“I can’t make you do anything.”
“But you need help,” he said with a sigh.
“Yeah. I tried to find a solution on my own. I promise I did. But I’m stuck, and you all need to know what’s happening.” I dropped my gaze again. “I’ll understand if, after everything, you don’t want me in the secret order anymore or even if you take my halo.”
“What is with this family all acting like I’m just waiting for you to mess up so I can cast you out?”
“I’m just trying to be realistic.”
“And in your reality, I wouldn’t fight for you.”
“You can’t.”
He shook his head with a look of disappointment I’d never seen on his face, not even after working with me for hours in the training room with zero results.
“I’ll be there Saturday,” he said, already turning for the door.
“Micah, I’m sorry.”
“Save it for when you can tell me what’s actually going on.”
I watched him disappear, a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was letting him down. I was going to letallof them down—my brothers, my friends, the Blakes, who’d welcomed me into their family with open arms, and the man I loved.
All I’d ever wanted was to feel like I belonged somewhere. I’d always thought I didn’t quite fit anywhere. But now that I was on the cusp of losing everyone I cared about, I realized I already had everything I’d been looking for. I had a home that I loved and a family that had my back even if I wasn’t a warrior like the rest of them.
It was late by the time I made it back to the penthouse. My phone started pinging like crazy the second I returned to Earth, but I ignored it. I just wanted to get home as soon as possible.
Hayden flung the front door open before I could even get my key out. “Danielle.”
“Hey.”
“Where have you been? Do you have any idea how crazy I’ve been going?”
“I’m sorry.” I was doing a lot of apologizing today.
“Where did you go, and why weren’t you answering my calls or texts?”
“I had my phone off.” It wasn’t quite true, but it might as well be. It wasn’t like I had cell service in Heaven.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding into his aura. “Please,” he whispered. “Please tell me what’s going on, baby.” The frustration was being overtaken by black helplessness and sharp pain that triggered an ache in my own chest.
I hated being the source of his negative feelings. I was so sick of the secrets and lies. I couldn’t tell Haydeneverything yet—I needed to wait until Saturday when everyone was there—but maybe I could tell him part of the story.
The idea was too tempting to resist. I was tired of carrying this on my own, of feeling like I couldn’t lean on anyone for fear that they’d become a target.
I looked up at Hayden, letting myself get lost in his dark eyes. “Do you remember when I said my secrets could put you in danger?”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Hayden
My blood rancold at Danielle’s words.
Do you remember when I said my secrets could put you in danger?
I remembered that conversation perfectly. I’d told her she was worth it, and I still believed that wholeheartedly, but there was another angle to her statement that I hadn’t considered. I didn’t give a fuck about her puttingmein danger, but I very much cared about the dangershecould be in.
I cupped her cheek and swept my thumb over her cheekbone, silently begging for her honesty. “Baby, talk to me. Are you in trouble?”
