Whispers in the Dark - Maya Banks [88]
Garrett then pointed to a tall man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Cold eyes that made her shiver as he stared at her.
“That’s Steele, our other team leader, and that’s his team just behind him.”
Steele didn’t offer a greeting. He just nodded and then took a step back. Which was fine with her, because he unnerved her.
Swanny stepped in next to her. Relieved, she took his hand and clung to it. All these people made her nervous, and she was grateful for Swanny’s comforting presence. Which she supposed didn’t make a whole lot of sense given that she’d only just met him too, but they had a bond through Nathan and she felt at ease around him.
He glanced down in surprise and she thought she had offended him or unnerved him with her gesture, but when she started to pull away, his grip tightened around her hand, and to her further amazement, he offered a smile. A genuine smile. It was the first time she’d seen any emotion, good or bad, on his solemn features.
“They’re a little hard to take all at once,” he whispered down to her.
She smiled and nodded because that was exactly what she’d been thinking.
“But Garrett is right. You should be in the SUV and not in the open. I’ll go with you until Nathan makes it over.”
It was then she realized Garrett hadn’t called his men over for a meet and greet. They’d positioned themselves strategically around her. A protective shield, since she’d balked about getting into the SUV without Nathan.
Feeling like a moron, she nodded and allowed Swanny to guide her toward one of the waiting vehicles. He climbed into the back with her and shut the door. Garrett got into the front passenger seat while some of the others separated to go to the other vehicles. Donovan, Ethan and Sam remained outside at a discreet distance from where Nathan and Joe stood, and Shea realized they were looking out for their brothers.
“Did I cause this?” she asked softly in Garrett’s direction. “This problem between them?”
Garrett turned so he could look at her. His gaze softened and he didn’t look as formidable as he had before.
“No, you didn’t. This is something that has to be worked out between them. They’re very close. They’ve always worked and served together. A lot has changed for both of them, and when Nathan came home to us, Joe just wanted things to be the way they were before. They’ll be fine. You have plenty enough to worry about without being concerned that you’re the cause of a brotherly rift. In this family someone’s always pissed off at someone else, but we get over it real quick,” he added with a grin.
Shea nodded but her gaze remained fixed on the two brothers facing each other a short distance away. It was all she could do not to slip into Nathan’s mind. To offer him support. To know what was being said, but she wouldn’t intrude on his privacy.
She knew all too well how much he loved his family. They’d been all he’d focused on when he was in captivity. Whatever it was keeping the two brothers apart would be resolved. It had to be.
NATHAN stared at his twin in silence. This was a new situation for him, being so unsure of where he stood with the sibling he was closest to. Joe was tense and a little unsure himself. He seemed poised to say many things, but he held back. Maybe he was afraid of making Nathan angry.
Finally Joe broke the silence. “Why, man?”
Nathan didn’t pretend to misunderstand the question. He drew in a breath, unsure of what to say to his brother. He didn’t fully understand things himself. He was only now starting to feel like he was piecing himself back together and he had Shea to thank for that. He had a hell of a lot to thank her for. She gave him purpose. Purpose he hadn’t had in months.
“Why didn’t you ask me for help?” Joe asked quietly when Nathan continued to be silent. “You had to know I’d understand. You had to know that I wouldn’t have judged you. Hell, even