“Rafael—”
“No. Don't Rafael me.” He turned back to face me. “I have resources. I have connections. I can make calls. Get you protection. Get you somewhere safe until this is over.”
“I appreciate that, but?—”
“But nothing.” His hands were shaking, actually shaking. “You think I'm going to sit here and watch you walk back into a house where someone took shots at you? You think I'm okay with that?”
The genuine fear in his voice caught me off guard.
“I'm being careful,” I said. “There's security now. People watching the house. Troy's not leaving me exposed.”
“Security.” Rafael laughed, sharp and bitter. “Someone put bullets through your window, Declan. Security didn't stop that.”
“They weren't there yet. They are now.”
“And you trust that's enough?”
“I have to.” I stood up and moved closer to him. “Look, I know this sounds insane. I know you're worried. But running isn't going to solve this. And I'm not going to hide while Troy deals with it alone.”
“Why the fuck not? He's the one they're after.”
“Because he's living in my house. Because whoever's doing this is using me to get to him. Because I'm involved whether I want to be or not.” I grabbed Rafael's shoulder. “I'm not running. I'm staying. And I'm trusting that the people Troy brought in know what they're doing.”
Rafael's jaw was tight. “This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say.”
“Probably.”
“You could die, Declan. And you're treating it like it's just another problem to manage.”
“What else am I supposed to do? Fall apart? Let the fear control my life?” I squeezed his shoulder. “I've got bills to pay. Clients depending on me. A fight coming up that I need to train for. I can't just stop living because someone's trying to kill me.”
“Yes, you can. That's exactly what you should do.” Rafael's voice cracked. “You should disappear until this is over. Let Troy's people handle it. Come back when it's safe.”
“I'm not leaving Troy alone in this.”
“Why the hell not?”
Because he's mine, I wanted to say. Because I just got him back and I'm not letting him go again. Because if something happens to him while I'm hiding somewhere safe, I'll never forgive myself.
But I couldn't say any of that to Rafael.
“Because he's family,” I said instead. “And family doesn't run.”
Rafael stared at me for a long moment. Then he pulled me into a hug and held on tight.
“You're an idiot,” he said against my shoulder. “But you're my friend. So if you need anything, anything at all, you call me. Understood?”
I nodded. “Understood. Thanks, Rafael.”
“Don't thank me. Just stay alive.” He pulled back, and his eyes were red. “I'd hate to lose one of the best fighters I know over something this fucking preventable.”
“I'll do my best.”
“Your best better be good enough.” He wiped at his face. “Now finish your food. You look like hell and you need the calories.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes. The food helped. Made my brain work slightly better. Made the exhaustion feel less crushing.
When Rafael stood to leave, he paused at the door. “Be careful, Declan. Whoever this is, they're not going to stop until they get what they want. Make sure you're not what they want.”
