I’ve experienced more than my share. I watched my mother die, and I know that scares you. I know that you see me as the one who saved you, but that’s not the truth.”
He was confused.
“It isn’t?”
She shook her head, and tears filled her eyes.
