Shea’s Hero (Heroes of Sleepy Hollow #5)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

SHEA

It shouldn’t be so nerve-wracking to be here.

This is supposed to be a fun night, after all. Not something to get anxious about.

I get to spend time with my best friend and my brother, who I miss desperately since they both moved to Texas. Not that I’d ever tell them that; it would make them worry about me even more than they already do. But as soon as Niall and Jade suggested coming to New York for a visit, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

Niall and Jade. No longer two people living separate lives, trying to deny the connection they’ve had for over a decade, but married. In love. Deliriously happy. And I couldn’t be more thrilled for them.

I’d secretly hoped they’d get together for years, constantly dropping hints and trying to orchestrate times for them to be together. But it took Jade ending up in danger and Niall coming to her aid for them to finally realize what I’d known all along. That the two people I love most in the world were meant for each other.

So if their new life means they live halfway across the country from me, I’ll deal with it.

But when they’re visiting, I’ll spend as much time with them as I can. Which is why we’re all out at the Hop-less Horseman—a cozy pub in downtown Sleepy Hollow—enjoying a relaxing night of craft beer, overflowing plates of wings, and watching the most competitive dart competition I’ve ever seen.

It makes sense, though. Because I’m not just out with Jade and Niall, but my brother’s old Army buddies, too. Not just Army, but Green Berets, all of them highly trained marksmen. And in the case of my brother, a sniper who can hit pretty much anything.

Me, on the other hand? I’m about as uncoordinated as they come. After some urging, I agreed to play one round of darts, quickly demonstrating just how different I am from my brother.

After I flung three darts into the floor, one into the ceiling, and the fifth narrowly missed my own foot, the rest of the group lost it. I could tell they were trying not to laugh, afraid of making me feel bad, but when I burst out laughing, they immediately followed suit.

Sweet Elle, who’s married to Zane, one of Niall’s friends, tried to comfort me through her giggles. “Don’t feel bad,” she said as she tried to school her expression. “You should have seen me when I tried playing darts with these guys. They were practically on the floor laughing.”

But I didn’t mind. That’s not the part of the evening I’m stressed about. Making a fool of myself at darts and almost impaling my foot? I’ve been through much worse.

Possibly running into my ex-boyfriend, though? After not seeing him for four years? And remembering how badly I handled things at the end?

That’s the part I’m worried about.

Before we came out tonight, Jade reassured me he wouldn’t be here. That there’s nothing to worry about. “He’s on duty,” she told me. “Niall asked Cole, and Cole asked Maya. She said he’s working the night shift. There’s no chance of him showing up tonight.”

Given that Cole is technically Niall’s boss—though they served together and are more friends than anything else—and his wife, Maya, is my ex’s sister, I feel a little funny that they were all discussing whether it was safe for me to come out tonight.

I hate that it even has to be an issue. I hate that Niall and Jade still think I’m too fragile to handle seeing my ex, even though I’ve been fine for almost four years now and haven’t come close to a relapse.

Then again. I’m sitting at the table with butterflies in my stomach and I’ve been pushing around the same wing on my plate for at least five minutes. My gaze keeps sliding towards the entrance, like he’s about to waltz through it despite Jade’s reassurance. And in my paranoid imagination, I envision him walking through the doors, his handsome face creasing in anger as he sees me, then turning to make an immediate exit.

Ugh.

I thought I was over him. But being here, right in the town where he lives, is bringing all the old memories back with a vengeance.

Not just the painful ones either, but the earlier ones, when I thought I might have found the man I wanted to be with forever. The man who made my heart do things it never had before. And the man I loved?—

Shit.

Stop thinking about him. Just stop.

I’m not here to mope at the table, frowning into my untouched beer and ignoring the people I came here to spend time with. This is supposed to be a fun night. A chance not only to be with Niall and Jade, but to get to know the people who work for his company. Because the other men here, they’re not just old friends, but a part of Blade and Arrow Security, an elite security company with headquarters here in Sleepy Hollow and in San Antonio, which is where Niall works.

“You know I want to spend time with you, Shea,” Niall told me when he brought up the idea of making the fifteen minute drive from my house in White Plains to Sleepy Hollow. “But I think it would be nice to see the guys, just for a night. Plus, they’re all married and their wives—or husband, in Nora’s case—are great. I think you’ll really like them. Maybe you’ll even become friends, since you live so close.”

So I agreed. What was I supposed to say? I’m a big chicken and I’ve intentionally stayed away from Sleepy Hollow from the second I heard my ex moved there? That I’m terrified I’ll see him and the reminder of the loss will crush me, despite all my proclamations of being fine?

Not so much.

“Shea.” Jade touches my arm, drawing my attention away from the mug I’ve been staring at for the last several minutes. Her eyes are soft with concern, a little line of worry etched between them.

I force my lips into something that feels like a smile. Brightly, I ask, “What’s up?”

She gives me her patented don’t bullshit me look. “Don’t give me that perky voice, Shea Walsh. Something’s wrong.” Glancing at the wings, she asks, “Is it the food? Because we can order?—”

“It’s not the food.” To emphasize my point, I take a hearty bite of my wing. “You don’t have to worry about that, Jade. I promise.”

“Is it being here?” Her lips thin. “We can go back to your place. Niall won’t mind.”

“No, I don’t want to leave. It’s fine. Really. I just… My mind was wandering. Thinking about the job I’m supposed to start tomorrow.” Liar. “It’s for a pretty big publication. So I want to make sure I make a good impression.”

“Shea.”

“Jade.”

We mock-glare at each other, making increasingly ridiculous faces until we both burst out laughing.

Niall walks over to the table with a fresh beer in one hand and a bottle of soda in the other. As he hands the soda to Jade, he glances between us and laughs. “You’ll never get too old to make those awful faces at each other, will you?”

Jade beams at him. “Yup. It’s tradition.”

“Tradition? What kind of tradition is that?”

I lean over and ruffle Niall’s hair. “Something we started doing in college. Like you didn’t have silly things you did with your friends?”

Niall humphs at me. “I’d hardly call what we did silly.”

“Really?” Raising my eyebrows at my brother, I ask, “So the dares you guys used to do weren’t silly? Eating disgusting foods? Putting bugs in each other’s beds?”

Nora, the lone woman on the Sleepy Hollow B and A team, is sitting at the table beside ours. Overhearing us, she turns and says with a quirked smile, “Oh, the things they did were definitely silly. Like the time Niall and Finn thought it would be funny to swap out all the salt in the cafeteria for sugar. Or when Matt put the snake in Niall’s?—”

Niall coughs loudly. “You know. I’m not sure we need to rehash that old story again.”

“Fine.” Jade kisses his cheek. Then they exchange this look , so loving and intimate it makes my heart twinge. It’s an odd incongruity. I’m so happy for them, and I don’t want to feel envious, but there’s just this little part of me that wishes I could have found the same thing.

As a loud cheer erupts from the dartboard section of the bar, Jade turns to me. “Actually, Shea. Do you want to sit outside on the patio for a bit? I was hoping we could talk where it’s a little quieter.”

Concern for Jade shoves aside all my own wistful thoughts. The few bites of food I ate turn to a rock in my stomach. “Is everything okay?”

Immediately, my mind is filled with worrisome possibilities. Is there a problem between Jade and Niall? But they seem so happy. In the five days they’ve been staying with me, they’ve been almost sickeningly cute. Although you never know what emotions someone’s hiding down deep. Is it her job? Is she struggling after everything that happened last fall?

“Everything is more than fine.” Jade takes my hand and gives it a little tug. “It’s just not something I want to announce to a bunch of people.”

“Okay.” I get up from my chair. “Let’s go outside, then.”

Jade glances at Niall, and he gives her an affectionate smile. “Don’t be out there too long. It’s a bit chilly out.”

Once we get outside, Jade grabs my hand and drags me over to a set of chairs surrounding a small fire pit. Even though it’s May, the evenings are still cool, so the fire is a welcome burst of warmth in the cool evening air. According to Niall, the patio is a new addition since the last time he visited, a small paved area decorated with hanging Edison bulbs and fire pits and clusters of Adirondack chairs.

Aside from me and Jade, there’s only one other group out here—two women quietly comforting a third, who appears to be crying. I hear one of the non-crying women say soothingly, “You’re better off without him, Penny. Any guy who treats his girlfriend like that isn’t worth your tears.”

The other friend jumps in. “And you’re a catch, Pen. Smart, beautiful… He’s the one who’ll be sorry when you find a real man. One who recognizes how amazing you are.”

Jade glances over at them, sympathy in her gaze. After a moment, she says, “I’m so glad I found Niall. I never have to worry about him treating me badly.”

Lightly, I reply, “If he did, he’d have me to answer to.”

She smiles. “I know. But you don’t have to worry. Niall is… amazing. So sweet and caring and he shows me every day how much he loves me. Sometimes I still can’t believe it took us this long to get together.”

“But you did.” Leaning close to the fire, I warm my hands over the flames before sitting back. “And now you’re married.” With a smile, I add, “My sister for real.”

“Yeah.” Jade pauses. “So… that’s kind of why I wanted you to come out here with me. Because I have news. Only Niall knows so far, but as my best friend and sister…”

“What is it?”

She hesitates. Then a broad smile breaks out, lighting her face up with it. “We’re pregnant. I just found out this morning. That’s why I was in the bathroom so long. I know it’s too soon to tell everyone else. But I couldn’t wait to tell you.”

Tears shine in her eyes as she looks at me, her joy a visible thing. “We didn’t know how long it would take, so we just started trying after the wedding, and hoping. And then I started feeling a little nauseous in the morning, and I thought…”

“Jade.” I reach forward to hug her, squeezing her hard. My own eyes are stinging with threatening tears. Not sad ones, but of pure happiness. “I’m so excited for you. You and Niall are going to be such great parents. It’s just…”

Now my nose is prickling. “It’s the best news. And I can’t wait to be Aunt Shea. I’ll be the cool aunt, and I’ll send all these cool presents, and I’ll make sure to visit all the time.”

“You’d better.” Jade sniffles, brushing at tears. “We’ll come here tons. Whenever we can. And when the baby is older, we can take him or her into the city, take them to the toy stores?—”

“Oh, if it’s a girl, as soon as she’s old enough, we can take her to the American Girl Doll store in the city. How cute would that be?”

Jade makes a little squeeing sound. “Oh, my gosh. That would be adorable.”

“And if it’s a boy, we can take him to Yankee games. Get him a little jersey. And when he’s little, those tiny headphones they wear when it’s noisy.”

“Oh, Shea.” She leans in to hug me back. “This is going to be so great.”

“Hey, guys.” We both look up to see Elle headed towards us, a hesitant smile on her face. “Sorry to interrupt. But the guys are talking about ordering more food. Is there anything you want?”

Jade glances at me and I shake my head. “No,” she replies. “I think we’re good. But if you want to join us?—”

She’s interrupted by the sound of tires squealing.

Not a distant sound, from a few blocks down.

But close.

As I glance at the street, a van speeds down it and comes to a screeching stop right in front of the pub.

Jade frowns, her brows pulling into a little V. “They need to be careful driving like that. In the dark, with all the restaurants and bars around?—”

“Wait.” I clamp my hand over hers. “This doesn’t feel right.”

I don’t know why.

Call it a sixth sense.

There’s no reason to assume there’s anything awry aside from a careless driver in a hurry to get a drink. Someone late to meet a friend. A delivery person rushing to pick up an order.

Niall always relied on his gut in the Army. He refused to tell me just how many times it saved his life, but I know it was more than a few.

My mom always said she had these feelings, too.

Right now, my gut is saying that something is very wrong.

“What’s wrong?” Jade asks. Fear flickers in her eyes.

I glance at Elle, who’s stopped halfway across the patio, alarm tightening her features.

The van door slides open.

A man jumps out. And it’s the first sign my gut was right.

He’s in all dark clothes. His hoodie is pulled tight around his face. A gaiter covers his nose and mouth.

And then I spot something in his hand, shining dully beneath the streetlamp.

My body tenses.

This is bad.

“Get inside,” I hiss at Jade. Yanking her up from her seat, I start pulling her towards the entrance to the pub. “Run.”

A second man joins the first. He’s dressed the same. And I’ve seen enough guns to recognize what he’s holding.

Jade clutches my hand. “Shea.” Her voice shakes. “What do they want?”

It feels like everything is moving in slow motion.

Jade and I are maybe twenty feet from the entrance. But it looks more like twenty miles.

The two men aren’t just running, they’re sprinting. Across the grass, the sidewalk, and now—oh, shit—they’re leaping over the little railing around the patio.

“Run!” I’m pulling Jade, but she’s frozen. Her legs won’t move. A glance at her face tells me all I need to know.

After what she’s been through, of course this would send her right into a flashback.

I yell at Elle, “Grab Jade! Get inside!” And I push Jade in Elle’s direction.

“Move!” one of the men snaps at the other. “Before they get inside!”

No.

Not my best friend. My pregnant best friend. My brother’s wife.

“Jade!” I shout. “Run!”

She starts to jog, but it’s not fast enough.

A glance over my shoulder finds the men terrifyingly close. So close.

It would only take seconds for them to grab Jade. Or me. And they’d be gone before any of the guys could even get outside.

Shit.

No. I will not let this happen. Jade and Niall have been through enough.

Think.

Footsteps pound towards us.

They’re too close. There’s no time.

Forcing down the choking fear, I ignore the instinct to run.

Instead, I turn to fight.

Stepping in front of Jade, I grab the chair I was sitting in and swing it with all my strength. At the same time, I shout, “Jade! Your earring!”

The chair slams into the first man approaching us, hitting him square in the chest.

Behind me, Jade whispers, “I pressed it.”

Elle comes running over, shouting, “Stop it! Get away!”

“Help!” I scream. “Help!”

The man yelps. Curses. Spits, “You bitch!”

There are other voices, but I block them out. It’s just me and these two men. Maybe I’m crazy for trying to fight them, but I’m not stopping.

As the other man lunges at us, I swing the chair again. The wood cracks. Splinters.

“Stop her!” one of the men shouts.

But I’m a dervish. I grab another chair, somehow managing to fling it at them.

I’m screaming, “Go away, go away, leave us alone!”

A fist flies out, clipping my cheek. Pain explodes in my face. My eye waters. Blurs.

Oh, please. I can’t let them take Jade.

Then an angry shout. “Get the FUCK away from them!”

Niall!

It’s like the eye of a hurricane.

Everything stops.

The two dark-clad men spin around and sprint back to the van. Leap inside. A second later, it peels away.

Niall runs over, wild-eyed, terror all over his face. He grabs Jade with one arm, then me with the other, pulling us both into his chest. His heart is pounding so hard I can feel it.

Right behind him, Cole and Zane rush out of the pub and over to us. Elle launches herself into Zane’s arms and buries her face in his shirt.

Cole’s features are like stone. His voice vibrates with intensity. “What happened?”

“I… The men…” Jade’s trembling so hard her teeth are chattering.

“A van. It stopped in front. Two men got out. They…” I shudder. “They were… running at us. I… I didn’t know…”

Why can’t I talk normally?

“Let’s get them inside,” Cole says. “Nora and Jackson are with Maya.”

Jackson? My scattered brain doesn’t want to work.

Oh. Right. Nora’s husband. Another Blade and Arrow team member.

On numb legs, I let Niall guide us back into the pub. As he hurries us inside, he says to Cole, “Shea’s hurt. Her face. And Jade… she needs to be checked out. She’s—” His voice catches. “I need to make sure she’s okay.”

Moments later, Zane follows us. “We need the surveillance footage. Do you think it’s too late to chase the van down?”

Cole replies, “If either of them saw the plates?—”

He glances at me, and I give a tiny shake of my head. “No. I didn’t… think to look. I was just… Jade… the chair…”

“It’s okay.” Cole follows us in. “Even if there were plates, I’m sure they were stolen.”

Niall leads me and Jade to a table and helps Jade sit down. Before he can help me, I collapse into my own. As I reach up to touch my throbbing cheek, I realize my hand is shaking.

A small crowd clusters around us—Niall, Zane, Cole, Nora, Jackson, Maya, Elle, and the crying woman, whose name I’m pretty sure is Penny. Pale and red-eyed, Penny says miserably, “I’m sorry I didn’t run over to help. My friends… they said to go inside and get the guys instead. But… I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I tell her. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.”

Cole crouches by my side, his voice gentling as he says, “Okay, Shea. I just want to take a look at your cheek.”

But I don’t care about my cheek. My cheek will heal. “No. Check Jade first. Make sure… Just make sure she’s okay. Please.”

“I’m fine, Shea.” Jade grabs my hand and squeezes. “I’m sorry. I froze. I?—”

“You were fine, hun,” Niall croons. “It’s okay.”

But he looks the furthest thing from okay. He looks more shaken than I’ve ever seen him.

“I called 911,” Maya announces. “The police are on the way.” Then she pulls up a chair beside me and takes my hand. “Are you okay, Shea?” Her eyes are kind and filled with concern. “Can I get you some ice? Some water? Anything?”

I’m reminded of how much I liked Maya back when Oliver and I were dating. “I just want to make sure Jade’s alright. The man… he only hit me once?—”

“Once is one time too many,” Niall bites out.

Maya glances at Niall. “Oliver should be here soon. And Kane, his partner.”

Wait.

What?

Shit.

After all my worrying. All the reassurances. And now this is how I’m going to see my ex? Bruised and shaky and close to tears? My hair undoubtedly in tangles and my clothes a mess?

I know it shouldn’t matter. Not given what just happened.

But. Whenever I imagined seeing him again, it wasn’t looking like this.

I wanted to be the woman he remembered.

“It’s going to be okay, Shea.” Maya’s voice is achingly kind as she meets my gaze. “Oliver’s going to be relieved you’re okay. That’s all. I promise.”

Will he, though? Or does he still hate me for ruining everything?