Page 49 of Beyond Protection
Every tactical bone in my body screamed wrong move. We'd watched and marked. We needed to regroup in a secure space.
Mac bought the hat—three dollars, cash—and turned to me.
"One photo," he said. "That's all I'm asking."
"Mac, someone just—"
"I know." He put the hat on his own head. The pom-pom blinked red and green. "I know what just happened. That's why I'm doing this. They don't get to make me afraid of Santa hats and coffee shops and Christmas."
He held the hat out to me.
I took it.
Mac's smile was immediate, fierce, and grateful. "Thank you."
I put it on.
He pulled out his phone and held it up for a selfie. He wore a ridiculous expression as he leaned next to me in the hat. "Say 'Merry Christmas.'"
"Absolutely not."
He took the photo anyway.
"Don't post that anywhere," I said.
"I won't." He stared at the photo. "An awesome Christmas memory. Thank you for letting me have this. Even if it's stupid."
"It is stupid."
Mac's smile turned sad. "But it's mine."
My phone buzzed.
Michael:Cameras caught someone at the house. Back door. Triggered alarm. They ran, but we can't secure it until the police clear it. Stay away for at least 2 hours.
I showed Mac the text.
"So we can't go back," he said quietly.
"No. Not yet. Which means we need to be somewhere public, crowded, where a stalker can't make a move without witnesses."
Mac whispered, "Pike Place."
"Pike Place."
When we were both back inside the car, my calm fractured. "I failed," I said. My voice was flat. "Someone walked up to that tree while I was watching you, and I didn't see them. That's exactly what happened with Kyra. I was watching her instead of the threat, and she died."
Mac turned to me. "Eamon—"
"I let myself get distracted. Again. By you." The admission tasted like failure. "By the way you looked in that light. By your hand on my wrist. By wondering what it would be like to—" I stopped.
"To what?"
"To be someone who gets to want you without it meaning someone dies."
Mac was quiet for a long moment. Then: "What if it doesn't have to mean that?"
I didn't answer. Couldn't answer. Not yet.
